Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-03-11
RECORD BREAKING
CONGRESS ENDS
Body Was in Almost Continuous
Session Since April 7, 1918.
MANY NEW LAWS ENACTED
Estimated That in Both Session the
Sixty-third Congress Has Levied
Tribute of Nearly $3.50, ooo,-
600 on Treasury.

Washington, March 6.-The fall Of
! gaYels in the senate and house brought
/ to an end the remarkable Sitxy-third
congress, which has been in almost
/ continuous session since April Z, 1913,
and will be historic for the amount Of
major legislation enacted.
The appropriations of this congress
are the highest on record, while the
vast amount of important legislation
enacted chronicles the high mark for
| congressional labor
/ Appropriations af the first session
! of the congress reached the enormous
total of $1,116,000,000 and the sums
appropriated in the closing days of the
second session probably viii be as
| great. 1t is estimated that the Sixty
third congress has levied tribute of
nearly two billion and quarter dol
| lars upon the federal treasury.
President Wilson called the new
congress into session within a few
days after he assumed Office, the big
tasks Of the extra session began with
| repeal Of the Payne-AIdrich tariff
| law and the enactment of currency
| legislation. This extra session merged
| into the regular session which began
/ December 1, 1918, and the regular ses-
| sion continued throughout another
summer, expiring on October. "a, 1914
| The tired legislators were given
| brief respite from October "a to De-
cember Z, 1914, on which latter day
! they reassembled for the final session
| Of the Sixty-third congress.
Aside from it's appropriation for the
operation of the government and it's
various activities, the important legis-
lative achievements of the Sixty-third
congress are as follows:
The passage of the tariff law, with
its income tax provision.
The massage of the currency bill,
establishing the existing federal re-
| serve system.
Amendment of the Sherman anti
trust law by the passage of the Clay
ton antitrust bill
The passage of the bill establishing
the federal trade commission.
The passage of the agricultural ex-
tension bill.
Passage of the Alaskan railway bill,
providing for the government owner
ship and operation of a $35, 100000
railroad in Alaska.
The enactment of an emergency war
revenue tax.
A bill consolidating the Iife-saving
service and the revenue-cutter service
! and creating out of the combined serv-
ice a coast guard.
A legislative rider to the naval ap-
preparation bill of this session abolish
ing the 'plucking board" and also Gre
ating a naval reserve.
The passage of the La Toilette sea-
mems bill, designed to better condi-
lions of seamen and to promote the
safety of passengers.
In the investigating line both houses
showed activity. The senate and
house each investigated the so-caIled
lobby at the capital, following the
Mulhall charges. The senate also in
vestigated the West Virginia coal
strike and the house investigating
committee took note of the coal strike
in Colorado and the copper strike in
Michigan. The house judiciary com
mittee probed charges against three
federal judges. One resigned while
charges were pending; another was
found not subject to impeachment, and
the third investigation is yet to be
concluded.
Among measures of comparatively
minor Importance approved were those
admitting foreign-built ships purchased
by Americans to American registry;
the ratification of various peace trea-
ties, the issuance of emergency treas
ury notes incident to business depres-
sion which followed the outbreak of
the European war; the approval of
an investigation resolution to deter
mine an equitable fiscal relation be-
tween the federal government and the
District of Columbia; the voting of
| money to get Americans out of Mex
leo; authorization for the sale to
| Greece of two battleships, the Idaho
and Mississippi; and the creation in
the treasury department of a tempo
rary bureau on war risk insurance, to
| assume the insurance of vessels en-
barrassed because Of the conflict.
The Sixty-third congress was a rec
ord breaker in another respect in that
for the first time in a hundred years
a president personally appeared before
a congress to read his annual and spe-
| cial messages.
Ship Sails With War Supplies.
New York, March 5.-The White