The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-03-04

priations committee; Hayes; Californ-
la; Heating, Colorado; Powers of Ken
lucky, Foster. Ilinois; Cox, Barnhart
and Dixon Of Indiana; Miller, Mime.
sofa, Borland, Missouri, Parker, New
Jersey; Gordon, hio; Farr. Pennsyl.
vania: O'Shaunessy, Rode Island;
Slayden,. Gregg and Dies, Texas; and
Cooper and Stafford Of Wisconsin.
= New members of the next congress
include senators-elect Harrison, Mis-
sissippi, Harris, Georgia.; Stanley,
Kentucky; Capper, Kansas, Edge, New
Jersey; Blkins, West Virginia; Nc
Cormick, Illinois,; Newberry, Michi.
gan; and Walsh, Massachusetts,.
Partisan politics, although it caus-
ed the ~mandate for change from DEM
ocratic to republican control of con-
gress, was largely buried during the
war period, war measures being hast.
lily rushed through with big bi-parti-
san majorities. Many acute contro-
versies, however, marked the con-
gress. Among these were tn e1917-
1918 question of war efficiency, de-
veloped from an investigation of the
senate military committee and reach
ing climax in the dispute between
President Wilson and Senator Cham
berlin Of Oregon, chairman of the
committee. Others involved the
league Of nations. the Overman bill
comforting unlimited authority on the
president to reOrganize government
departments, government control OF
railroads and the food control act.
Prosecution of War.
During the first session of the con-
gress, devoted largely to- prosecution
Of the war, among the important
measures passed were:
The declaration of war against
Germany, signed April 6, 1917; the
selective draft act; the iaw for seiz-
ure Of interned German ships: the war
risk insurance bureau act; the first
war revenue bill, the food and fuel
control law; the daylight saving meas
ure; the initial and recOrdbreaking
aviation appropriation of $640,000, 900;
the trading with the enemy act and
measures providing for soldiers ana
sailors insurance and aprotection of
their civil right at home.
Outstanding Measures.
Outstanding measures Of the second
long session, were:
The Austrian war declaration; the
national prohibition resolution; the
Webb export :, trade act; the alien
property custodian bill; the laws for
government control of railroads, tele-
graphs, telephones, cables and radio
utilities; the second draft law; the
war finance corporation act and the
Overman reorganization bill.
During the last session, completion
Of the ,$6,000,000,O00 revenue bill was
the chief accomplishment in addition
to- completion of water power, oil,
gas and coal land development legis-
lation, authorization of additional
bonds and the huge annual appropria-
ton bills. : = /
Woman suffrage also was a much
debated topic, but was defeated in the
senate last month, SIS to 20, lacking
the necessary two-thirds by margin of
one vote, after the resolution pro
posing submission of an equal suffrage
to the constitution had
been, adopted by the house on Jan.
nary 10, 1917, by a 14te of 274 to
1876. The campaign for its adoption
will be renewed in the new con-
gress, ,s& j., II
F, Investigations by both. senate and
house committees were numerous
the three sessions. Among
these were the inquiry into disloyalty !
charges against Senator La Toilette
of Wisconsin, which recently ended in
! vote dismissing the charges Other
important inquiries, in addition to the
senate military committees general
army investigation, were those into
radical PROG erman and brewers prop
uganda, activities of the National Sc
curity league, regulation of the meat
industry; the railroad question, into
coal and sugar condition; the Ford
Newberry senatorial election contest
from Michigan, and the Hog Island
shipbuilding enterprise. m
The senate confirmed thousands Of
It ratified treaties for
acquisition of the Virginia Islands, for
reciprocal drafting Of aliens and sew
eral commercial and arbitration treat
les. Despite the support of President
Wilson, the $25,OOO,OO0 Columbia
treaty again failed.
ESIRAY NOTICE.