Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-26
CRITICISM OF CONGRESS
IS UNJUST, SAYS MARTIN
Democratic Leader Refers to Won
dcrful Accomplishments Since
Declaration OF War.
RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF
Greater Amount OF Important Legis-
1ation Enacted in Forty-Five Days
Than Ever Before Achieved in Any
Period OF American History.
Especial to The Timcs-Dispatch.

Especial to The Times Dispatch.l
WASHINGTON, May Ex-senator
Thomas S. Martin. Democratic floor
leader Of the Senate in a vigorous
statement issued to-day defends Con
gross against those critics who have
insisted that the Legislative bodies had
not proceeded with proper dispatch
toward the enactment Of the lcEisla-
tive war program.
BY array Of facts, the Senator
shows that in forty five days Con
gross has done a greater amount Of
important work than has ever before
hecn accomplished in any period OF
American history. The Virginia Scna-
tor refers specifically to eleven great
bills which have been passed AS All
answer to the complaints which have
been made against Congress.
CRITICISM INDICATES
LACK OF KNOWLEDGE
The following statement was made
by the Senator to The Times Dispatch
correspondent:
THE present extraordinary session
of Congress has been marked by "A
greater volume Of legislation and by
the enactment of mca sures OF more
momentous import than has ever been
Considered in any similar period in the
parliamentary history OF the country.
The criticism, therefore. that has been
lcveled at the House and Senate. grow
ing out of the impa ticncc to place the
country upon war basis at the
earliest possible moment, in my judg-
ment. is unfair. and indicates a lack
Of apprccia tion or knowledge OF the
enormous amount of work which the
two houses Of Congress have per-
formed.
From April to May q there were
exactly forty-hvr working days. and
the membership Of this Congress has
Scarcely taken time to eat or sleep
because of tho responsibilities which
the war has imposed upon them. II
must be remembered that il was II
new Congress that met in response to
The call Of the President. and that
1T the very outset il was confronted
with the necessity of organizations a
process ordinarily recurring time, and
involving many contests. In the
present instance. however. the com.
mittees of both houses were named on
April .. the work of selecting them
having been done during the vacation
period
MODIFIED CLOTURE RULE
ADOPTED At SPECIAL SESSION
At the special session of the
cnatc Immediately preceding the cx-
ira session OF Congress there was
passed Il modified cloturc rule. under
which public business might he cx-
peditcd. The adoption Of such a rule
was accomplished within a few days
uf its introduction. a result that could
not have been attained in any other
period of our history short Of months
OF debate. II at ALL
"On April the German war reso-
luton Was introduced in the House.
and on .Npril 6. or four days after the
assembling Of Congress. the President
alta, he'd his signature to that measure.
Certainly no delay was involved i'm
the passage OF this resolution. perhaps
the most important ever offered.
whether in this s'or any other Congress.
APPROPRIATIONS bills OF
ENORMOUS MAGNTTUDIi
'Since that time Congress has con-
sidered and passed appropriation bills
OF enormous magnitude for the conduct
OF the war. II has authorized the
greatest bond issue ever brought for
ward by any government at given
time. and has proceeded far toward
the enactment OF other. measures con-
stdered necessary to equip our govern
ment for. active participation In the
(Cohtinued on Second PaTe.)