Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1915-03-12
CONGRESS Closes.

respects the most notable in achieve
ment since the civil war. has passed in
to history. In the matter of practi
cally continuous service as well as
measures passed. it furnishes record.
Since President Wilson took office
March a, 1918, the body has been in
session 637 days. Of the mass of laws
enacted these stand out most promi-
nently:
The Underwood. Simmons tariff act,
with the income tax, which replaced
the Payne.Aldrich tariff law.
The Federal Reserve Act, re.organ-
izinR the currency system.
Antitrust laws to supplement the
Sherman act, including the Clayton
law and Federal Trade Commission act,
the former providing for punishment
Of individuals who violate business
regulations and the latter establishing
a government institution to aid in keep
ing business within the law.
Repeal of the Panama canal tolls ex.
emption for American coast.wise ship
ping.
Act directing the building at cost
of s35. 0OO, 900 of a government railroad
to the mineral fields of Alaska.
Act to regulate cotton exchanges and
to penalize dealings in purely specula-
tive cotton future sales.
A special internal revenue tax, COM
monty called the war tax. -
A government war risk insurance
bureau to insure American ships
against the hazards of war, and an act
providing for the transfer of foreign.
owned or built ships to American reg.
istry.
As an evidence of the trend of public
opinion it is interesting to note that
most of the above laws, were they sug-
gested twenty years ago. would have
been condemned as radical to the point
of utter impracticability. They have
been accepted as needed legislation and
their operation has occasioned scarcely
q ripple on the sea of national affairs.
This first Democratic Congress in
more than sixteen years has acquitted
itself admiralty. Able leaders there
have been in both houses but it may
be asserted in all justice that the lead
ership Of President Wilson was mani.
fest from initiation to contamination in
many of the important measures. His
firmness, his splendid patience, his sue
cessful determination to be swayed by
no consideration of expediency, to be
uninfuenced by the voice of the lingo,
had large part in the satisfactory COM
pletion of the work
Not uncommonly have great presi.
dents had opposition in their own party
n the Senate. This was true of Mr..
Wilson. 1t is not necessary to 60 into
details regarding the force led by Sen
ator lO'Gorman and which prevented
the passage of the ship purchase bill.
The measure, with number of other
less important pieces of legislation,
awaits Tue I6HI SOUSIcoS. LUG OAOSh !!
ing Of the ship bill has in no sense les
sened Mr.. Wilson's prestige while it
doubtless will remain an incident that
the Democratic supporters of the Re-
publican filibuster will in the future
look back upon with no sense of salts.
faction.
The work of the Sixty third congress
is concluded. There will be no special
session and business now has an oppor.
tunity to complete the process of re-
adjustment that new legislation al
ways entails.
Speaking of the work just ended the
President said: "A great Congress
has closed its sessions. Its work will
prove the purpose and quality of its
craftsmanship more and more, the
longer it is tested. Dubuque Tele-
graph Herald. |