The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-03-03
CONGRESS IN
FINALSESSl0N;;
BILLS KILLED
Many Measures go by Default
in Eleventh Hour
Jam
BONUS BIG ISSUE
History of Session Almost
Continuously in Session
Reviewed

Washington. Mar. ). Congress
was settling all pending matters to-
day preparatory for final adjourn
ment.
The administration plan for Am
crican participation in the Inter
national court organized by th'
League Of Nations was finally pu
on the shelf for this session O
congress by the senate today whc,
it voted 40 to "a against proceedin,
with consideration of the resolution
of Senator King, democrat. Utal
proposing to grant the president tho
necessary authority.
The vote presented an almos
straight party line up. all the rcpub
licans except Senator Norbeck o
South Dakota voting against consid
Grafton of the resolution again.
Three democrats, Shields of Ten
nesscc, Walsh of Massachusetts, an,
Walsh of Montana voted with tn,
republicans in opposition.
An eleventh hour drive for actor
on wide range of bills was on to
day as the Sixty-scventh Congress
ncarcd it's close. Both the senat
and house must according to Law
adjourn sine die by noon tomorrow
While legislation, varied in scop
and vital III effect on internationa
relations as we'll as on purely Am
erican activities, has been enacted
it was apparent that hundreds o
measures would fail. despite las
minute efforN to extricate then
from the jammed calendars of boti
houses.
Sat Continuously
i With the passing of the presen
Congress, in session practically con
tinuously since early in 1921, Wash
ington faces suspension of con
gressional activities which probabl,
will continue until the first rcgula
session of the Sixty-eighth Congress
in December. In the event Presi
dent Harding adheres to his prcsen
intention of not calling specia
session, the recess will be the long
est since 1915.
The closing Congress, record
breaking in that it has consiste
of four sessions for the first tim
in history and it's acts have touchc,
hitherto virgin fields in American
legislation, was ushered in with tn
Harding administration.
The four sessions were preceded
by special but brief session of tn,
Senate only March to Is. 1921, a
which, with the new President an,
former senator esta ablishing q pre-
ccdent by appearing personally be
fore the senate behind closed doors
the new cabinet members were con
firmed.
The first session of the Sixth
seventh Congress, a special one, wa
from April II. 1921, to Nov. %, an,
was notable for its conclusion O.
peace with Germany and Austria
reduction Of the army and nava
establishments and for revision o
internal revenue laws, reducing tax
es about one billion dollars annual
ly, according to administration csti
mates.
The second, and first regular ses
sion was from Dec. s, 1921, to Sept
%, 1922, with passage of the Ford
ney-McCumbcr tariff act after NOR
than years consideration. Scnat'
ratification of the Washington arm
conference treaties, and the soldier
bonus fight, which ended with tn
presidential veto, as it's signal af
fairs. During this session came tn
record-breaking single legislat:v,
day of the senate, the longest, il
American congressional history, last
ing on the tariff bill, from Apri
20 to August 2 without a formal ad
journment.
The third session was specia
one. called particularly for hous
consideration of the administration
shipping bill. 1t lasted from Novem
ber 20, shortly after the congres
sional elections, until December a
Passage by the House of the ship
ping bill, seating the first woma'
senator, Mrs. w. H. FELTON, of Geor
gia, resignation of Senator Truman
H. Newberry, republican,, Michigan
and senate blocking of the Dye
anti-'vnching bill and the admins
tratioh measure proposing $5,000,0O
loan to Liberia were its principa
features.
The Congress closes with the re
cent regular session beginning Dc
cember 4, in which the shipping bill
fight, farm credits legislation an
the British debt funding bill hav
been predominant.
Billions Appropriated
Billions of dollars in annual an
special appropriations have been 0,
dered during the four sessions
hundred of bills, public and private
passed and thousands of appoint
ments confirmed. Among the latte
were those of Chief Justice Taft an
three associate justices of the 81
preme Court-Sutherland, Butle
and Sanford and scores of ambasss
dors and other American diplomat
IContinued on Page y