The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-03-05
SIXTY FIFTH
CONGRESS HAS
HEARD TAPS:
Failure of Scores of Important
Bills Gives Promise of Early
COnvening Extra Session.
USUAL SCENES OF
CONFUSION OCCUR
StupendOus Record Made Despite
Dilatory Tactics of Republi-
cans i'm Withholding Action.

i
fifth or great war congress passed into
history today with final taps of the
gavel by Vice-President Marshall and
i Speaker Clark at noon. Failure of
| scores Of important bills gave promise
| Of early convening for reconstruction
legislation of the new congress in ex-
| traordinary session. in which control
passes from the democratic party to
| the republicans.
Unusual scenes OF confusion in the
final rush to complete it's work ac-
| companied the closing hours of con-
gress in which President Wilson, just
back from France in his room off the
! senate chamber, hastily signed many
last-moment measures.
StupendouS was thu record of the
congress, which carried the nation
into and through the war and which
| had been in, almost continuous session
since it was called by President Will
son into extraordinary session April
Il. 1917; to declare war against Ger
many. 1t appropriated about $780,
900, ,OOO,00 authorized $4,000. 600, 900 in
bonds, and enacted countless meas
, ures for prosecuting the war and Of
domestic import. The new congress
will take up the limitless task of re-
construction problems, ratification of
| the peace treaty and other vital queS
| tions. probably Immediately after the
return Of President Wilson from his
second visit to France.
Wilson's Many Addresses.
Special features of the Sixty-fifth
congress were many addresses by
President Wilson, including those
recommending war with Germany ard
Austria, that OF January s, 1917.
enunciating his famous fourteen prin-
ciples of peace. and those endorsing
woman suffrage, announcing the ar
mistice terms imposed upon Germany
last November and, his recent address
detailing accomplishments of his work
at Paris.
There were three session of the
congress. The first extra session
met April 2, 1917, following shortly
after the turbulent and successful
senate filibuster on the administration
armed ship bill which marked the
close of the. Sixty-fourth congress
The dramatic night address of Presi-
dent Wilson to urge war with Ger
many, which was promptly declared.
marked the opening of the extra ses-
sion, called but few weeks after
the presidents inauguration for sec
ond term. The session closed October
6. 1917. lasting 1sS days. The second
session-lasting 354 days and the
longest in the history of American
government-began December 8. 1917,
and adjourned November 81. last The
third and final session which ended
today, began December 2. last. and
was the statutory short session of 03
days.
Substantial democratic majorities in
both senate and house since President
iy,a ion, civ
now have passed. In the new con-
gress, the senate will have 40 republ-
cans and AZ democrats and the house
23S republicans and 1913 democrats. 1
socialist. 2 independents and one pro-
hibitionist.
Many Veterans Retire.
Many veterans in both houses re-
tired with today's adjournment. In
the senate these included Senator'S
Salisbury, of Del, president pro
tempore: Lewis, of Ill. democratic
whip; Shafroth. of Colo. Thompson.
of Kansas. Hardwick. of Georgia. Hol-
lis. of New Hampshire. and Vardamar.
of Mississippi. Goff. of West Virginia.
Smith, of Michigan and Weeks of
Massachusetts,. Among prominent rep
resentatives whose services ended
were Miss Jeanette Rankin of Mon
tana, the first woman elected to the
house: Meyer London of New York, |
socialist: Swager Sherley Of Ken
lucky. chairman of the appropriations
committee; Hayes. California. Keat-
ing, Colorado; Powers of Kentucky:
Foster, Illinois: Cox. Barnhart and
Dixon of Indiana: Miller. Minnesota:
Borland. Missouri: Parker. New Jer-
sey; Gordon, Ohio: F'arr. Pennsy1va-
mia: O'Shaunessy. Rhode Island; Slay-
den, Gregg and Dies. Texas. and Coop
er and Stafford of Wisconsin. |
New members of the next congress |
include Senators-elect Harrison. Mis- |
Harris, Georgia; Stanley, |
Kentucky; Capper. Kansas, Edge, |
Nued on Page Two.)