The Washington times., 1915-02-28
WILSON'S REGIME
WILL FINISH FIRST
HALF ON THURSDAY
Career of Sixty-third Congress,
Now Closing, Most Turbulent
in Many Years.

At noon Thursday the Sixty-third
Congress will pass into history. At the
same time will end the first half OF the
Wilson Administration.
The Sixty-third Congress has been a
stormy one. Its career has been the
most turbulent of any of recent years.
1t came into power with the beginning
of the Wilson Administration. when the
Government passed into the hands of
the Democrats. in White House, House.
and Senate. for the first time since the
first half Of the second Cleveland Ad-
mnistration.
Overwhelmingly Democratic in the
House and Democratic by narrow
margin In the Senate, with a Democratic
Chief Executive, the legislation OF the
Congress has been dominated by the
Democrats. In fact. most OF it has been
dictated by the President. TO a remark
able extent. the Democratic members at
both ends of the Capitol have been un-
der the thumb of the White House.
President Not Hesitant.
The President has been consulted at
ever turn by the Democratic leaders.
and he has not hesitated to tell them
what he wanted. and what he didn't
want.
And they have acquiesced. Some
times there have been mutterings in
the corridors and cloakrooms, but only
small group have actually revoltcd.
The President began his Administra-
ton by undertaking the innovation of
going to the Capitol in person and read
ing his messages. lie undertook another
innovation by going to the Capitol. vis-
lung the Presidents room and calling
Senators in for conference.
Cabinet members have gone to the
Capitol freely, and have worked for or
against legislation. In general way
the system of legislation has been this :
Bills have been shaped by the Admins
tration, have been presented in Congress
By Administration supporters. have
been s"nt to tn" Democratic caucus. the
caucus has bound members to their sup
port. ana they have been driven through
TO tn" unavailing protests OF the mi
nority.
Not since the palmicst days OF Aldrich
and cannon have tn" individual members
of Congress had so little to say about
important bill. The White House, plus
the party caucus. has shaped legisla-
ton.
Whether this method of lavmaking
Will obtain In the next Congress is con-
j"ctural. II undoubtedly will obtain in
the Senate. That body will have an in
creased Democratic ma iority.
II VII be tried in the House. but the
reduced majority there evil max D"mo-
cratic insurgency more effective. Indi-
cations are that much insurgency will
develop, probably in both House and
Senate.
May Smash Caucus.
1t may be this Will serve to smash the
system OF legislation by caucus just
as insurgency smashed It for the Re-
puh!icans in 1910.
In the cours" of the recent battle
over shin purchase, pronounced nsur-
gency developed among Democrats
Many think this is but n prelude to
more Democratic revolutions
The SiXty-frst Congress Is entitled
to distinction among other things for
tn" fact 1t has been in almost con
tinuous session. 1t was called in special
session to take uD tariff April :. 1913
Tho p"cal session lasted to December
Of that year and merged into th"
rceuAr session beginning the same
date The regular session lasted from
roccmher l. 1913, to October . 1919
me present short session began DeCem-
hcr !, 1914.
In all that time. Congress has becn
busy on important bills Yet tn" s"s-
sion closes with an enormous amount
OF important legislation leit over.
The most important legislation enact
cd by the SiNty-third Congress includes
the following:
The general tariff act of October ,.
1915
Tho Federal reserve act, creating a
new banking and currency system.
The war revenue act of October -.
1914.
The Alaskan railroad act. authoriZ-
ing tho President to locate, construct
and operate a railway system in Alaska.
The act for admission Of foreign built
SHinS to ATer'chn registry.
Tho war risk insurance act.
The measure for repeal of FREQ tolls