Evening journal., 1914-01-01
EPOCHAL YEAR
In OUR HISTORY
Radical Changes In the Amer
lean Governmental Folly
During 1913
STIRRING EVENTS AT
HOME AND ABROAD

WASHINGTON. Jan. /. - Twelve
months OF 1918 wrought changes IN the
American government political, eco
nomic and financial probably more iaf-
reaching than any other year oi thc
last quarter century--this was apparent
in a backward glance over the mem"t. I
able events of the pust year IN all
branches of government activity.
A Democratic admi istration in ma
tional affairs came t. power IN tins
twelvemonth. with Democratic Presi-
dent and a Democratic Congress nc hi-
back. for the first tine since Grover
4 Cleveland occupied the White House.
The first Constitutional amendments
since 1870 were perfected. providing two
radical changes i'm the fundamentals oi
government AN income tax and the di-
rect election OF United states senators.
The national bank and currency sys-
tenn devised to float the debt of the
Civil War. and which has operated ever
since. was reorganizcd into federal re-
servo system. IN, which the central bank
plau. the dominant system of Europe
was rejected and a vast scheme oi III
nancial reorganization perfected.
n
feetive. the FIRST since the Wilson l}lll ol
1898, and one OF the most comp'ehen'
, sive tariff measures ever enacted.
A Big Project.
, A parcel post system was orougn'
, into successful operation and some o'
its rates were later reduced, whiie Ger
tain limitations We're extended.
I, Tho Interstate Commerce COMMISSION
+ began a physical valuation OF railways
a project which will cost millions ah'
i take years to complete, but which Is eN
r pected to ultimately provide basis o
rate-making. MEANWHILE. the ~ giea
D eastern railway systems renewed appn
cation Tor a per cent. general ineieas
in freight rates aud the commission n'
! rected reductions in express rates Wn'c
= are expected TO save the pubhc approx
y matelv S3OO0O,0OO year.
!. Last steps in building the fanam
Canal were taken, with the prooaoint
/. that the greatest engineering ieat oil "
/, noe will be in operation n the new yea
~ Practical control OF the Philippine go'
/, crnment was delivered to the natives
~ the islands by President Wilson's AZ
81 pointment OF native majority on u
I'M Philippine Commission.
h What promised d new era in relation
cr of the government with great corpor
tions in the enforcement OF the Shefm'
a Antitrust Law was brought about by .
m. "bloodlessv dissolution oi the Americ
he Telephone and Telegraph Company
tv lations with the Western Union tr'
dent Wilson's open declaration that {
administration desired TO eo-opei'
with robustness" in a peaceful .
er. ministration OF the law was received
est business and financial circles with G
to- dences OF optimism.
Supreme Court Decisions.
The Supreme Court laid down 81
eral decisions of deep-rooted imp'
lance Ii decided that owners
copyrights and patents may not e
troll the price at which retail deal
resell their products to the consu
err II sustained the validity OF
- sherman law as criminal measl
n FOR the first time in the Turpent
- Trust case. In the cotton corner ca
II laid down the principle that
corner" i'm any commodity was
sai violation OF the antitrust laws.
De the state rate cases. 1t decided
oI States through their railroad &C
ilVe missions have control over the ri
rese of lines within their borders irresI
.ne tive of the Interstate Commerce c.
,rn mission
IN ~, In foreign relations. affairs OF
n'i year were hardly lesn eNenuui.
onS, ,,, retary Bryan's plan Cor internat
~ ~ al peace was accepted in prime
.s i'Ss BY more than 80 nations. and tr
aiu az les with the United States actu
VI we're signed by Netherlands and
o..Io aragua.
rye The most important pronou
70 ments OF the admin STATIONS
eign policy were made by Presil
was Wilson when he withdrew the
ouie port of the United States from
'i'o. bankers I'm the so-called six-pc
"au Chinese loan: in his Latin-Amer
oi statement. I'm which he proclai
hoO the intention of the United State
lese- recognize on he Western Hemisp
aIus only those governments founded
'ha' law and order" and in his now
ehse, ed Mobile speech. in which h. pl
ed out the menace of foreign
+ anu cessions to the peace and securil
- Central and South America.
NJ N5e, Foreign Policy.
NV Relations with Mexico. the Al
.,.i',ra can governments refusal TO r.
",,,or. nize Huerta and a spirited eXch
- .'al;a. of notes on the subject were
-, Diplomatic events of the year.
!, ~ Britain's protest against the ex
I" -. ton Of American shipping from
80, in the Panama Canal, and ia
~ t protest against the anti-alien
u LEGISLATION in California were thu
,,..i lother principal features. Both
-, -, are IN the course OF diplomatic
,otif,.. cussion.
Plans for the extention of Anne
~ - o trade abroad by the creation OF
:, mercial agents of the Departme
Commerce we're launched; impe
steps In the governments part
MI ton in relations between capita
1,-4.'. ,''. labor we're the creation of new
y, - folio I'm the Cabinet for a secl
,n,t I'7 of labor. to which William b. "
...,,,ro of Pennsylvania, a prominent
,.;it Il, leader, was appointed, and the
ton by Congress of federal
..,o.t mission in industrial relations,
:, the has begun a study of the entire
inc ear ject.
|,,rt Commanding features in the
a., al affairs Il the nation were q
3.sat nouncement of a liberal policy
development Of Alaska with Tn
posed building Of a governmen
road: a policy of conservation
Immense properties of the
tribes: and proposed federal
0nhV NJ ALI deposits OF radium, late
come so valuable in medicine
Aqriculturally. the year wa
ami into 80 unDracedented prosperity.