The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-10-29
GREAT VOLUME OF LEGISLATION
COMPLETED BY LONGEST CONGRESS

, lating to land entries, and the follow
ing:
General appropriations for govern
ment expenses a~ggregating approx
mately 81, 200, 600, 1000.
Appropriation of $40, 900, 900 for rivers
and harbors Improvements at discre-
ton Of war department, passed as sub
stitute for $5S, 600, 900 specific appro-
p~riation bill after prolonged filibuster.
Law granting public water supply
to city OF San Francisco from Hetchy
valley in Yosemite National park.
Act prohibiting importation of opium
except for medicinal purposes under
Treasury regulation n placing pro-
hibition tax of $500 q pound on opium
manufactured In the United States for
smoking purposes.
Act authorizing payment of money
orders at any money order office in
country although drawn on specified
office.
Appropriation of 100000 for treat
ment and eradication Of hog cholera
and dourine.
Law limiting labor of women in the
District Of Columbia to s hours a day.
Agricultural extension act provtd-
ing for cooperation between depart
ment of agriculture and state agricul-
tural colleges in diffusion of informa-
ton relating to agriculture and home
economics and providing for an ulti-
mate annual appropriation of nearly
IS, 000, 600.
An act raising the American displo-
matte agencies in Argentine and Chile
from legations to embassies.
A provision for election OF United
States Senators under laws governing
election Of members of House OF Rep
resentatives in states where legisla-
lures had not passed special election
laws.
Act providing agricultural entry Of
phosphate. nitrate, potash and other
mineral lands.
Act providing income tax Of 1 per
cent of the gross annual income of
railroad corporations in Alaska.
Law establishing United States
a guard and consolidating the
revenue cutter and life saving serv-
ices with increases In salary for en-
ployes.
Act recognizing diplomatic and
consular service of the country.
Act providing for government leas-
ing OF coal lands in Alaska and to pre-
vent monopolization Of natural re-
sources of the territory.
Resolution creating commission 20
consider the subject of national aid for
vocational education to report not
later than June / next.
Foreign Relations.
Foreign relations of the United
States absorbed much attention of the
congress irrespective of the wars In
Mexico and Europe and formed the
basis for discussion by the president
In his annual message and in fire.
quent conferences with members Of
the foreign relations committee. This
committee lost It's chairman early in
the session through the sudden death
OF Spn2tnr ht1CIlcfJ,c n JOo1-, ~
Georgia. Senator William j. Stone, of
Missouri, was chosen to succeed him
as head Of this important committee,
which was busy throughout the ses-
sion with the consideration Of treaties
and other foreign affairs. General ar
bitration treaties with u foreign ma
tons, upon recommendation of his
committee, were ratified by the Sen
ate, as follows:
Great Britain, Japan, Italy, Spain,
Norway. Sweden, Portugal, Switzer-
land, Paraguay, Austria Hungary, the
Netherlands and Salvador.
Later in the session, and In the
midst of the European conflict, the
Senate, upon recommendation of the
foreign relations committee, ratified
new treaties providing for peace COM
missions of investigation in interna-
tional disputes not settled by ordinary
diplomacy with 20 foreign nations as
follows:
Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal,
Switzerland, Denmark, Italy, Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Bo-
livia, Persia, Costa Rica, Venezuela,
Honduras, Argentina, Brazil, Chile,
Peru, Paraguay, Great Britain, France
and Spain. Similar treaties nego-
tiated and urged for ratification, but
held up in the Senate for further con-
sideration are with China, Panama and
San Domingo. A similar treaty has
been negotiated with Russia to be sent
to the Senate later.
Much time was given by the com
mittee for hearings and consideration
of a treaty with Nicaragua, to acquire
the Nicaraguan canal route and naval
station rights In the Bay of Fonseca,
for 100000 and the treaty with
Columbia, to pay that country S25, 00O,-
900 compensation for the Panama canal
strip. Action on both treaties was de-
ferred until next session.
Investigations by congress We're less
than has been undertaken in recent
sessions. The special lobby inyestigat-
continued it's existence n probed in
to alleged lobbying in connection with
the passage of the Panama canal act.
and the subsequent repeal of the tolls
exemption provision. The committee
has not yet made a final report. The
IlousS loppy SuilliulttSe reported q res
olution Of censure for Representative
McDermott. of Illinois, who resigned
his office. Investigation by the Inter
state Commerce commission into the
financial operation of the New York.
New Haven & Hartford Railroad COM
pany and the Chicago, Rock Island &
Pacific railway was instituted by reso-
lutions Of congress. Investigations also
were conducted. by Senate and House
committees into the West Virginia coal
strike. the Michigan copper strike, and
the Colorado coal strike. Inquiries,
leading to impeachment proceedings
which eventually were dropped. were
conducted by the House judiciary com
mittee into the affairs Of Judge Daniel
Thew Wright, of the supreme court of
the District Of Columbia, and Emory
F. Spear, United States circuit Judge
for the southern district Of Georgia,
Notwithstanding its achievements the
congress left much important work un-
finished. Much Of this legislation will
be taken up for consideration in the
winter session, though it will be i'm
possible, in the opinion of administra-
ton leaders, to consider all Of it before
adjournment. March 4, next. Some Of
the subjects uncompleted are the fol-
lowing:
Government purchase OF merchant
vessels, advanced as part Of the war
emergency program. but postponed by
agreement with the president, until
next session