Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-12-09
Gath Congress Convenes.
Legislation Which Will Come
Up Unparalleled In History
of the Nation.
of the Nation.

Up Unparalleled In History
of the Nation.
A dispatch from Washington to the
Philadelphia Public Ledger, says:
I'm no period in recent years has
All American Congress had before it
80 vital and constructive and rad
legislation as the 9th Congress which
assembled Monday. President Will
sons address is expected, in many
respects, will force the Government
to depart from its traditions and will,
in effect. advise the Democratic party
to modify some Of its own tariff poll
cies.
while the fight the Democrats
will wage on cloture in the Senate is
of interest to the majority, which
hopes to jam through the ship pur-
chase bill through its workings, yet
this contest lacks in nationwide in
terest. The conflict which opens in
the Senate may become so prolonged
and stubborn as to prevent the organ
ization of the Senate and delay the
reading of the Presidents address.
1T is in the legislation, much OF it
occasioned by the war, that causes
the public to turn to this Congress
with anxiety. The enactment OF the
preparedness program laid down by
the Secretaries of War and Navy.
which will make the United States
powerful enough to defend itself from
invasion, ard allied measures, stand
out as of supreme importance in this
Congress. Domestic affairs were most
prominent in the legislative program
of the last Congress, NJ of many pre-
ccding Congresses. The effect OF ex-
ternal conditions, however, will very
likely be most prominent in the ad.
dress or succession of addresses in
which the President will suggest leg
islatiop. Military defense of the
country, both by land and sea, will
be foremost, but legislation affecting
industry and trade and venues will
be well forward in the big Democratic
program.
Major legislation, which has the
administrations approval includes;
Increase in the army and navy, the
creation Of continental army OF
400, 600 men, strengthening of the
State militia and the enlargement OF
the navy.
Raising of revenues of more than
800, 100000 to provide the prepar-
edness and remove the deficit.
A government-owned or controlled
merchant marine.
Amendment of the Sherman anti
trust laws TO permit American firms
forming combinations to procure for
eign trade.
Extension of more civil freedom to
the residents of the Philippine Is
lands.
Rural credits.
Amendments to the Federal bank
ing laws.
Resolutions of ratification in the
Senate for the treaties with Colombia
and Nicaragua, and for the new
treaty with Haiti, already in force
under a modus vivendi whereby the
United States assumes protectorate
over that country.
Amendment of the Federal consti-
tuition to give women suffrage.
National prohibition.
These with the revenue measures,
several of which have been outlined
by Secretary McAdoo, such as ex-
emptions under the surtax, reduction
Of the income tax and tax on gaso-
line, form the chief measures that
will come before this Congress. 1t
has been indicated by Secretary Nc
Adoo, who speaks for the admins
tration in these matters, that the tax
of one cent a pound on sugar will be
retained after May as well as the
war revenue measures after Deem
her 18th.
The subjects that force themselves
to the forefront are preparedness.
merchant marine, and revision of the
Federal reserve act and the anti-Sber-
man act, from the point of view OF
the business world.
Inasmuch as President Wilson is
regarded even by his own party as
stronger than that party there would
seem to be little possibility of the
Democrats defeating revenue meas
ures. The Democrats, and especially