Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-03-04
Great War Congress Passes On Into
History as Session Comes to Close;
Its Record Most Stupendous One

jOrities Many acute controversies,
however, marked the congress.
Among these were the 1917-191S
question of war efficiency, devel-
Oped from an investigation of the
senate military committee and
reaching a climax in the dispute
between President Wilson and Sen
atOr Chamberlain of Oregon, chair
man Of-the committee. others ir-
volved the league of nations, the
Overman bill comforting unlimited
authority on the president to renr-
ganize government departm
government control of railroads
and the food control act.
During the first session of %on-
gress, devoted largely to prCsecu-
ton of the war. among the import
ant measures passed We're:
The war declaration against Ger
many, signed April 6. 1917; the Sc
leCtive draft act: the law for
seizure of interned German ships:
the war risk insurance bureau 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 $4,000, 900; the trad
ing with the enemy act: and meas
ures providing for soldiers and
sailors insurance and protection OF
their civil rights at home
Feats of Second Session.
Outstanding measures of the
second, long session were:
The Austrian war declaration:
the national prohibition resOlu-
ton; the Webb export .r2de act;
the alien property custodian bill:
the laws for government control
Of railroads, telegraphs, telephones,
cables and radio utilities; the sec
ond draft law; the war finance
corporation act and the Overmau
reorganization bill.
During the last session, compile.
ton of the $4,000, 100000 revenue
bill was the chief accomplishment
in addition to completion of the
wheat guaranty bill. authorizations
of $7,000,00O,00O in short term
notes, and the huge annual appro-
priation bills.
Woman suffrage also was a
much-debated topic, but was de-
ferred in the senate last month So
TO 20 lacking the necessary two
thirds by a margin of one vote.
after the resolution proposing sub
mission of an equal suffrage
amendment to the constitution had
been adopted by the house on Jan.
10, 1917. by a vote of PA to 1876
The campaign for its adoption will
FnnnUp1 n
Numerous Investigations.
Investigations by both senate
and house committees were numer-
GUS throughout the three sessions.
Among these were the inquiry into
disloyalty charges against Senator
LaFOllette of Wisconsin, which re-
Gently ended in a vote Diminishing
the charges. Other important in
quires. in addition to the senate
committees general army
investigation, were those into radi-
cal, pro,German and brewers pro-
paganda. activities of the National
Security league, regulation of the
meat industry; the railroad cues
ton into coal and sugar condition:
the Ford-Newberry senatorial cleo
AIOh COIIetSL rum ana me
Hog Island shipbulding enterprise.
The senate confirmed thousands
of nominations. 1t ratified treaties
for acquisitions of the Virgin ISL
ands, for reciprocal drafting of
aliens and several commercial and
treaties. Despite the
support of President Wilson, the
$25,000,000 Columbia treaty again
failed
Lewis Makes Counter Move.
Republican leaders decided to
make no further attempt to get ac-
ton on the Lodge resolution to
record the senate against the con
stitution Of the league of nations
as now drawn. AS a counter meas
ure Senator Lewis of Illinois, Dem
ocrat, prepared a resolution pro-
posing that the senate approve all
proper efforts of the president to
effect league of peace"