Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-03-07
Congress- Made Notable Record.

Record-breaking in every respect is the
OUTGOING Sixty-fifth Congress. which ad-
journed at noon Tuesday.
The fifth war Congress that has met
since the capital was established in Wash
ington, it has been almost continuously in
session since President Wilson called it
together in extra session on that memoir
able April 2, 1917, on the eve Of Americas
entry into the war against Germany
There have been but 81 days of the entire
period of 70l days since that Congress
was in session when the final gavel fell
Tuesday.
No other Congress in the nations history
can boast such a record. No other Con-
gress can begin to measure up to this one
in billions appropriated in character Of
the legislation enacted. in the broad war
power granted to the Executive, in CEN
tralization of power in the Executive for
purely war purposes, in provision for
amendment Of the Constitution itself. No
other Congress can begin to measure up
to this one in revenue legislation enacted.
in the extent and weight of taxation levied
to enable the Administration to pay the
bills it has contracted during the war.
The first session Of the War Congress
assembled April 2, 1917, and ran 1873 days,
until October 6, 1917. After a brief breath
ing space, the first regular session opened
December 3. 1917. and lasted until No
vember 81. 1918. This was the session
during which most Of the war legislation
was enacted, including the declaration Of
war. 1t was a session that lasted 354
days. II was the longest continuous ses-
sion in the entire history Of the nation.
Only two other sessions approach it in
duration. one Of them being the second
session Of the Sixty-third Congress. which
met December /. 1918. 1t lasted 1928 days.
The other was the famous second session
of the Fortieth Congress, which met De-
cember 2. 1867, during Andrew Johnson's
term, and which lasted 345 days out of
possible 365. But the second session Of
the Sixty-fifth Congress, which sat con-
tinuously for span Of 354 days-just II
days short Of year-tops the record
The third session Of the present Con-
gress met December last. two days be-
fore President Wilson went to Europe and
will have sat 90 days when it adjourned
Tuesday. on the eve of the Presidents
return trip to France. With the excep-
ton of the two days at its inception
and the final week of the session, this
session of the Sixty-fifth Congress has
operated at long distance range from the
President, who has been absent during 80
of the 90 days of the session Some of
its acts have been signed by the President
abroad. but most of its important acts
have or are being signed by him since his
return from France.
With the adjournment on Tuesday. po-
ltical control OF the legislative branch of
the Government passes into the hands of
the Republican party. For the first time
in eight years the Democratic party will
be releeated to the role Of minority party.
II took control of Congress at the begin
ming of the Sixty-third Congress, which
met in extra session at the call of Presi-
dent Taft, on April 4. 1911 Champ Clark.
of Missouri. has been Speaker throughout
the Democratic tenure. The Senate has
had many presiding officers during this
period.
1t has had two vice-presidents in the
chair, Fairbanks and Marshall. Its presi-
dents pro tempore have been Frye, Bacon,
Brandeeee, Curtis. Gallinger Lodge, Clarke
and Salisbury Three of the four Con-
crosses during the Democratic period of
eight years Of control have been special
sessions. In the eight years the four
Democratic Congresses Sixty second, Six
ty-third, Sixty-fourth and Sixty-fifth-on
Tuesday were in session an aggregate of
2,l64 days, or approximately six straight
way years Of sitting out of possible eight,
also record that cannot be surpassed in
another equal period Of American history.
The war crisis broke upon the nation at
the tag-end Of the Sixty-fourth Congress
when Germany threw her submarine
pledges TO the winds and embarked on
compaign of unrestricted submarine fright
fulness. On February 8. President Wilson
delivered his special message in which he
announced severance Of diplomatic rela-
tons with Germany. On February 20.
1917. the President, in a special message
requested authority to arm merchant YES
sells. The Inauguration Of March 5. 1917.
interviewed between the Sixty-fourth and
Sixty-fifth Congress, and when the latter
met on April 2, President Wilson and the
nation were ready for translating the
break with Germany into declaration Of
war.
The Washington Sunday Star has won