Grand Forks daily herald. (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1914-1916, 1914-10-24
REGULAR SESSION Of CONGRESS HAS
DISPOSED OF GREAT RAFT Of BUSINESS
President Wilson Has Appeared Before Assembly Five
Times in Support of Measures-Tremendously
Important Laws Have Been Enacted.
ment expenses aggregating approx
matall. 81 onn nnn nn0

ment expenses aggregating approx
! mately $1,000. 900, 900.
/ Appropriation of $2O.0O0,O0O for
rivers and harbors improvements at
discretion of war department. passed
as substitute for $53. 900, 900 specific
appropriation bill after prolonged fill
buster.
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 and placing
prohibition tax Of $500. a pound N
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 $500, 900 for treat
ment and eradication of hog cholera
and dourine.
Law limiting la o to ome in the
District Of Columbia to 8 hours a day.
Agricultural extension act providing
for cooperation between department
OF agriculture and state agricultural
colleges in diffusion of information re-
lating to agriculture and home con
omics and providing for ar ultimate
annual appropriation of nearly So
O0O. 900.
An act raising the American diplo-
matte agencies in Argentina and
Chile from legations tn embassies.
A provision for election of United
States senators under laws governing
election Of members Of house of rep
reeentatives in states where legisla-
lures nae not passed special election
laws.
Act providing agricultural entry of
phosphate. nitrate, potash and other
mineral lands.
Act providing income tax of / per
cent Of h gross annual income of
railroad corporations in Alaska.
Law establishing the United States
coast guard and consolidating the rev.
enue cutter and life saving services
with increases in salary for en-
pIoyes.
Act reorganizing diplomatic and
consular service of the country.
Act providing for government leas-
ing of coal lands In Alaska and to
prevent monopolization of natural re-
sources Of the territory.
Resolution creating commission to
consider the subject of national aid
for vocational education to report not
later than Jun 1 next.
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 frequent
conferences with members of the for
eign relations committee. This COM
mittee lost Its chairman early in the
session through the sudden death Of
Senator Augustus Q. Bacon of Georg-
Ia Senator William j. Stone Of Mis-
souri, 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 twelve foreign
nations. upon recommendation Of this
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 twenty-three 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 negotiated
and urged for ratification but held up
in the senate for further consideration
are with China, Panama and San Do
mingo. A similar treaty has been ne
gotiated with Russia to be sem to the
senate later.
Much time was given by the com
mittee tor hearings and consideration
of a 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
100000 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 recent
sessions. The special lobby investi-
eating committee of the senate, how
ever. continued its existence and
nection with the passage of the Pan
m canal act, and the subsequent re-
peal Of the tolls exemption provision.
The committee has not yet made a
final report. The house lobby COM
mittee reported a resolution Of cen
sure for Representative McDermo oft of
Illinois. who resigned his office. In
. ~ NlS & NC9
commission into the financial opera
ton of the New York, New Haven &
Hartford Railroad company and the
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific rail-
way were instituted by resolutions of
congress. Investigations also were
conducted by senate and house COM
mitteeE into the West Virginia coal
strike. the Michigan copper strike and
the Colorado coal strike. Inquiries
leading to impeachment proceedings
HIBIolpnf ssnou U 40 peaonpuoo
conducted b ythe house judiciary
committee into the affairs Of Judges
Daniel Thew Wright Of the supreme
court OF h District Of Columbia and
Emory F. Spear, United States circuit
fudge for the southern district of
Georgia
notwithstanding its achievement the
congress left much important work
unfinished. Much Of this legislation
will be taken UP for consideration
in the winter session. though it will
ministration leaders. to consider all Of
1t before adjournment March 4 next.
Some of the subjects uncomp1eted are
the following:
Government purchase OF merchant
vessels advanced as part Of the wal
emergency program but postponed by
agreement with the president until
next session.
Revision Of immigration laws in
Guiding an ~illiteracy test, passed by
the house and approved by senate
committee but passed in senate.
Regulation Of development Of wa
ter power in navigable streams.
Bill providing for leasing Of mines
and other natural on public
domain.
Bill providing eventual independ-
ence for the Philippines which passed
the house but was deferred until next
session by senate.