The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1915-03-13
LONG SESSION ENDS
MISUNDERSTANDING CONGRESS
QUITS AFTER sITTiNc AL
MOST TWO YEARS.
MANY NEW LAWS ENACTED

EstImsted That Both Sessions Of the
sisty-Third Congress Levied
Tribute Of Nearly 32.25o. ooo.o 900 on
Treasury.
Washington, March 6.-The fall Of
gavels In the senate and house brought
TO an end the remarkable 6ixty-third
congress-, which has been in almost
continuous session since April z. 1913.
and win be historic for the amount Of
major legislation enacted.
The appropriations Of this congress-
are the highest on record. while the
vast amount of important Legislation
enacted chronicles the high mark for
congressional labor.
Appropriations at the first session
of the congress reached the enormous
total of s1.116. 100000 and the sums
appropriated in the closing days Of the
second session probably viii be ~
great. It is estimated that the Sixty
third congress has levied tribute of
nearly two billion and q quarter dol
lars upon the federal treasury.
President Wilson called the new
congress into session within q few
days after he assumed ofice, the big
tasks of the extra session began with
repeal Of the Payne-Aldrich tariff
law and the enactment Of currency
legislation. This extra session merged
into the regular session which began
December 1. 1913. and the regular ses-
sion continued throughout another
summer. expiring on October "a, 1914.
On that date the new congress had
been in session b67 days without re-
cess.
The tired Legislators were given q
brief respite from October "a to De-
cember z, 1914. on which latter day
they reassembled for the final session
of the Sixty-third congress-.
Aside from its appropriation for the
operation of the government and its
various activities, the important legis-
lative achievements Of the Sixty-third
congress are as follows:
The passage OF the tariff law. with
it's income tax provision.
The passage Of the currency bin,
establishing the existing federal re-
serve system.
Amendment OF the Sherman anti
trust law by the passage Of the Clay
ton antitrust bill.
The passage OF the bill establishing
the federal trade commission.
The passage OF the agricultural ex-
tension bill.
Passage of the Alaskan railway bill.
providing for the government owner
ship and operation Of a $3b. 000. 900
railroad II Alaska
The enactment OF an emergency war
revenue tax.
A bin consolidating the life-saving
service and the revenue-cutter service
and creating out of the combined serv-
ice q coast guard.
A legislative rider to the naval ap-
preparation bill of this session abolish
ing the 'plucking board" and also Gre
ating q naval reserve.
The passage of the La Toilette sea-
mems bill, designed to better condi.
lions Of seamen and to promote the
Ra1ety OF passengers
In the investigating line both houses
showed activity. The senate and
house each investigated the so-called
lobby" at the capital. following the
Mulhall charges The senate also In
vestigated the West Virginia coal
strike and the house investigating
committee took note o: the coal strike
in Colorado and the copper strike in
Michigan. The house Judiciary com
mittee probed charges against three
federal judges. One resigned while
charges were pending: another was
| found not subject to impeachment. and
the third investigation il yet to be
concluded.
Among measures Of comparatively
minor importance approved were those
admitting foreign-built ships purchased
by Americans to American. registry;
the ratification of various peace trea
ties, the issuance of emergency treas
ury notes incident to business depres
sion which followed the outbreak OF
the European war; the approval OF
an investigation resolution to deter
mine an equitable fiscal relation be
tween the federal government and tbs
District Of Columbia; the voting Of
money to get Americans out of Mex
leo; authorization for the sale t.
Greece of two battleships. the Idahs
and Mississippi; and the creation IN
the treasury department OF q tempo
rary bureau on war risk Insurance.. Il
assume the insurance OF vessels en-
barrassed because OF the conflict.
| The sixty-third congress was roc
ord breaker In another respect in tina
for the nrSt time In = hundred year
Q president personally appeared befor'
| congress 10 read his annual and spe
cial messages. President Wilson M
peared before . joint session of Ii,
senate and house more than . half
dozen times to read messages