The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-03-14
WARCONGRESSENDS
IN STORMY SESSION
APPROPRIATION BILLS FAIL OF
ENACTMENT DUE TO REPUB-
LICAN FILiBUSTER
WHEAT GUARANTEES SIGNED
Railroad Administration Is Now Prac-
ticaIIy Without Funds-Thirty-ni
Republican Senators Placed on
Record Opposed to League

Washington, March 5.--A bitter con.
troversy between President Wilson and
| the senate over the league of nations
and a filibuster by few Republican
senators seeking to force an immedi-
ate extra session, marked the passing
at noon yesterday of the Sixty-fifth
or great war congress.
Called in April, 1917. to throw
| Americas weight into the conflict
| overseas, the congress held three mo-
mentous and historic sessions. Par
| tisanship lay dormant during the war,
| but it broke forth in. the last session
| to eliminate in final filibuster which
blocked passage of half of the II reg
| ular appropriation bills. including the
| $3.50, 900, 900 railroad administration re-
volying fund. and the huge army, navy
and merchant marine budgets.
SO Senators Oppose League.
Although unsuccessful in their eff
forts to record the senate in favor of
an amendment of the constitution of
the league of nations as now drawn,
the Republican senators left in the
record resolution approved by SO
of them opposing acceptance of the
charter in its present form. Republi-
can Leader Lodge and other spokes-
men said this was notice to the presi-
dent and the peace conference that the
necessary twO-thirds majority in the
new senate for ratification of the pres
ent plan could not be obtained. Demo
cratic leaders privately expressed be-
lief that amendments would be made
soon after the president reached Paris. |
President Wilson spent an hour at |
the capitol before adjournment. Later |
he announced he would adhere to his |
refusal to call the new congress before
his return from France, and criticised |
"a group of men" for their obstruc-
ton. AS a result of the filibuster,
which held the senate in continuous
session for 26 hours, the president had
little to do except sign the $1,000000,-
900 wheat guarantee bill and exchange
leave takings with members and
friends.
NO Session III June.
Because or the presidents decision
on the extra session. members who
crowded outgoing trains last night
felt assured that congress would not
again assemble much before June 1.
Leaders predicted that then it would
remain in continuous session until the
1920 political convention. During the
recess, business will be virtually sus-
pended, except for resumption today
of the Oyerman committees propa-
ganda investigation and the meeting
at the same time of the house RepubIi-
,an committee of committees. With
he ending of congress, scores of state
nents on the results of legislation and
he league of nations were issued by
members with Democrats and Repub-
leans disputing responsibility for fail
Ire of important measures. Most Re
publican members urged the calling of
IN early extra session.
Chief interest at the finish centered
n the senate filibuster and the league
# nations controversy. The filibuster
ontinued from 10 o'clock Monday
morning until IL 30 O'Clock Tuesday,
With Senators Sherman of Illinois, La
toilette of Wisconsin, and France of :
1aryland, occupying most of the l
ime of the long session. 1t even pre-
ented the customary exchanges of
ourtesy at the finish. = Q
Never Saw Such Big Tieup.
'Novor n, % x,oor nc, waterman <,ov,r,,e | !
ional employees said, had there been +
UGH complete tieup of business by r
filibuster,
The long list of measures that failed a
lcluded all reconstruction legislation,
the general railroad legis-
ltion and bills defining a shipping
olicy and dealing with unemploy- | =
ent, labor and illiteracy problems; ;.
he oil, gas and coal land leasing and !.
alter power development bills; the Z,
sw compromise woman suffrage reso- :
tion; legislation to enforce war time :
meat industry, immigra- !,
on exclusion, and alien deportation :.
lis resolutions to terminate govern
ent control of telegraph, telephone
Id other wire utilities Dec 81; the
ditiOn, or so-calfed fred flag bill, "a
med at unlawful acts and propa- lc
nda; the resolution to repeal the y
per cent tax on semi-luxuries in g
e war revenue bill; and Secretary 6
mes bill appropriating 100000, 900 20
r reclamation of waste lands to be Ia
Iotted to soldiers and sailors. y