The Bismarck tribune., 1925-03-05
'(By The Associated Press)


Washington, March 5.-Despite the
tu rmoil and strife that marked its
days, the sixty-eight Congress was
not entirely lacking in legislative
capacity.
Foremost among its accomplish
ments was the enactment of the new
tax reduction measure which mater
tally eases the burden on those in
moderate circumstances and which
will find its full reflection in the tax
returns that go forward the middle
Of this month.
But when time has written the his
tory of its two hectic years, the re-
tring. Congress probably will derive
it's chief claim to fame from the well
ter of investigation it conducted.
Oil. Department. of Justice, Veter-
ans Bureau, Shipping Board, Air
craft, Wheeler indictment, propagan-
da, Russian bolshevism, campaign e1-
penditures-these were just some of
the inquiries which were put under
way 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 Off
GER; the indictment of Albert 3. Fall,
Harry f. Sinclair and Edward L.
Doheny; and suits for the recovery
of the naval oil reserves.
The Department Of Justice investi-
cation was attended by the forced
retirement of Harry M. Daugherty as
Attorney General; sensational
charges of corruption and graft in
connection with bootlegging, war
fraud cases and the showing Of fight
| films. and brought into prominence
Roxie Stinson and the Little Green
House on K 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 years afterward with the con-
viction of Charles r. Forbes, former
director, and James M. Thompson, St..
Louis contractor, of conspiracy to
defraud the government in connec-
ton 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, defyins the highest ad-
minstration officials in his insist
ence upon a unified air service, and
stirring up navy officers by his
charges of obstruction tactics by the
navy in the bombing tests.
All of the spectacular incidents OF
the sixty-eighth Congress, however,
we're not confined to its committee
rooms. The La Toilette 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 organi
zation until they had won theil
fight for a liberalization of House
rules and the removal of Senator
Cummins, Republican, Iowa, as chair
man Of the Senate Interstate Com
merce Committee.
!. Having Joined the Democrats II
these two fights, the insurgents con
tinued to throw their strength will
i the minority, forcing new inquiries
even over the opposition of Presiden
!, Coolidge, and upsetting the admin
istration program on tax reduction
. and other subjects.
/. So amid ever increasing tumult
, in which the voice of Republican or
, ganization leaders was heard bu
rarely in the face Of continuing ant
, bitter attacks on the administration
the first session of the Congress
y wore on to the convention days. Thel
the democrats, and the insurgent
came to parting Of the ways, botl
meeting overwhelming defeat in tn
; November election.
There was a different picture a
the second session after Presiden
; Coolidge had been given an over
whelming vote of confidence by tn
American people. The Republican
Organization in the Senate read tn
chief insurgents out of their coun
ellis and proceeded to take contrQ
Of the direction of affairs. A SINH
lar course was followed in the Hous
, and the executives Influence wa
felt more and more at both ends Q
the. Capitol.
At the short session, ending yestel
day congress devoted its attention pr
- oo,uo1 ,,,nn1,, XIII, h,