The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1915-03-11
What Congress Has Done

What COngrcSS A1ao DOI0 !,
i No congress in many years
has had to it's credit as much
notable legislation as belongs, !, 70
that Which comes to an end at
noon to. day,. There have been
passed in the last two years at
| least q dozen measures any two
i or three of which would have
] been sufficient to make a credit
able showing for the body re-
snonsible for their enactment.
The revision of the tariff
downward was the prime obli-
cation to which the retiring law
makers were committed when
they went into office. That had
been the big issue of the cam
paign in which Woodrow Will
son was elected. The, enemies
of tariff reform were prepared to
acuuiesce with what grace they
could muster in the changes
proposed. 1t was a hard job
which the Democrats had but it
was accomplished without a
hitch. Nobody knew, however,
what would be the result when
congress tackled it's next big
job. that of providing the coun-
try with a new and workable
currency law to take the place
Of the broken down and danger
Gus system with which we were
encumbered. What was ac-
complished in this matter has
excited the admiration Of the
nation. 1t is accepted by finan-
ciers Of all parties as the very
best law which could have been
secured. But these two big
pieces Of legislation were only a
beginning. An income tax law
was written upon the statute
books. Afederal trade commits
sion has been created, from
whose activities great things are
hoped. The trust laws
have been REVISED. Arrange
ments were made for the open.
ing pof Alaska. The tolls ex
emption clause in the Panams
canal act was repealed. A law
regulating cotton exchanges
was passed and has Just gon,
into effect. A drastic measure
designed to break UP traffic il
all habit forming drugs wen
through and was put into oper
alton the first of this month
The Lever Smith bill, declared
by agricultural educators to b,
the finest piece Of constructive
work Of it's kind ever enacted b,
any ;law-maling body, wa
adopted. - :, -.
This is a record which speak
for itself. Tt has been made be
cause the Democratic party a
represented at Washington ha
disappointed its enemies. Tw
years ago it was the hope of Re
publicans, as it was the fear @
Democrats, that the Democrat
in congress would soon be tor
aSrlnder by rows among them
selves. This has not happened
With the sole exception Of tn
ship purchase bill the party ha
worked together harmoniousl,
and effectively. 1t has demon
strated it's capacity for team
work. 1t has gone far to carr
the confidence Of the nation
For this the public very properl,
accOrds the bulk of the credit t.
the admirable leadership of Pres
ident Wilson. But the supper
which the president has receive,
has been scarcely less admirable
The lawmakers have earned
their rest. 1t is the first time il
six years that congress has ad
lourned with the prospect of ;
long recess ahead Of it. Unfes!
an eXLra session should be called
we adjournment taken today
will be until December 6, a mat
ter of nine months. Let us hop,
that nothing will happen mean
time to force the president tt
bring the Legislative branch o.
the government into action be
fore it is regularly scheduled tt
meet again. The country is
weary. Even of ell-doing there
can be enough. The News an(
Courier.