The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-03-11
69TH CONGRESS
HAS ADJOURNED
THE SENATE FILIBUSTER KILLS
MUCH IMPORTANT LEGISLA-
TON DURING THE
LAST DAYS.
By w. L. CARSS
Congressman, Eighth District

The 69th congress ADJOURNED at
noon, March 4, in political filibuster
in the senate which killed important
legislation such as widows pensions,
the public buildings bill, the alien
property bill, and the second defici-
ency bill, carrying appropriations
amounting to sos, 100000, providing
for many items of major Importance.
Attempt after attempt was made
to bring up these measures, but each
time it failed because of the opposi-
ton by friends of the filibuster. CThe
purpose of a filibuster-to prevent a
majority putting through project
The last four days the senate was in
almost continuous session. Senator
Reed of Pennsylvania and Moses of
New Hampshire were willing to pre-
vent the passage of important legis-
lation rather than to permit the pas
sage of the resolution of Reed of
Missouri providing for continuance of
the campaign fund investigation COM
mittee during the recess of congress,
the passage of which wa specifically
assured if a vote on it could have
been obtained.
The senate continued to the hour
of adjournment in a deadlock when
Vice President Dawes, champion OF
rules revision to prevent filibusters,
addressed that body in scathing
terms. ''This is the only legislative
body in the world where such prac-
tees are permitted" he fairly shout
ed before he banged his gavel an
nouncing the hour of adjournment.
Among the items lost in the final
jam were appropriations for the
army and navy; for putting into eff
feet the new radio law, president al
ready having appointed the commits
sioners; for the building of the three
cruisers, which the president had OPP
posed, but congress approved; for
the federal building program to have
been started in July; pensioners of
the nations wars; world war veter-
ans legislation, claims and for many
other purposes.
The closing hours in the house
chamber bore a marked contrast to
those in the Senate. The House may
we'll be proud of it's record. With
few exceptions the calendar was
cleared of major and minor legisla-
ton, and the feeling was that of hay
ing served the country well. The
house, turning the clock back, con-
tinued for a few minutes past noon.
After adjournment, the navy band
entered the chamber and played The
Star Spangled Banner, and an inform
al program of singing followed.
No special session of congress will
be held as the president holds it is
not needed despite loss of the de-
ficiency and other important measur-
eS.
Congress passed this week the pro-
hibition reorganization measure, which
is regarded as the most important
dry measure since the enactment of
the Volstead Act. The bill establish
es two new divisions in the Treasury
Department, a prohibition enforce
ment bureau and a customs bureau,
all authority to be removed from the
office of the commissioner of intern
al revenue. Employees of the bureau
will be placed under the Civil Serv-
ice law. The medicinal liquor item
was amended in the house by Mr..
Hull of Illinois whereby the margin
of profit for manufacture shall not
exceed ten cents per gallon net, and
for bottling shall not exceed fifty
cents per case net, and charges for
storage not to exceed ten cents per
barrel per month, to sell to the drug
gist at 40 cents pint, and the drug
gist permitted to make 100 per cent
profit or retail at 80 cents a pint.
S. 3170 providing for workmen's
compensation for maritime workers
was passed by the house on March
End. The house amended the bill
striking out the word "seamen" wher-
ever it occurred, and applied compen-
sation to men engaged in loading and
unloading, commonly known as long
shoremen. The original bill included
both longshoremen and seamen, but
the seamen were eliminated. Com
pensation for injuries, however, re-
mains at $500.
1t is my purpose to keep my Wash
ington office open throughout the
year and all requests and communi-
cations addressed to that office will
receive prompt and courteous atten-
ton. For the information of your
readers, l wish to say there are av-
ailable many Government publications,
and requests for lists of bulletins or
for publications of interest to the
home, farm, house garden, care of
infants, and children, etc., will re-
ceive prompt attention.
/ have endeavored through these
weekly letters to keep my constitu-
ents informed on what has been 60
ing on in congress giving the facts
without any attempt to color them,
or to mold public opinion, elaving it
to our readers to form their own con-
illusions. 1t has been a great pleas
ure to have made this contact with
them, and hope to meet with my con-
stituents upon my return to the dis
trict.
With best wishes for your contin-
ued success and prosperity, am,
Yours very truly,