Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-10-15
Review OF First Regular Session Of
Sixty-Third Congress, Which Began
Dec. 1, 1913, Shows Much Was Done.

emergency fHTTfl'.-
Law creating in the Treasury Depart
ment a Bureau of War Risk Insurance,
appropriating SJ.000.O 900 To insure ships
of American registry against hazards of
the European war. .r
Resolutions apprpriating S2.IJ0.0m
for protection and transportation of
American citizens stranded IN European
war zones and authorizing the American
Red Cross Society 10 ~harter a ship of
foreign register and fly the American
flag.
Appropriation of Sl.0On.Ouo for extra
expense of Diplomatic aud Consular ser
vice in taking over embassies. legations
and consular offices of warning nations IN
Europe.
Before these unforeseen conditions
which demanded decisive action To cope
with the European situation. Congress
had ON its hands for most of the session
the threatening Mexican imbroglio which
came to a climax im the act of rcprisal
by the government in the seizure Of Vera
Cruz. Many times the situation was
critical. and actual warfare with McXi"o
was prevented only by the course of the
administration and the cool heads in
Congress ia preventing %untowarl orator
zeal outbreaks and unwisc action. Leg
~iSlation growing out Of the Mexican con
trovcrSy Was limited 10 the following:
Resolution expressing Congress JUST
~fication Of employment bv the President
of armed forces % the United States to
enforce demands or affronts and indig
mites against this nation and disclaim-
ing any hostility Ia the Mexican people
or any purpose To make war ON Mexico.
Appropriation Of ~JnO.Ono for tranSpor
tation and care Of informed Mexican sol
dicrS and military refugees and ~.dhD.noO
for relief aud transportation Ia the lnI-
ted States of America citizens in Mexico.
Other legislation placed upon the sta
tute books included scores of local inn
provcment. laws. many measures relating
10 land entries. and the following:
General appropriations for government
expenses a~ggrcgating approximately H..
200. UpO. 900.
Appropriation of >3n.UOD. nv for rivers
and harbors improvements at discretion
of Wan Department. PASSED as substitute
for ,;.OVD.OoO specific appropriation bill
after prolonged flibuster.
Law granting public water supply 10
city Of san Franri>co from llctchy val
lev III Yosemite National Park.
Act prohibiting importation If opium
except for medicinal purposes under
Treasury regulation and placing prohi-
bition taX of $500 a pound on opium
manufactured in the United States for
smoking purposes.
Act authorizing payment ~ money or
dcr> "a any money order office IN u
TRY although drawn on specified office.
Appropriation of StO0.oOO for treat
ment and eradication of hog cholera IA
douriuc.
Law limiting labor 10 women in the
District uf Columbia to : hours "A day.
Agricultural extension act providing
for cooperation between Department Of
Agriculture and State Agricultural col
lrgcS ia diffusion ~ information relating
10 agriculture and home economics and
providing for an ultimate annual appro-
priation of nearly S5.OO0.00o
An Act raising the American Diplo-
matte agencies in Argentina and Chile
from legations "a embassies.
a provision for election ~ United
States Senators under laws governing
election II members If House Of Repre-
>cntativcS i'm states where legislatures
had not passed special election laws.
.Aci providing agricultural entry of
phosphate. nitrate. nptash ami other min
cral lands. W
.Act providing inccshc tax Of | per ccnt.
~ the gross annual income nf railroad
corporations in Alaska.
Law establishing the United States
Coast Guard and consolidating the rev
emu cutter and life saving services with
increases i'm SALARY for csHployc>.
Act recognizing diplomatic aud con
Sular service nf The country.
Act providing ar government leasing
~ coal lands I'D Alaska and a. prevent
monopolization II natural resources Of
the territory.
Resolution creating commission 10 con
slider the sshicct of national aid for vo-
than June | next.
Foreign relations ~ the United states
absorbed much attention ~ the -ongrc>S
irrespective ~ the wars ia Mexico and
Europe and formed the basis for discus
sion by the President in his annual mes
sage and in frequent conferences with
members of the foreign relations com
mittcc. This committee lost its chair.
man early i'm the session through the
sudden death ~ Senator Augustus q Ba-
con Of Georgia. Senator William y.
Stone. ofsMi>souri was chosen a. sue.
cred him n head ~ this important com
mittee which was busy throughout the
session with the consideration IF treaties
and other foreign affairs. General ar.
filtration treaties with twelve foreign
nations. upon recommendation ~ this
committee. were ratified ~ the Senate. a.
follows:
Great Britain. Japan, Italy, Spain,