The Washington times., 1915-03-04
MANY Rec0dS Broken
During 567-Day Grind
Notable for Many Important Pieces of Legsla-
tion, Session Closed Today Sets Pace Which
Is Likely to Stan Id for Many Years.
BY THEODORE TILLER

~ AAAASON
A session Of Congress remarkable for
it's important legislation. precedent
smashing and ability to hang on came
to an end today.
The fall Of gavels in the Senate and
House echo in halls that have been oc-
cupied for almost two years by ever
busy legislators. Congress has been in
session practically all OF tho timen since
April Z. 1918. when President Wilson,
himself new to the Presidential chair.
called into extraordinary session the
Democratic spokesmen who had been
elected with him to carry out the
party's policies.
The session which convened on April
7 merged into the regular session. be-
ginning December l. and that did not
adjourn until October "a. 1914 With
Just few days in which to repair their
political fences members hurried home
to take part In the campaigu-which
greatly reduced the Democratic ma
Jority-and returned on December to
begin the present session.
The extra and the Tong regular ses-
sion Of the Congress. which met last
December. kept members at their desks
567 days-a grind which probably will
set the pace for years to come.
Notable For Headliners.
In addition to approprlatins more
than $1,000 400 900 to carry IN the vast
enterprises Of the Government. tho ses-
sion ending today u notable for the
headliner legislation enacted. Whether
for good or bad. 1t is conceded that no
Congress in recent years has attempted
SO much legislation OF major character.
The more important measures which
became law include:
The Underwood-simmons tariff law.
wit with tbs It's income ts1 replace
The Glass-Owen currency bill. putting
into operation the present Federal re-
serve system.
The Panama free tolls repeal bill.
law by the passage Of the Clayton bin:
One Of the provisions Of the Clayton bin
exempted labor unions and farmers
associations from the operation OF the
The CoyinEton bill, creating the Fed
eral Trade Commission.
The Alaskan railway bill. Committing
the Government to the operation and
and ownership Of IS. 900. 900 railroad in
approximatsiy Sio. 90. .oSo in re r:vsnue to
replenish q Treasury suffering. because
Of the EurGpean war and nsd,,St,, slow imports;
Consolidation Of the life-saving service
and revenue cutter service into coast
Adjustment Of the naval .plucking
BOARD" and the authorization for the
creation Of a naval reserve.
The La Toilette seaman's bill (Which
may meet Presidential veto).
Use of Armed Forces.
A joint resolution authorizing the
President to use the armed forces In
Mexico and various bills for the relief
Of stranded Americans in Mexico and
the expenses Of the naval and military
establishment used IN the Mexican trou-
bles.
Joint resolution extending the thanks
Of Congress to the A. 3. c. mediatorU
who met at Niagara Fails last year.
Joint resolution extending thanks OF
CConIgresa CoIa and providinE prosnotion for
Aside from these bills of major I'm
probably. reached the halfway stage.
but failed of passage In both houses.
These measures are to be resurrected in
the new Congress and pushed by the
Administration.
Lost In Senate.
The bills which failed to pass the
Senate. although they received the o.
X. Of the House. included:
The Adamson general dam bill. to de-
veiop water power on navigable
streams: the Ferris bill for development
Of water power on the public domain
and another measure for the leasing of
coal. oil, mineral and phosphate lands
owned by the Government the Foster
bill for the conservation of the radium
supply; the Alaskan cpal lease bill and
the Jones Philippine Independence bill.
These measures representing the con-
servation policy and the Philippine
policy of the Wilson Administrator
are to take precedence In the new Con-
gress.
The ship purchase bill-eventuaily an
ill-fated measure. although held dear
by the Administration-also passed
the House only to be snuffed out In
ord-breaking Senate filibuster. The
House railway securities bill likewise
failed.
Both houses passed the Burnett i'm
migration bill. which was vetoed by the
President because of the literacy test
clause. The House failed by Ave votes
to muster the required two-thirds ma
jority to override the veto and Senate
reconsideration was estopped
Spectacular battles were staged in
the House over resolutions to submit