The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-06-12
CONGRESS QUITS
WORK UNFINISHED
IMPORTANT BILLS GO DOWN IN
DEFEAT DURING FINAL.
MINUTES

Washington, June 8-CongresS
ended its six months session Satur-
day night in an atmosphere of con
troversy and turmoil characteristic
of the bitter dissention which has
marked its proceedings from the
start.
Western senators and representa-
tlyes in the final hours Of the SEES
sion fought an dlost a desperate fight
in legislation to relieve the farmer
and TO reform the reclamation policy
Ct the government.
Not only did the deficiency bill 60
down in defeat in the race against
time, but a special resolution by the
house to make the bonus %appropria-
ton available regardless was lost
in the senate.
Need Special Session
Republican leaders declared that
only a special session of congress
could provide the necessary funds for
the initial costs of the compensation
measure.
The deficiency bill itself was block
ed at the last minute by Senator
Pittman, Democrat, Nevada, because
of the omission of a reclamation APP
preparation proposed by him, and ac-
tion on the emergency bonus reso-
luton was prevented by objections
by Senators Borah, Republican, Ida
no, and King, Democrat, Utah.
The postal salaries increase bill
passed by both senate and house by
almost unanimous votes also went by
the board when President Coolidge
vetoed it on the ground that it was
"extravagant." No effort to call it
up for re-passage was made in the
short time remaining.
A renewal of the Teapot Dome de-
bate in the senate, growing out of a
futile effort by Senator Walsh of
Montana, to secure approval of the
majority report of the oil committee
tied up business at that end of the
capitol most of the afternoon.
The house cleaned up many minor
bills but spent most of the day quar-
reling over the reclamation legisla-
ton which had been attached by
the senate to the deficiency bill. The
principal features of the administra-
TONS reclamation plan finally were
accepted but other changes were
made to which the senate would not
agree.
Measures Lose
Among the mourners over the UNI
was the senate Daugherty committee
whose plans to resume session in
midsummer went awry because
Chairman Brookhart failed to obtain
opportunity to call up an authorizing
resolution drafted for that purpose.
Many other measures, including
the bill authorizing construction of
eight new cruisers and m~odernization
of battle ships and the deficiency
appropriation bill, carry funds to
begin operation of the bonus law
and for many other purposes failed
the final crush of legislation when
The session ended automatically at Z
m.
The house failed to go through
with it's program to adjourn at n
Five minutes before that
hour was reached Representative
Longworth, the Republican leader,
proposed a 15-minute recess. The
hands of the clock opposite the
'peaker's desk were turned back, but
when word of the senate adjourn
nent was received the house followed
iuit.
Leaders Disagree
Although Chairman Warren Of the
.enate appropriations committee in
listed that authority to make the nee
.ssary expenditures to put the bonus
nto operation could only be provid-
d by a special session of congress,
,ther leaders of the senate and house
lid not agree with him.
The partially enacted status Of the
deficiency bill caused some senators
o contend that the federal bureaus
o which appropriation would have
one, were justified in proceeding
nth the expenditure of funds, and
hen reporting a deficiency to the
ext congress. :
1t was Senator King who blocked
he navy departments bill for cruz
ers and battleship improvements. 1t
ad been passed by both houses and s
enate, but the Utah Senator had a t
to reconsider pending and |
served notice just in the tail end
the session that if an attempt were c
iade to take it up he would require
/ least four hours to present his +
ELECTIONS. /