Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-05

passed both Houses. was vetoed by Pres-
dent Wilson and failed by a narrow mar
gin to repass the House on motion TO
overturn the veto
Conservation measures urged by the
President 10 provide 4 new system for
leasing Of water power sites and leas-
ing system to open the mineral resources
OF the country.
Bill TO enlarge the measure of Philip
pine self-government and TO extend prom
Use OF ultimate independence TO Filipino
people, q measure which passed the
House and was approved by Senate
committee.
Regulation by the Interstate Commerce
Commission or the issue of railroad Sc
cu-lties, originally part of the admin
.st-ation's antitrust program.
Rural credits legislation contemplate
ing the establishment OF system OF
farm mortgage loan banks. persistently
urged throughout the Congress.
II addition to the foregoing scores of
general legislative bills covering a wide
range OF subjects died with the end OF
the Congress, among them, measures for
federal road Improvement, general wat
ecway Development, reorganization OF
the civil service to prohibit impor-
tation Of conviSt made goods, and several
measures for reorganization of the army.
The last session of the Congress was
notable, too. for the failure of two great
issues. national Prohibition and Woman
Suffrage. Proposed Constitutional amend
ments precipitated two Of the most ex-
citing legislative battles in the history
of the House of Representatives, both
measures failing to receive a necessary
two-thirds vote.
Foreign relations OF the nation were
constantly 10 the fore almost from the
beginning of the Congress. The Mexican
situation requiring close attention from
the outset as has the European war
Throughout the session the President and
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
were In frequent conferences and much
was done to restrain unusual demonstra-
tons which might have disturbed inter-
national tranquility. Early in the sess: on
general arbitration treaties with several
great foreign powers were renewed for
hVe-year periods and 20 peace commission
treaties providing for investigation of
international disputes before resort to
arms were negotiated and ratified \
treaty to enforce the regulations adopted
by the London Safety at Sea Conference
was ratified last December but with an
amendment making reservations which
came too late for other powers to con-
slider, thus preventing enforcement of
the convention. \ treaty with Nicaragua
providing for requirement of Nicaraguan
canal route and naval stations for 3d.
tlO laF T.,
and the pending treaty with Colombia
directing payment of s25.0O0Go for the
Panama canal strip was held in by the
Foreign Relations committee
The closing session of the Congress
was almost wholly devoted to appropria-
ton bills. the ship purchase bill fight;
and few general measures. Aside from
appropriations about the only important
legislative enactnents included the crea-
ton of the Coast Guard by consolidation
OF the Life Saving and Revenue Cutter
services; Redistribution of grades in the
Diplomatic and Consular service: require
ment of registration of and imposing
special taxes upon all Dealers manufac-
turers or importers of opium, or its deriv-
atives and the creation of the Rocky
Mountain National Park in Colorado.
Much debate on the condition Of ma
tional defenses enlivened the closing
session. Proposals for special investiga-
ton Of the preparedness of the nation
for war all failed. House naval and mill
itary committees, however. conducted
public hearings on the subject in connec-
ton with sthe military supply bills.
The Congress also was marked by Diff
ferences between President Wilson and
some Democratic Senators over patron
age; spirited contest over confirmation
Of nominees for the Federal Reserve
Board; two successful filibusters-one in
the summer session against the rivers
and harbors appropriation bill and the
other the fight Of Republicans and Demo-
cratic allies against the ship purchase
bill; an unsuccessful effort in the Senate
to establish a cloture rule to limit pro-
longed debate; institution Of a special In
quiry into outside influences exerted
against the ship purchase bill: a general
lobby investigation which extended for
many months, and proposal OF an IN
quiry into senatorial campaign contribu-
lions.
With the fall of the gavel today many
Senators and Congressman long national
figures passed into private life, Senators
who retire are Root. of New York: Bur-