The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1917-10-13
THE RECORD OF CONGRESS.

There has never been congressional session III hsIory
that approaches the record of the extraordinary session
of the sxty-fifty Not merely has it made preparation
for war huge SCALE but it has lar surpassed Ce
orls made bv the parliamentary bodies of other democ-
races on their entrance into this war; Conscrpton Iof
instance not adopted by Great Britain 1of TWO years
after the began. The United States cetIaly hao
the advantage of beginning late and OF protng by mis-
takes both of delay and of commission which other de
mocraces had made 1t much to the Congresses credit
however, that had the to profit by these MISTAKES
for that has seldom been the way OF Congress IN the past
CONGRESS- has recognized that this like no other
war; that the country is entering on an untrodden path
and has behaved accordingly No surer proof could be
given that the country is back of the war than the nhes
Eating and confident way in which Congress has heaped
necessary burdens upon it, for Congress keeny sens
tive to public opinion The noise made by the pacltsts
and macontens in the Capitol has been out OF all pro-
portion to the results they have achieved for on import
ant war measures they have been able to muster
more than a handful of votes. The great machine has
gone steadily grinding on; steadily and rapidly despite
the impression of delay created by such incidents the
discreditabe attempt of few to defeat the food bill
Within six weeks after the declaration OF war, which
had been made within three days after the President in
formed Congress that state of war existed between the
United States and Germany, the selectve draft act
passed 1t took North and South year to understand
the necessity of CONSUMPTION in their Congress then
enlarged the navy and authorized strength of l6262
men, and of 10000 enlisted for the Marine Corps
Within month otter the declaration of war it had author
lied the President to seize all vessels belonging to enemy
nations. month later it passed the Espionage bill, Civ
ing the President authority over all SS and fl control
expectation 1t authorized the expenditure of $780,
00OOOO construct merchant marine and S640000000
for the construction Of aircraft 1t passed the Food Con-
troll bill and arranged for the insurance of soldiers and
sailors 1t authorized loans to allied governments amount
to $000000000 1t authorized the embargo 1t adopted
$2500000000 Revenue bill, disfgured here and there
by the marks of haste in the of Section 209 which
penalties professional and salared by the unjust
imposition of additional income tax but which in most
other respects bears the imprint of good intent 1t a,-
thOzed the greatest bond issue in history The total
of its appropriations $2 800 73O94O 1t adopted
number of other which any other time would
nave seemed of great Importance but overshad-
owed by the immensely of those have here selected
for Illustrations.
What must especially be remembered to the honor Of
Congress is that all this unprecedented work done at
dangerous crisis has been performed without any sign
OF p2rtisanshp, without either the playing of party poll
ties on any display Of old partisan antagonisms In this
AGAIN Congress has reflected the spirit of the country
mere are men IN Congress- such Senator La Toilette
ana senator Stone, who have reused against themselves
Dter hostility throughout the land; but do not
eau single comment which has alluded to the fact that
Mr. La toilette is Republican Mr.. Stone Democrat
Inc issue has been of Amercanism That has been
Tile co"ntryS temper and in that temper Congress has
acted There has been party line; There have been
new and deepcu lines but the old line between Repubi-
can ana Democrat has been not only cultivated but ac-
any forgotten far the work of saving the country
Is concerned The Sxyffth Congress- in its first ses.
SOn has won place in history beside which no other
session since 1889 can fairly stand.
u