New-York tribune., 1919-03-05
Stupendous Work of the
Late Sixty-Gtth Congress
1t Declared War ON the Huns, Appropriated 90
Billions for Purposes of Victory and Then
Saw the Passing of the Democratic Majority

fcatcd the woman suffrage amend
tt 1t was addressed by the Pres
= K ident of the United States nine
times, or more often than any other
Congress has been so addressed.
- 1t conducted twenty-six con-
ercssional Investigations.
Although the Democrats were in the
majority in both the House and Senate
during the life Of the Congress, the
President was forced to depend on the
Republicans to put through practically
every one of the larger war measures.
During it's life the Congress wit
messed the control pass to the Rcpub-
licans in the election for the Sixty
sixth Congress, which will succeed it.
Born in the flush of war enthusiasm
that had united the country and sub
merged parties, it passed into history
amid the bltterest animosity 5etween
the legislative and executive branches
of the government.
The Sixty-fifth Congress was first
called together in an extra session by
President Wilson on April 2, 1917, to
declare war on the imperial government
Of Germany. Two months before. in
the closing weeks of the Sixty fourth
Congress, the President had severed
diplomatic relations with Berlin in con-
sequence Of the formal resumption by
Germany of unrestricted submarine
warfare. The calling of the extra ses-
SION was precipitated by the commls-
sion of covert acts" by German sub
marines in the sinking Of three Amer
lean merchantmen.
few days less than a month before
President Wilson had been inaugurated
for his second term. His appearance
before the Congress to ask the declara-
tion of war was a dramatic one, COM
ing as it did in the evening. Within
four days the war resolution was
passed through both houses and the
war formally proclaimed.
Partisan Feelings Buried
Record time was made in the pas
sage of the various war measures. The
Republicans buried all partisan feel
ings and when Democratic leaders
proved obstructive they were swept
aside and appeal made to the minority
leaders to take hold. Thus when Rep
resentative James Hay, of Virginia,
then chairman Of the House Military
Affairs Committee, refused to handle
the selective service act the President
appealed to Representative julius
Kahn, Of California, ranking Republi-
can member Of the committee, who put
the measure through with unprece-
dented speed.
The extra session lasted until Octo-
Der 6, 1917. covering 1888 days
Among 'he important measures that
we're passed during this period were :
Blli authorizing seizure Of interned
German ships; war risk insurance act i;
first war revenue bill fuel and food
control act; daylight saving law; $780,
with the enemy act, and measures pro-
vlding for soldiers and sailors insur-
ance and protection Of their civil rights
at home.
War on Austria Declared
The next sesson-the first regular
session and the longest in the history
Of the American Eovernment-ran
from December 3, 1917, to November
II, 1918, period of 354 days. 1t was
on the day following the opening of
this session that the President asked
for declaration Of war against Aus
tria- Hungary. In addition to the
passage Of this declaration the out
standing measures passed at this ses-
SION were: The national prohibition
amendment resolution; the Webb ex-
port trade act; the alien property Gus
todian bill; the laws for government
control during the war period Of the
railroads. telegraphs. tenephones, ca
bles and radio utilities; the act ex-
tending the age limits of the seIectve
draft to include all men between
eighteen and forty-fve years of age;
the war finance corporation act, and
the Overman act for coordinating and
consolida ing the various government
war agcn les.
In tho period that had ntervened
since the first grant Of war powers
growing dissatisfaction throughout the
country over the progress Of the war
preparations Of the United States re-
suited in an investigation by the Son
ate Military Affairs Committee. culml-