Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1919-03-07
65TH CONGRESS
MADE RECORD
The Only Congress That Made
Two Declarations Of War
PASSED 300 PUBLIC LAWS
Longest Continuous Session, s54 Days
And Enacted More Important leg
islation Than Any Other In
Nations History.
PASSED 300 PUBLIC LAWS

"'o1eH tHdH my OtHef W
Nations History.
Washington.-Re -Record-breaking in ev-
cry respect was the sixty-hfth Con
gress, which adjourned Tuesday.
The fifth war Congress that has met
since the capital was established in
Washington, it has been almost con
tinuously in session since President
Wilson called it together in extra ses-
sion on that memorable April 2. 1919
on the eve CT Americas entry into the
war against Germany.
No other Congress in the nations
history can boast such a record. No
other Congress can begin to measure
up3o this one in bsllions appropriated,
in character OF the legislation enacted
in the broad war power granted tC
the Executive. in Capitalization 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.
One Session OF s54 Days.
The first session Of the War Congress
assembled April 2. 1917. and ran 1SS
days. until October 6, 1917. After a
brief breathing space. the first regular
session opened December 3. 1917, and
lasted until November 21, 1918. This
was the session during which most Of
the war legislation was enacted. includ-
ing the declaration of war. 1t was a
session that lasted 354 days. II was the
lcngest continuous session in the entire
history Of the nation Only two other
sessions approach II in duration. one Of
them being the Second session Of the
Sixty-third Congress. which met De
eember /, 1918. II lasted 32s days.
The other was the famous second
session Of the Fortieth Congress
which met December 2, 1867, during
Andrew Johnsons term, and which
lasted S45 days out OF a possible 365
But the second session Of the present
sixty-fifth Congress. which sat contin
uously for a span Of S54 days-just II
days short of year-tops the record
The third session Of the present Con,
gress met December 2 last, two days
before President Wilson went to Eu
rope, and sat for 80 days when It ad
journed Tuesday, on the eve of the
Presidents return trip to France
With the exception of two days at its
inception and the final week of the ses
sion, this session Of the Sixty-ffth Con
gress has operated at long-distanee
range from the President, who has
been absent during SO Of the 92 days Of
the session. Some Of its acts have
been signed by the President abroad
but most Of its important acts have
been signed by him since his return
from France,
The war crisis broke upon the ma
ton at the tag-end of the Sixty
fourth Congress when Germany threw
her submarine pledges to the winds
and embarked on a campaign OF un.
restricted submarine frightfulness
On February 3, President Wilson de-
livered his special message in which
he announced severance of diplomatic
relations with Germany. On Feb.
ruary 26, 1917, the President. in a
special message requested authority
TO arm merchant vessels. The inaug-
uration of March 5. 1917, intervened
between the Sixty-fourth and Sixty
fifth Congress, and when the latter
met on April 2, President Wilson
and the nation were ready for trans
Iating the break with Germany into
a declaration of war
Some Notable Dates.
Some OF the outstanding dates OF
the War Congress follow:
March 81 - Proclamation
by President Wilson calling extra
war session.
April 2-Congress convenes in
extra session and the President de
livers address advising that Ger
nany's course be declared war against
United States.
April 4-Senate passed joint reso-
luton declaring war to exist,
April 6-House passed joint reso-
luton declaring war to exist Signed
by President Immediately upon en-.
rollment
April 24-President signed bill
authorizing first issue of Liberty
bonds and providing loans to Allies
Draft Bill Signed.
May 1s.-President signed Selec
tive Draft bill making 10.O00.O .O0C
men liable to military service and is
sued his proclamation.
June 15-President signed bill (,
suppress espionage.
August 12--President signed Foot
Control bill.
September "a ~ President signet
second Liberty bond bill.
December President addressed
Congress urging a declaration Of wa
On Austria-Hungary.
War On Austria-Hunsary.
December both houses passe,