The chronicle=news., 1914-10-15

country, although drawn on specified
office.
Appropriation OF 100000 fol
treatment and eradication OF hos
cholera and dourine.
Law limiting labor to women ir
the district of Columbia to eight
hours day.
Agricultural extension act provid
ing for cooperation between depart
ment OF agriculture and state agri
cultural colleges In diffusion of in
formation relating to agriculture ant
home economics and providing for ar
ultimate annual appropriation Of
nearly $5,O0O,0OO.
An act raising the American dip
!omatic agencies In Argentina ant
Chile from legations to embassies. =
a provision for election of United
States senators under laws governing
election, OF members of house of rer.
resentatives in states where legisla.
lures had not passed special election
laws.
Act providing agricultural entry
of phosphate. nitrate. potash and
other mineral lanos.
Act providing income tax Of l rei
cent of the gross annual income OF
railroad corporations in Alaska.
Law establishing the United States
coast guard and consolidating the
revenue cutter and life saving serv-
ices with increases in salary for en-
ployes.
Act reorganizing diplomatic and
consular service of the country.
Act providing for government
leasing OF coal lands In Alaska and
to prevent monopolization of natural
resources of the territory.
Resolution creating commission to
consider the subject of national aid
for vocational education to report not
later than June l next.
Foreign relations OF the United
States absorbed much attention Of
the congress irrespective OF the wars
In Mexico and Europe and formed
tine basis for discussion by the presi-
dent in his annual message and in
frequent conferences with members
OF the foreign relations committee
This committee lost its chairman
early in the session through the sud
den death of Senator Augustus O.
Bacon of Georgia. Senator William
J. Stone. of Missouri was chosen to
succeed him as head of this import
ant committee which was busy
throughout the session with the con-
|sideration of treaties and other for
'eign affairs. General arbitration
treaties with II foreign nations.
upon recommendation OF this COM
mittee, were ratified by the senate
as follows:
Great Britain. Japan. Italy, Spain,
Norway, Sweden. Portugal. Switzer-
land. Paraguay. Austria-Hungary,
the Netherlands anu 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 inter-
national disputes not settled by or
binary diplomacy with 23 foreign ma
tions as follows:
Norway. the Netherlands, Portgu-
gal, Switzerland. Denmark, Italy. Sal
vador, Guatemala, Honduras. Nicara-
qua, Bolivia, Persia. Costa Rica, Ven
'ezuela. Honduras. Argentina. Brazil,
Chile, Peru. Paraguay, Great Britain.
France and Spain. Similar treaties
negotiated and urged for ratification
but held up in the senate for fur
Their consideration are with China,
Panama and San Domingo. A SINH
lar treaty has been negotiated with
Russia to be sent to the senate la
ter.
Much time was given by the COM
mittee for hearings and considera-
tion of treaty with Nicaragua. to
acquire the Nicaraguan canal route
and naval station rights in the Bay
of Fonseca. for $4,000. 900; and the
treaty with Columbia. to pay that
country $25,OOO,OOO compensation
for the Panama canal strip. Action
on both treaties was deferred until
next session.
Investigations by congress were
less than has been undertaken in re-
cent sessions. The special lobby in
vestigating committee of the senate,
however, continued its existence and
lprobed into alleged lobbying In con-
nection with the passage of the Pan
ANA canal act. and the subsequent
repeal of the tolls exemption prov:s'
ion. The committee has not yet made
a final report. The house lobby com.
mittee reported a resolution of cen
sure for Representative McDermott
of Illinois, who resigned his office
Investigation by the interstate com.
merce commission into the financial
operation Of the New York, New Ha.