Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-10-11
CONGRESS PRAISED
BY THE PRESIDENT.
Needs of Army and Navy Well
Provided for.
GREATEST SESSION is ENDED
La Toilette Answers Charges of Dis.
loyalty-kellogg Denies So!on's
Contentions-Senate Con.
firms Pershing.

Washington, Oct. 8.-The work OF
the congressional session adjourning
was praised by President Wilson In d
statement, saying:
1.-THE needs of the army and navy
have been met in way that assures
the effectiveness of American arms,
and the War-making branch of the
government has been abundantly
equipped with the powers that were
necessary to make the action of the
nation effective.
1.-The SiXty-fifth congress now adj
journing," the president added, "de4
serves the gratitude and appreciation
OF people whose will and purpose i
believe it has faithfully expressed.
One cannot examine the record of it's
action without being impressed by it's
completeness, its courage and it's full
comprehension of q great task"
The extraordinary session of @cOn-
gress, which began April 2, generally
regarded as the most momentous in
American history, was adjourned sine
ulc Ut = d. III. saturday.
Vehement criticism of Senator La
Toilette and his own defense, occupy
ing virtually the entire day, marked
the close of the war session, with 9TH
er customary adjournment and legis-
lative procedure, including President
/ Wilson's attendance at the capitol.
La Toilette Defends Act.
With galleries crowded to capacity,
the senate chamber was the scene Of
five hours stirring discussion of Sena-
tor La FOllette's attitude, but in the
house there was little to mark the Oc-
casiOn except submission of commit
tee report mildly censuring Represen"
tative Heflin of Alabama for criticiz-
Ing members in connection with Count
Won BernstOrff's request for Berlin to
furnish funds to influence congress.
Galleries packed to their utmost ca
pacity heard La Toilette speak for two
hours. When he stopped Robinson Of
Arkansas and Kellogg of Minnesota re-
piled, denying contentious La Toilette
is said to have made in his now fa-
nous st. Paul speech.
Among the last acts of congress was
the confirmation in open session Of
many nominations, hastily sent in by
the president, including those of Major
Generals Pershing and Bliss to be gen
erals.
Among the more important bills
signed by the president on his visit to
the capitol were the soldiers and
sailors insurance and the trading with
the enemy measures.
Earlier in the day the president
signed the $7758,124OOO urgent de-
ficiency bill, the largest appropriation
measure in the nations history.
A record Of achievement probably
unparalleled in worldwide legislative
history was closed with adjournment.
Written into the nations statutes in
six months are laws in number, scope
0nd Importance, unsurpassed.
Marks of Session.
Marking the session passing into
history were its war declaration; pro-
vision for quick and large increase in
tie nations fighting forces-on land
anG sea and in the air; appropriations
OF more than $4,000, 100000; meas
ures Of taxation and credits to meet
the financial drafts, and vesting the
president with vast powers.
Among the most important meas
ures enacted were:
Army draft law.
Two war credits measures, author
izing loans to the allies, and sale Of
domestic bonds.
War tax law.
Appropriations of $64OOOO,OO0 for
airplanes.
Espionage act.
Soldiers and sailors insurance act.
Two war budget bills.
Besides prohibiting further manu-
facture or importation of distilled
beverages and authorizing the presi-
dent. in the food control bill, to stop
or curtail that of beer and wines, the
senate, by a vote of 60 to 20, also
passed the Sheppard resolution, proS
posing a national dry amendment to
the federal Constitution. 1t Is peril
ing In the house for action at the De-
cember session.