Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-03-05
Many Investigations
Featured Two
Years of Congress

.
Despite the turmoil and strife that
marked it's days, the sixty eighth
Congress was not entirely lacking in
/ legislative capacity.
Foremost among its accomplish
ments was the enactment of the new
tax reduction measure. which ma
terially eases the burden on those in
moderate circumstances and which
will find it's full reflection in the tax
returns that go forward the middle
of this month.
But when time has written the
history of its two hectic years. the
retiring Congress probably will
derive it's chief claim to fame from
the welter of Investigations it con-
Quoted.
Oil, Department Of Justice. Veter-
ans Bureau, Shipping Board, Air
craft, Wheeler indictment. propa-
eanda, Russian bolshevism, cam
paign expenditures-these were just
some of the inquiries which were
put underway in the Senate and
House.
While few recommendations for
constructive legislation came out of
any OF them, the oil inquiry caused
the retirement Of one Cabinet Of
Gcer; the indictment of Albert e.
Fan, Harry +. Sinclair and Edward
! H.. DohenE; and suits for the re-
covery OF the naval oil reserves.
The Department of Justice in
vestigation was attended by the
forced retirement of Harry M.
Daugherty as Attorney-General,
end graft in connection with boot
/ Logging. war fraud cases and the
showing of fight films. and brought
into prominence RoXie StinSon and
the Little Green House on X. Street.
The Veterans Bureau inquiry
turned up the first of the scandals
that rocked the capital and the ma
ton and came to its climax nearly
two wears aftcrWard with the con-
viction of Charles r. Forbes, former
director, and James NJ. Thompson,
st. Louis contractor, of conspiracy
to Gefraud the government in con-
| rection with hospital contracts.
Each has been sentenced to two
years in the penitentiary.
The chief sensations in the air.
craft inquiry were furnished in the
closing days with Brigadier General
Mitchell, assistant chief of the army
air service, defying the highest adj
sistence upon unified air service.
and stirring up navy officers by his
charges of obstruction tactics by the
navy III the bombing tests.
All of the spectacular incidents of
| the siXty-eighth Congress, however,
were not confined to it's committee
rooms. The LaFollette Insurgents
came riding in the saddle of power
| in the opening days and proceeded
to exercise their strength by tying
up both the House and Senate
| organization until they had won
their fight for liberalization Of
! House rules and the removal of Sem
! ator Cummins, Republican, Iowa, as
chairman of the Senate Interstate
Commerce Committee.
Having joined the Democrats In
these two fights, the insurgents con-
! tinued to throw their strength with
the minority. forcing new inquiries
| even over the opposition of President
Coolidge, and upsetting the admins
Stration program on tax reduction
and other subjects.
SO amid ever increasing tumult. in
which the voice of Republican
| organization leaders was heard but
rarely in the face of continuing and
| bitter attacks on the administration
| the first session or the Congress
wore on to the convention days
Then the democrats, and the insur-
! gents came to parting Of the ways
both meeting, overwhelming defeat
| in the November election.
There was different picture at
| the second session after President
Coolidge had been given an over
! whelming vote of confidence by the
American people. The Republican
! organization in the Senate read the
chief insurgents out of their
councils and proceeded to take
| control of the direction of affairs
A similar course was followed in the
House and the executives influence
| was felt more and more at both ends
of the Capitol.
| At the short session. ending today
! Congress devoted it's attention
| primarily to the annual supply bills
] but even SO 1t left fair record oil
legislative accomplishment. Besides