Gilpin observer., 1915-03-11
SIXTY-THIRD CONGRESS
REcoRD-BREAKiNG SESSION DIES
WITHOUT STRUGGLE.
Postoffiee, Indian, and Shipping Bills
Expire With It.-Presldent VIII
son Signs Seamen's Measure.


Washington-The Sixty third Con-
gress-a record-breaker in many re-
spects-expired by Limitation at noon
March 4th.
With an unusual record Of legisla-
ton accomplished, bangs of gavels in
"Taps" on the session launched
month after President Wilson's inaug-
uration two years ago.
"Swan songs" were sung by retiring
House members. Resolutions of felici-
ty were given Speaker Clark and the
party leaders. A costly oil painting of
himself was the members gift to the
retiring Democratic leader, Represen-
tative Underwood.
After an allnight vigil Congress
showed an unexpected burst of speed
and practically finished it's legislative
work nearly two hours before tho time
of adjournment.
Two of the principal appropriation
bills, the postal bill and the Indian
bill, failed at the last moment, and
joint resolutions were passed extend
ing the current appropriations for the
Postoffice Department and the Indian
Bureau over the next fiscal year.
The clause in the postoffice appro-
priation bill providing that assistant
postmasters be abolished, was climi-
mated by the conference report.
The House finally passed and sent
to the President the resolution passed
by the Senate, giving the President
power to enforce this nations neu-
trality.
The ship purchase bill is dead.
Administration senators, threatened
with continuation of the Republican
filibuster, did not plan another attempt
to revive it. The bill dies in confer
ence.
Rural credits legislation also is dead.
Instead, a congressional commission is
authorized to investigate the whole
subject and report to the next Con-
gress by Jan. /, 1916.
The House passed the bill providing
aid to Alaskan agricultural colleges;
approved dropping the impeachment
charges against former Judge Daniel
veteran representative, Bartlett OF
Georgia, who retires, passed q bill ap-
propriating $4,000 for federal build
ing at Forsyth, Georgia.
Cleaned States.
The House, cleaning its slate before
ten o'clock, settled down to wait for
noon. Democratic Leader Underwood.
making his last speech on the floor
for he goes to the Senate in the Sixty
fourth Congress-declared the House
had done its work and it would not be
the fault of that body IL the govern
ment's finances were not cared for.
Use Senate, after concurring with
the House extension of the postal and
Indian appropriations, went into ex-
ecutive session to work on nomina-
lions.
President Wilson went to the cap
Itol at 10 o'clock and promptly began
signing the accumulation of bills and
resolutions.
The President signed the La Fol
lette seamen's bill improving the
working conditions of American sea-
ment requirements.
| Records Smashed.
In time consumed the Congress
which ended on the 4th smashed rec
ords. 1t had been in session 637 days.
The special session called in April,
1913, leaped into the December ses-
sion that year, which continued until
last october, adjourning only five
weeks before the present session be-
gan last December.
The principal accomplishments of
the Sixty-third Congress were the fol-
lowing laws:
New tariff and income tax, new cur
rency system, creating Federal
Trade Commission, amending the anti
trust act, repeal of the Panama ca
nal free tolls" provision, authoriz-
Ing a government railroad in Alaska,
empowering use of armed forces in
Mexico, the war tax creating a war
risk insurance bureau and ratification
of twenty-one peace treaties.
With the cho OF the adjournment
gavel many big figures in public life
retireo. Nine senators and almost $50
representatives left Congress.
The Senate had So Democratic, AZ
Republican and Progressive mem
ber. The Sixty-fourth Congress will
see Sc Democratic, Progressive and
80 Republican senators seated.
The House had 2S6 Democrats, 124
republicans, II Progressives and In
dependent. Tne next House will have
231 Democrats, 1874 Republicans, Pro
gressives, / Socialist and Inde-
pendent.
The total appropriations of the ses-
sion were approximately $1.l20.4S4,-
324, several millions under the record
of previous Congresses.
Wilson Praises Work.
After his return to the White House