Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-03-04

I OiAls -ilIu NOuSlN0o pdSSCu lALO
| history today with final taps of the
gaveI by Vice President Marshall
and Speaker Clark at noon. Fail
ure of scores of important bills
gave promise of early cOnvening
! for reconstruction legislation OF
the new congress in extraordinary
session. in which control passes
from the Democratic party to the
Republicans.
Unusual scenes of confusion in
the final rush to complete its work
accompanied the closing hours Of
congress, in which President Will
son.. in his room off the senate
chamber, hastily signed many last
moment measures.
Stupendous was the record Of
the congress, which carried the
nation into and through the war
and which had been in almost con-
tinuous session since it was called
by President Wilson into eXtraor-
binary session April 2, 1917, to de-
clare war against Germany 1t ap-
propriated about 100000, 900, 900,
authorized $25, 200. 000,0 900 III bonds,
and. enacted countless measures for
prosecuting the war and of domes-
tic import. The new congress will
take up the limitless task of re-
construction problems, ratification
of the peace treaty and other vital
questions, gave promise OF conven-
ing Immediately after the return
of President Wilson frOu his sec
ond visit to France.
Wilson Addresses a Feature,
Special features 4 the Sixty
fifth congress were many addresses
by President Wilson, including
those recommending war with Ger
many and Austria, that of Jan. 8,
1917, enunciating his famous IA
principles of peace, and those en-
dorsing woman suffrage, annOunc-
ing the armistice terms imposed
upon Germany last November.
There were three sessions of the
congress. The first, extra session
met April 2, 1917, following shortly
after the turbulent and successful
senate filibuster on the administra-
ton armed ship bill which marked
the close of the SiXty-fourth con-
gress. The dramatic night address
of President Wilson to urge war
with Germany, which was promptly
declared, marked the opening of the
extra session, called but a few
weeks after the presidents inaugu-
ration for a second term. The ses-
sion closed Oct. 6, 1917, lasting lS8
DAYS. The second session-lasting
354 days and the longest in the
history of American government
began Dec. 3, 1917, and adjourned
Nov. 81. last The third and final
session which ended today began
Dec. 9 last, and was the statutory
session of SO days.
Substantial Democratic major
tiles in both senate and house
since President Wilson's inaugu-
ration six years ago now have
Dassed. In the new congress, the
serate will have 40 Republicans
and Al Democrats and the house
23S Republicans and 1913 Demo-
Gratis. one Socialist, two Independ-
ents and one Prohibitionist.
Many Veterans Pass Out
Many veterans in both houses
retired with today's adjournment.
In the senate these included Sen
ator Salisbury of Delaware, presi-
dent pro tempore; Lewis of ILL
nois. Democratic whip; Shafroth OF
Colorado, Thompson of Kansas,
Hard wick of Georgia, Hollis of New
HAMPSHIRE, and Vardaman OF
Mississippi. Golf of West Virginia,
Smith of Michigan and Weeks Of
Among prominent
whose services
ended were Miss jeanette Rankin
of Montana, the first woman elected
to the house; Meyer London OF
New York, Socialist; Swager Sher-
ley of Kentucky, chairman of the
committee; Hayes,
California; Heating, Colorado;
Powers of Kentucky, Foster, Illi-
nois: Cox, Barnhart and Dixon OF
Indiana; Miller, Minnesota; Bor-
land. Missouri; Parker, New Jer-
sey; Gordon, Ohio; FAIR. Pennsyl-
O'Shaunessy. Rhode Island
Slayden, Gregg and Dies, Texas;
and Cooper and Stafford of Wiscon-
sin.
New members of the next con-
gress include Senators-elect Harri-
sor. Mississippi: Harris. Georgia
Stanley, Kentucky. Capper, Kan
sas; Edge, New Jersey; Eakins.
West Virginia; Mccormick, Hi
nois; Newberry. Michigan, and
Walsh, Massachusetts.
Politics Buried.
Partisan politics, although II
caused the mandate for change
from Democratic to Republican
control OF congress. was largely
buried during the war period. war
measures being hastily rushed