Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-03-04
WAS IN CONTINUOUS SESSION AL
MOST FROM BEGINNING OF
WILSON'S TERM.
WITH DROP OF GkvEl TODAY MANY
NOTED SENATORS ARE PASSED
TO RETIREMENT.

1885. ended today al noon.
II ha> been III almost continuous session
since President Wilson's Inauguration two
years ago. Beginning with I'm extra -c~-
sion called by the prc-iden, April =. 1913,
the congress has worked actually 637 day..
Much important legislation wa~ accom-
lpli~hcd. but much contemplated. some III II
hard pressed by the president. and party
leaders, was left undone. II J. the present
intention Of the president and hi adviser,
"a give congress \ rest. Rather than Gree
an extra session They would leave the re-
mainder OF the Administrations cnn~truc-
tive aspirations to . new congress next
winter. which, although under democratic
control. will have u greatly reduced ma
iority IN the house.
Foremost IN the enactmcnt- Of the -
third congress were:
The Underwood Simmons taniT act. with
the income tax. which replaced the Payne
Aldrch tariff law.
The federal reserve act. recognizing the
currency system.
Anti trust law - Implement the Shcr-
man act. including the Clayton law and
federal trade commission. the former pro
viding for punishment ~ Individuals who
violate business regulations and the latter
establishing 4 government institution t. aid
IN keeping business within the law.
Repeal Of the Panama canal TOLL cxcmp-
tion for American coa~twi~c shipping
Act directing the building 40 = cost of
80. 900 600 of a government railroad o.
the mineral fields ~ Alaska.
Act "a regulate cotton exchanges and Nv
pcnallzc dealings ~ purely speculative rot
ton future sales.
\ special internal revenue tax. commonly
called the war tax"
a government war risk Insurance bureau
~ insure American ship against thc
hazards Of war. and an art providing tor
the transfer 81 io~rcign-nwncd or built
ships "a American registry.
OF those measures which tailcd ~ enact
mcnt or could not hc considered tor lack
nf time. the following are regarded hv
democratic leader, ~ paramount:
Bill for government purchase or charter
1T tran-uccanic ships for the establishment
ut AN American merchant marine which en-
countcrcd the most stubborn, filibu~tcr in
the history 1T the senate. created ON I'M
~urgcnt movement ~ the democratic rank
and held up general legislation tor weeks VI
the last session.
The immigration hill. including \ l~itcrary
test for admission Of aliens. which PASSED
both houses. Wa vetoed by President vii
-on and failed ~ Y narrow margin W ~.
pass the house on \ motion ~ uvrrtum I'M,
veto.
Conservation measures urged IN the
president 10 provide 4 new system for lca~-
lng"i water power sites and 4 leasing vs.
tenn N open the mineral resources Vt the
country.
Bill 4" enlarge Tho measure of Philippine
~clf-govcrnmcni and to extend promise of
ultimate independence IL Filipino people. \
measure which PASSED TIE house and Wa~
approved by q senate committee.
Regulation IN the interstate commerce
commission If the Issue IF railroad ~c-
c%uritlc~. originally u part ~ the admins
t%ration'~ antitrust program.
Rural credits legislation contemplating
The establishment NJ \ system nf farm
mortgage loan hank. pcr~i~icntIy urged
throughout the rongrc~>.
In addition "a the foregoing. scores VI
general legislative hill~ towering. 4 wide
range Of subjects died with the end nj the
congress. among them. measures Tor fed
cral road Improvement. general waterway
development. reorganization VI the civil
%~crvirc. - prohibit importation VI convict
made goods. and several measures tor re-
organization uf the army.
The lasi Session 81 the congress va.
notable. too. for the failure " two great
ISSUES. national prohibition and woman sui
fra.e. Proposed constitutional amend
mcnt> prccipitated two nf the most exert
lng legislative batilc- 10 the history If the
house al representatives both measures
failing 10 receive u necessary two-third~
vote.
Foreign relations of the nation were
constantly 10 the fore almost from the be-
ginning of the congress. The Mexican
situation requiring close attention from the
outset n has the European war. Through
out the session the president and the sen
ate foreign relations commli;c were ina fire.
qucnt conferences and much was done 10
restrain unusual demonstrations which
might have disturbed International tran
guilty. Early in the session general arbi-
~trailon treaties with several great foreign