Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-03-03

DAY, IHc Oilh SNiSA N9S -"
become a memory, page IN his
tory.
Constitutionally, congress dies
at midnight, March 3. But the eX-
igencies of the sessions close may
make necessary a brief session
Sunday, setting new precedent
in American Legislative history.
If it is deemed needful, congress
will recess, and, commanding the
sun and moon to stand still, wilt
meet Sunday as though it were
still Saturday, March 3.
Called into session early in
1921, after the advent of the Hard
ing administration, this congress
has been in practically continuous
session during the two interven-
ing years. 1t has upon its rec
ord some distinguishing marks,
which include.
- 1t was the first congress in
American history to hold four
sessions. Counting the special
session of the senate, it held five.
The senate set the record for
the longest legislative day This
day was IS calendar days long.
1t lasted from April 20 TO Aug
ust 2, 1922, during the tariff de
bate, and was brought to a close
when the senate adjourned be
cause Of the death OF Senator
Grow, Pennsylvania.
IL saw the death of three sens
tors from one State-Rnox, Pen
rose and Crow of Pennsylvania
new thing in senatorial his
tory.
1t seated the first woman who
ever occupied a place in the sen
ate, Mrs. w. II. FELTON, of Geor-
gia,. who by appointment was
senator for q day following the
death of Senator Tom Watson.
It. saw three women occupying
seats in the House.
Bpt the 9th congress real
record was made up OF less triv-
ial, if less generally interesting,
items than these.
Ii was remarkable almost as
much for what it failed to do OF
refused to do as or what it did.
Its record will be the battle
GROUND, of the two major parties
in the campaign Of 1924.
The rise, growth and partial dis
Indignation of the farm bloc was
probably the most significant &C
onomie and political fact of the
congress. This grouping of west
ern and southern legislators in
both houses in a loose bipartisan
organization to obtain legislation
beneficial 10 the farmer and live
stock producer doomed for 4 time
as a major political developmenc,
threatening, in the eyes of some
observers, to grow into 4 third
party. The farm bloc made It
great stir, but an examination OF
its legislative accomplishments
leads to the conclusion that in
the main it did not accomplish
what it set out to do.
For time it held the whip
hand, or appeared to hold it,
over the administration forces. 1t
had part in defeating some adj
ministration measures. But o.
positive accomplishments. it can
boast only the passage of the
packer control bill-"a doubtful
triumph" to quote some farm
bloc members-and the revival
of the war finance corporation ~
a means Of giving farmers easier
credit. This too, has since been
damned with faint praise or op-
emily criticized as having been
beneficial to bankers rather than
farmers. The major items on
the farm bloc program--reform
of transportation bills and the
restoration of the American farm
ers world market--were not &C
compishCd.
Though partisan considerations,
personal iealousies, and hostile
Influences from outside largely
BROKE down the blocs solidarity in
the rlosing days of the congress,
it looks forward to the next con
greSs with great expectations
largely because Of accessions to
its strength through the election
of November, 1922, when the
west and middle west elected farm