The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-03-05

New Jersey; Elkins. West Virginia;
Mccormick, Illinois; Newberry, Michi-
gan, and Walsh, Massachusetts,.
Partisan politics, although it caused
the mandate for change from demo-
cratic to republican control of con-
gress, was largely buried during the
war period, war measures being
hastily rushed through with big BIZ
partisan majorities. Many acute con-
trOversies, however, marked the con-
gress. Among these were the 1917-191S
question of war efficiency. developed
from an investigation of the senate
military committee and reaching a
climax in the dispute between Presi-
dent Wilson and Senator Chamberlain
of Oregon. chairman of the commit
tee Others involved the league of ma
tions. the Overman bin, comforting UNI
limited authority on the president to
reOrganize government departments,
government control of railroads and
the food control act.
First Session Record.
During the first session of the Con-
gress, devoted largely to prosecution
of the war. among the importan.
measures passed were: The war de-
claration against Germany. signed
April 6, 1917: the selective draft act;
| man ships; the war risk insurance bu-
reau act; the first war revenue bill;
the food and fuel control law: the
daylight saving measure: the initial
and recOrd-breaking aviation appro-
priation of s640.OOO.oO0; the trading
with the enemy act; and measures
providing for soldiers and sailors in
surance and protection of their civil
rights at home.
Second Session Features.
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, telegraphs, telephones, ca
bleS and radio utilities; the second
draft law: the War Finance corpora
ton act and the Overman re-organi-
zation bill
During the last session, completion
of the $4,000, 5000, 900 revenue bill was
the chief accom- plishment in addition
to completion of the wheat guaranty
bill authorization OF $1,000. 1000, 900 in
term notes and the huge au-
thorization of additional bonds and
the huge annual appropriation bills.
Woman suffrage was a much-tie-
senate last month, So to %, lacking
the necessary two-thirds by margin Of
one vote, after the resolution propos-
ing submission OF an equal suffrage
amendment to the Constitution had
been adopted by the house on January
10, 1917, by a vote of 274 to 1876. The
campaign for its adoption will be re-
newed in the new congress.
Investigations Numerous.
Investigations by both senate and
house committees were numerous
throughout the three sessions. Among
these were tn inquiry into disloyalty.
chargs against Senator La Toilette Of
Wisconsin, which recently ended in q
vote Diminishing the charges. Other
important inquiries. in addition to the
senate military committees general
army investigation, were those into |
radical. pro- German and brewers pro-
paganda. activities of the National !
Security league, regulation of the |
meat industry. the railroad question. |
into coal and sugar condition: the |
Ford-Newberry senatorial election |
contest for Michigan. and the Hog |
Island shipbuilding enterprise.
The senate confirmed thousands OF |
nominations 1t ratified treaties Cor |