The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-03-11
CONGRESS CLOSES
EVENTFUL SESSION
SIxTY-SIxTH ADJouRNS WITH
OUT HAVING SETTLED MANY
... IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.
Army and Navy Appropriation Budgets
and the immigration Exclusion
Bill neutrality-suspicious.
Total 1920, GOO, 900.

Washington.-The Sixty-sixth con-
gress passed peacefully into history
on March 4 with little of the furry
usually attendant to the hurly-burley
of an Inauguration.
Final .gavels fell in the house at
IL 80 o'clock and in the senate about
II 80. Immediately the new senate
was called to order by Vice President
Coolidge for the session requested by
President Harding.
The final sessions were virtually de-
yoid of legislation. The principal bills
which failed were the army and navy
appropriation budgets and the immi-
grafton exclusion bill. The army and
immigration measures met pocket
veto by President Wilson, and the
naval bill failed in the senate.
In addition to the army and immi-
grafton bills, President Wilson pocket
ed the Wason bill, amending the war
risk insurance act, and a private claim
bill.
President Wilson, in conformance
with custom, waited upon congress in
its final hour in his room off the senate
chamber, signing a few last minute
measures. Among these were the sun
dry civil appropriation bill and the
Langley bill appropriating $1S,600,000
for disqualification of former service
men. .s -
Swearing in of thirty-two senators
was the first business of the sew SEN
ate, which is expected to continue its
session through next week and then
adjourn until the extra session of the
Sixty-seventh congress is called. Only
one senator-elect, Peter Norbeck of
South Dakota, failed to respond to his
name.
| Statements regarding appropriations
showed total appropriation during
the congress of about $S,240,000,000, of
which about $3,500,000,000 was made
during the last session. In the house
wrangle over the money records, the
Republicans claim greater economies
a saving of $3,000,0OOO 00-according
to Representative Mondell, Republican
floor leader, but the Democrats assert
ed no real economy had been achieved
Prominent among the measures
which died were the Knox peace reso-
luton, the soldier bonus bill, the
Calder coal regulation bill, and the
packer control bill. The bill for gov
eminent regulation of coal storage
also died in the house.
Other important measures which
failed included those providing for es-
adjustment of budget system; for
reapportionment of congress; for re-
organization of the patent office; for
! cooperative marketing by farmers by
exempting them from the antitrust
laws; for an appropriation of $780,
100000 for federal good roads aid; to
stop loans to the allies; to prohibit
future trading in foodstuffs; to pro-
hibit strikes on railroads and other
common, carriers; for civil service re-
forms; for creation of department
of education for infant and maternity
aid; for action on the impeachment
proceedings of Representative Welty,
Democrat, Ohio, against Federal Judge
Lands; for punishment of commercial
bribery; for general amnesty to per-
sons convicted under the espionage
laws; to prohibit "cost plus govern
ment contracts; for Philippine indie
pendence and to extend prohibition to
the Philippines, and for repeal of the
railroad physical valuation law.