The Holbrook news., 1914-11-07

nave uHOn AC6AoAalAOn fhCAalAAG lO S-~ public domain provides for leasing coal lands in that territory. It es- tabIishes the leasing system of public lands. and, while the bill passed re- lated only to Alaska and to coal lands, the debates showed conclusively that it is the intention to extend the leas- ing system to other public lands in the United States.
 The Alaska leasing law is In line with demands of conservationists, and it is expected to be followed by simi- lar legislation for other public lands Tn fact, the house passed a number of conservation bills which were not talk en up in the senate.
 Miscellaneous Measures.
 A law was passed to promote medi- ation. conciliation and arbitration be tween railroads and their employees It establishes a commission to investi- gate labor troubles and to act as inter- mediaries in the settlement of disputes and disagreements between employers and employed.
 Two bills were passed relating to opium. One levies prohibitive tax of $500 a pound on all opium manu- factured for smoking purposes. The other relates to the importations of opium and is a much more stringent law than heretofore existed.
 An act was passed providing for the election for senators under the new constitutional amendment.
 Congress has been quite liberal in making appropria tons for people in distress. It appropriated $2, 0.OO0 for the relief of Americans abroad who were stranded and without means of returning home as result of the Flu ropean war. $5OO,O00 for the relief and transportation of American citizens in Mexico, $2OO.OlO for the relief of the fire sufferers of Salem. Mass; $3O.OO0 for the storm sufferers in Alaska and S6OO.O00 for the eradication of hog cholera.
 The total appropriations for the year were $115.90S,777.
 Emergency Revenue Act.
 The Sixty-third congress began with revenue legislation. The first session was called to revise the tariff, and the second ended with the enactment of a law to raise $1O0.OO0,OOO additional revenue by an emergency measure. It was entitled a war revenue act on ac- count of the European war causing falling off of importations. The Re publicans, however, asserted that the loss of revenue caused by the war was comparatively small and that the tariff law would have created a deficit. A large part of the money to be raised by the emergency act will come from increased taxes on whisky, beer, wines and tobacco. In addition mary of the taxes imposed by the Spanish war rev enue act of 1898 have been imposed. including most of the stamp taxes.
 The last revenue act, like the first. provoked great deal of partisan de bate. the Republicans taking occasion to criticise the former. tarif bill for failing to produce sufficient revenue and also condemning the extravaganza | of the party in power. The Democrats defended their tariff bill, asserting that unlocked for and extraordinary condi- tions in Europe caused the falling of in revenues and that previous Repub- Iican legislation made large appropria- lions by the present congress neces- sary.
 5iIIs Which Go Over.
 There are quite a number of impor- | tant bills pending which have been passed by the house. but have not been considered by the senate. Tn addition to the conservation bills and the rail ! road bill heretofore, mentioned there is erary test. This is considered an i'm portant measure and passed the house last winter. It has. been on the senate for many months, but has | never been taken up. It is one of the important bills which may be passed during the short session.
 The Philippine bill. giving the Fflipi nos larger share in their government and promising more in the future, which recently passed the house is not likely to pass the senate next session, IS 1t will be debated at length and meet with more determined opposition han in the house.
 The La Toilette seaman's bill is one measure which passed the senate and las been hung up in the house for ong time. It has been materially in committee and in going ,ver to the short session is likely to 'ail.
 The rural credits bill has been prom sed consideration during the short ses- Iion. but as 1t has not been reported rom any committee nor received con alteration in either house It is not likely to be passed next winter.
 The house passed bill regulating 'ailway mail pay. but it has not been eported from the senate committee. An effort will be made to have it con iidered when the senate meets in De .ember.
 Little Chance For Good Roads Bill:
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