The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-09-07
Sixty-fourth Body to Quit Work Late
Tonight or Tomorrow; in Ses-
sion Nine Months.
HEAVIEST APPROPRIATIONS
IN AMERICAN HISTORY
! .Inmportant Measures are Passed: No
Vote on Strict Party Lines
During Sessions.
(By United Press)

HWashington, Sept. 7.-Inheriting
its most pressing problems from the
European war and Mexican bandits,
and having had placed before it',one
OF the most elaborate legislative pro-
grams ever known, the sixty-fourth
congress, now in it's last hours, prob
ably will go down in history as one
of the nations most eventful sessions.
Congress, it is believed, will quit
work late this evening Or; tomorrow
after nine months sessions.
Heaviest Appropriations.
Called on twice to back the presi-
dent in steps whichSit thought sure
'tually approprfati1lg millions for the
ertheless found time for half a dozen
s ance-and to approve the heaviest
preparedness led in attention
throughout The largest naval ap-
preparation the world has ever known
in peace-time, and the next-but-one
largest army budget, we're approved.
child labor, rural credits, U. S. mer-
tion, was the cry of industrial pre-
paredness." q r
Though the Democratic party never
lost it's hold on legislation, and
though President Wilson at all times
measure passed both houses on strict
party lines. -.
- Sensational Conflict.
The most sensational episode of the
session was the fight over the Gore
and McLemore resolutions, warning
Americans off armed merchant ships
after Germany had given notice it
intended torpedoing them. Avowedly
slaps at the presidents foreign pol
icy, they bought the chief executive
and congress into sharp conflict.
Leaders of congress called on the
president and warned him if the reso-
lutions came to vote, they would be
approved, two to one. The presi-
Hdent's answer was summary demand
that they be tabled Three or four
days passed while the fight was or
ganized from the White House. Then
his congressional lieutenants struck,
and the resolutions were overwhelm-
ed. After that, congress for
one halting exception-accepted the
presidents leadership in foreign af-
fairs without question.
A short conflict loomed when the
president personally visited the CAPT.
tol, and told congress the had sent
Germany a virtual ultimatum over
the Sussex incident. Suddenly hun
dreds of thousands of kilograms, in
five or six identical forms, poured in
from every section of the country.
There were hundreds of bushels of
them. Astounded, congress wavered
in it's attitude. -.- :
Cloak Room Jest.
In smashing speech, Senator Har-
ding exposed the demonstration as
backed and financed by German
American organization, Officials of
the latter admitted it, and the affair
became cloakroom jest.
From the time the session opened,
the pot of Mexican affairs never
Sceased boiling. Half dozen Repub-
1icans-led by Fall and Borah in the
senate e-were insistent intervention
alists. AS the bandit raids into Am
erican territory developed, border
Democrats became restless.
,-"Watchful waiting" was jeered as
a policy of productive only of bandit
contempt and continued outrages.
Each outbreak furnished new ammu
milton for interventionist oratory. At
length guardsmen and troops were
sent to the border: The movement
was supported by both parties, al
though Republicans charged twas
political rather than a military
step. Senator LaFollette pushed
through resolution pledging the
country against Intervention. Alone