Semi-weekly herald., 1915-03-08

out Of the European war. This was
the ship registry bill, which admitted
to American registry, or gave the
right to fly the American flag, for
eign built ships which were owned
or should be acquired by American
citizens or corporations. Hitherto
only American built ships were per-
mitted 10 fly the American flag, cor
porations, such as the steel company
and the United Fruit company flying
under foreign flags because of the
cheapness of building steamers abroad
and the cheapness of operating ships
under foreign laws Due to the dam
ger of capture by belIigerents, it was
desired to obtain the protection of
neutral flag for vessels which could
carry American products abroad.
One of thel most bitter contests
during the congress was on the bill
to repeal the exemption to American
coastwise ships from the payment of
tolls through the Panama canal. From
the beginning it had been intended
that American ships in the foreign
trade should pay the same tolls as
paid by the foreign ships with which
they came into competition, but in the
Panama canal act had been included a
provision eXempting American coast
wise ships This the administration
decided to repeal, on the ground first
that it was economically subsidy to
the coastwise shipping, which was al
ready protected from foreign compe.
tition, and second that such an ex-
emption was violation of the Hay
Pauncefote treaty with England At
ter an exciting fight, in which Speak
er Champ Clark and Floor Leader
Underwood in the house, and such
senators as O'Gorman, Walsh, Rams
dell and MARITIME in the senate oppos-
Jed the president, the bin was put
through.
To the south one of the most i'm
portant bills was that providing for
government standardization and in
spection of cotton. By the establish
ment OF government grades the south
ern producers felt that they could
sell their cotton to better advantage
and without the danger of having
tLpir cotton bought from them as of
~ grade and sold to the manufac-
turers as of higher grade. The
method used in the bill of forcing
dealing in these grades was by taxing
at the rate of 2 cents a pound all
sales of cotton on any exchange that
were not made in government fixed
grades.
Another emergency proposition
caused by the European war was the
necessity of doing something for the
tens of thousands Of Americans
stranded in Europe by hostilities
Their paper money and Travellers
checks made worthless by the sddden
demand for gold, and with many lines
of ships held in ports because Of the
fear of capture, their situation was
desperate. Congress passed two ap-
preparation bills to aid in bringing
home these unfortunate people.
A number of problems were forced
on this congress also by the Mexican
troubles. In connection with the land
ing of marines at Vera Cruz, follow
ing the insult to the flag incident,
congress rushed through a resolution
the vote in the senate being taken
at 1920 a. m.-justifying the presi-
dent.
The senate has ratified, during this
congress, twenty-six peace treaties
with foreign countries, some of them
being put through after the declara-
ton of war in Europe. Two other
important treaties, one with Colum-
bia, paying her s25,OOO,0OO as com
pensation for Panama, and the other
with Nicaragua, paying her $4,000 900
for naval base in Fonesca bay and
for an option on the Nicaragua canal
route, We're discussed. but failed TO
reach vote on ratification.
A thorough Investigation of the
lobby was made by committees in both
houses OF congress, many sensational
developments resulting, though the
succeeding election would rather indi-
cate that its net accomplishments
We're unimportant, many of the men
most involved being reelected.
/ A bill promising the Philippines
ultimate independence, and granting
them Immediately more liberal
measure of self-goyernment was pass
ed by the house, but died after a IA
vorable report by the senate commit
tee.
One bill which passed both houses
of congress and died Z, o,,, r..