The state herald., 1915-03-12
SIXTY-THIRD CONGRESS
REcoRD-BREAKiNG SESSION DIES
WITHOUT STRUGGLE.
Postofflce, Indian, and Shipping Bills
Expire With lt.-President VII.
son Signs Seamen's Measure.
western Newspaper Union News Service.

western Newspaper Union News Service.
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-
tion accomplished, bangs OF gavels in
the Senate and the House sounded
"Taps" on the session launched u
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 all-night vigil Congress
showed an unexpected burst of speed
and practically finished its legislative
work nearly two hours before the 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 po1toffice 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 1t. 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. 1, 1916.
The House passed the bill providing
aid to Alaskan agricultural colleges;
approved dropping the impeachment
charges against former judge Daniel
Thew Wright, and, as tribute to the
veteran representative. Bartlett OF
Georgia, who retircs. passed 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 walt 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 1t would not be
the fault OF that body II the govern.
ment's finances were not cared for.
Use Senate. after concurring with
the House extension OF tho postal and
Indian appropriations. went into ex.
ccutive 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.
men and increasing iifesaying equip.
ment requirements.
Records Smashed.
In time consumed the Congress
which ended on the ith smashed rec.
ords. II had been In session G37 days.
The special session called In April.
1918, 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 slxty.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 n government raiho..d In Alaska.
empowering use OF armed forces In
| Moaic0. the war TAX cfchtlng WhI
risk insurance bureau and ratification
OF twcnty.onc peace treaties.
with tho cho OF the adjournment
gavei many big figures In public life
rctireo. Nino senators md almost 100
representatives left Congress.
Tho Senate had 81 Democratic. ~
Republican ana Progressive mem
Der. Tho sixty.fourth Congress will
sec 80 Democratic. Progressive and
30 Republican senators seated.
The House had 2sG Democrats. i?i
republicans. II Progressivos and In
dependent. the next House will have
2si Democrats. 1874 Republicans. I Pro
grcsuiycs. Socialist and 1 inde'
pendent.
Tho total appropriations OF tho seH
sion were approximately N.l2o.tSi,'
ssi. several millions under tho record
Of previous Congresses.
Wilson Praises Work.