Gilpin observer., 1914-12-31

TIE G&AAI4N
Of president, although he soon announced
his purpose OF turning over the executive
function to provisional substitute and
himself becoming a candidate.
On September 23 Villa declared war up
on the provisional president. The consti-
tutionalsts held a meeting at Mexico
City on October and refused to accept
their chiefs resignation. At conven-
tion of the party held at Aguas Calientes
on October IA, Carranza again presented
his resignation and a few days later Villa
promised to support provisional presi-
dent named by the convention. At that,
Gen. Eulalio Gutierrez was appointed by
the convention, but Carranza refused to
recognize him. The new president ap-
government forces and ordered him to
proceed at once against Carranza. AS
Villa and his men neared the capital,
Carranza and his soldiers withdrew.
On November % the American forces
were withdrawn from Vera Cruz and
soon afterward Carranza and his follow
ers took possession of the seaport. Villa
and Zapata united in support of the
Gutierrez interests. and the prospect of
peace in the immediate future is far from
encouraging.
On December 10. 5000 United States
troops were sent to Naco to stop continued
firing by the Mexican factions into United
States territory. The struggle between
the combatants in northern Mexico con-
tinues unabated
Longest Congressional Session.
The first regular session of the Sixty
third congress was the longest since that
great law-making body came into exist
ence-from December 1. 1913 to October
"a. 1884, After the holiday recess both
branches were addressed by President
Wilson upon the regulation of corpora
tions In his address the president recon-
mended the formation of a trade commits
rectorates and holding companies, and an
antitrust law. On January "a the senate
passed bill authorizing the government
to construct a railroad in Alaska. On
February IS the house passed the bill.
During this month. also. the adminis-
tration introduced a measure into both
houses to establish rural credit system
by means of cooperative banks. On Feb
ruary bill was introduced into both
branches which provided that the govern
ment might mine or lease on a royalty
basis certain coal lands in Alaska.
On March s the president delivered an
other address to congress in the house
chamber. in which he urged the repeal
of the provision in the Panama Canal act
gagged in coastwise trade from the pay
ment Of tolls. With a senate amendment
to the effect that the United States re-
1inquished no rights under treaties with
Great Britain and with Panama, the tolls
repeal bill became law.
On April 20 the president again ad-
dressed congress. giving the facts in the
Tampico affair and asking authority to
use force In compelling a settlement. Both
houses passed the necessary measures
without delay. On June the three
measures prominent in the presidents an
thrust legislation-the creation of a trade
commission. the Clayton bill. and the rail-
road capitalization bill-were passed, but
1t was not until August that the senate
adopted the measure creating a federal
trade commission. The Clayton antitrust
bill did not become law until October.
August both houses unanimously
adopted an amendment to the federal re-
serve act, by which the secretary of the
treasury was given power to issue addi-
tional bank currency in such amount as
would be necessary to protect the bust
ness situation and avoid financial panic.
On September the president once more
addressed congress. pointing out the need
of raising additional revenue to meet the
deficit causd by the decline in imports
due to the European war.
The closing days OF the congress passed
in an active effort conducted by members
from the cotton-growing states to obtain
legislation for the retail of the growers
of the staple.
On October "a the first regular session
of the SiSty-third congress came to an
end.
American Government and Politics.
On January 9 Secretary McAdoo and
Secretary Houston began a series of
hearings to determine where the new fed
eral reserve banks were to be established.
The federal reserve bank system went ir-
to effect November 16 On January 10
the Washington authorities and the New
York. New Haven and Hartford railroad
officials came to an agreement by which
the railroad relinquished its trolley lines,
Its control Of the Boston and Maine. and
most of its steamship lines. in order to
avoid further conflict with the Sherman
antitrust law. President Wilson nomi-
tant secretary of the treasury, to be
comptroller of the currency and ex-ofiicio
member of the new federal reserve board.
On January q the president signed an.
important order which established a per-
manent civil government in the Panama
Canal Zone. to go into effect April I. A
few days later he nominated Col. George
w. Goethals to be first governor. On
February IL the government brought suit
Mt Salt Lake City to compel the Southern
Pacific railroad to relinquish Its control
of the Central Pacific.
In March government proceedings were
begun against two railroads: The inter-
state commerce commission accused the
Chicago. Milwaukee and st. Paul road
with overstatement of income and other
financial Irregularities. and suit was
brought against the Lehigh Valley road
under the charge that 1t was monopoliz-
Ing the anthracite coal industry through
= Ill.
the department of Justice announced that
a plan for breaking up the transportation
monopoly practiced by the New York.
New Haven and Hartford had been ar
ranged satisfactory to all parties.
Early in April the government met with
defeat In its attempt to prove that the
Delaware. T.ackawanna and Western road
and the coal-mnlng company Of the same
name existed as an Illegal and monopolis-
tic combination. On April the commits