Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-10-22

tne GROUND that II mad no teeth "a
would not make the corporations ame
their Ubiquitous ways The oppost
was Of little effect. The democrats ella
for their measure that II will do aw
with interlocklng dircctorates, that IL
fines and expands tho prohibitions of
Sherman act mobiles the powers Of "a
eral courts to issue injunctions I'm lat
disputes, and strikes out multitude
abuses that have been in controversy
years.
The Rayburn securities bill to give
Interstate commerce commission pow
to regulate railway stock and bond
sues, and which is recognized as "A nd
OF the trust legislative program. has
yet been acted upon. It's fate Is to be
cided In the future and at present thd
seems to be no strong intention Of brlr
ing the matter quickly to an issue.
A omparatively early adjournment
the second session Of this Congress VI
predicted by Mr.. Underwood I'm the Hou
Then came the Presidents address
Congress on the subject Of tho repeal
the tolls provision OF the Panama car
act. This and unexpected delays In
consideration Of the antitrust measur
drove away all hopes Of an early leaJ
taking. After a hard tight House q
Senate sustained the President in his wi
that the tolls provision of the canal
should be repealed 1t was then. for t
first time that there seemed to be da
ger OF n serious break between the Pre-
ident and his party's majority I'm Cd
gress. But the majority stood by I
President. and except when a republcX
or n progressive intentionally reviv
memory of the trouble, the matter seen
to have passed
At the present session was passed VIII
Is known as the Alaska railroad la
providing for government constructiv
and operation of 1000 miles Of rairo
with telegraph and telephone lines frd
the lower Pacific coast to interior wate
and mineral regions of Alaska, at a cd
not to exceed $35 100000
Cotton future sales on stock exchane
have been regulated by a law passed
this Congress. tax Of two cents
pound has been provided for on san
for future delivery, unless actually d
livered under conditions and grades
tablshed by the department Of agric,
| ture.
Emergency war legislation threw in
the shadow some legislative matters
| importance. Action was demanded
the conditions resulting from the war
Europe. Perhaps the most important
! these measures and one which Is bel
used by the political enemy 10 make ca
paign capital, is the war revenue In I
made necessary. it is urged to meet es
mated treasury deficits due TO the loss
customs receipts. This law imposing sri
| cial Internal revenue taxes is expected
bring to the government an annual sd
of about 300, 10000
Other emergency legislation included |
amendment to the Panama canal act al
hitting to American registry foreign bu|
ships of American ownership: an END
gency currency act permitting banks
national currency associations to iss |
circulating notes up TO certain pe|
centage of their unimpaired capital al
surplus and making available to II
banks OF the country a large amount
emergency currency; law creating
! the treasury department a bureau
war risk insurance. appropriating 1901
900 70 insure ships of American regi
try against the hazards of the Europed
war; an appropriation OF 100000 for 81
ira expenses of the diplomatic and col
sular service in taking over embassid
Legations and consular offices Of warril
nations in Europe; resolutions and apprI
priations for protection and transport
ton of American citizens stranded
| Europe, and authorizing the Americd
Red Cross society to charter a ship
foreign registry and fly the American flaI
SO far as the Mexican situation IS col
cerned, the legislation growing out of
virtually was limited to a resolution
! justification Of the employment by Il
President of the armed forces of Il
country to enforce our demands in col
nectton with aftronts and indlgnltiI
against this nation. The resolution III
claimed any hostility to the Mexican pei
pie, and any purpose Of making war 4
them, An appropriation Of half mi
lion was voted for the transportation al
care OF informed Mexican soldiers ad
military refugees and another half a mi
lion was voted for the relief and tram
portation to this country OF America
citizens in Mexico,
The general appropriations for gover|
ment expenses authorized aggregate
about 81, 800, 10000 The House majori|
tried TO insist upon an appropriation
SEA, ON. coo for rivers and harbors. This vi
cut by the Senate to $40. 00o,OOO. and Il
House finally concurred.
| Some of the other laws made are thes|
Permission given San Francisco to dra|
water supply from the Hetch- Hetchy va
ley In the Yosemite National park; pr|
hihitiru INN n nf OrNtf, al
for medicinal purposes; limiting the Il
Dor of wmen in the District OF Columb|
to eight hours day, six days a weet
agricultural extension act providing ~
| cooperation between the department
agriculture and State agricultural I'd
| leges in diffusion of Information relatii|
70 agriculture and home economics, an
providing for an ultimate annual appr|
priation of nearly half million dollars
Late in the session Congress passed
bill providing for government leasing
coal lands IN Alaska and TO prevent mi
nopolization Of natural resources.
ARBITRATION TREATIES.
Provision was made by Congress "a
election of United States senators und|
| tho laws governing election of membej
OF the House OF Represen tatives in Stat(
where the legislators have not passd
special election laws.
General arbitration treaties with 10 fol
eign nations were ratified by the Sci
ate as follows Great Britain, Japan. II
ally. Spain, Norway. Sweden. Portugal
Switzerland. Paraguay, Austria Hungar]
the Netherlands, and Salvador
It was after the European conflict hid
begun that the Senate, upon the recon-
mendatlon OF the foreign relations com
mittee, ratified new treaties providing I'd
peace commissions OF inveati CATION In I'd
ternn tional disDI,tae NOT oattIad nv odd