New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1916-12-08
SHORT SESSION
OF CONGRESS
OPENED MONDAY
THE ADMINISTRATION WILL
PUSH THROUGH PARTY
MEASURES BEFORE THE
REPUBLICANS GET CON-
TROL OF THE HOUSE

The sixty-fourth session of the ma
tional congress convened last Mon
6. ~ for It's second short session which
ends the iife of that body on March
4th There is some doubt as to the
Democrats having control of the low
er house, and all party measures
will be pushed as rapidly as possi-
bic In order 10 get them through be-
fore the Republicans get in.
When congress ad iourned last Sep
tember, the democratic senate cau-
Gus agreed that the immigration bill,
with its oft-vetocd l;teracy test.
would be taken up and passed before
consideration of any other legsla-
ton. 1t also had agreed to act on
the Owen corrupt practices bill, a
measure to limit expenditures in ma
tional political campaigns and to pro-
vide new penalties for election
frauds. Both measures had been
pressed at the end of the session,
to the embarrassment of both part
les, and were abandoned by mutual
consent despite the urgent demands
of a few members
Eight-hour Law.
Besides those two measures the
memorable eight-hour day fight
which marked the last days of the
last session had ended with legisla-
ton suggested by President Wilson
unconsidered 1t will be urged upon
tn congress by the administration
above all other subjects. In fact
the Joint committee created by con-
gress to investigate the whole sub
ect of railroad problems, has been
in session two weeks preparing re-
concentrations and it is apparent
that this will be the dominating
feature of the session.
Estimates for maintaining and
strengthening the army and navy
during the fiscal year 1918, indicate
that congress will be asked this win
ter to promise about $500 OO0OO0 for
that purpose. The total of estimates
already submitted and made public
today when congress convened is
sS75. 5.sS4, 500 to cover the military ac-
tiv;ties of both departments: State
ments made by navy officials to the
house naval committee, now consi-
dering that bill, have foreshadowed,
however, large supplementary esti-
mates to be submitted later and a
similar situation exists at the war
department The preliminary esti-
mate for the army is S737. 7.074565 an
increase appropriated for 1917. The
navy total of $37o,151 ,70l is an in
crease of $66,45l,146 over 1917 fig
ures. Panama canal Notifications
will take $5.358, 800, an increase of
about $30O,000 =.
Estimates of the expense of all
branches of the government for the
fiscal year, 1918, for which the ses-
sion Of congress assembling today
must appropriate funds total 81 ,2oS,--
71s8S4. This sum is exclusive OF
S325.355,S20 to be appropriated for the
postal service which is expected to
be returned to the treasury by post
al revenue and a sinking fund appro-
p,iaton of $60,74S,000 toward the
public debt.
The total appropriations for the
fiscal year, 1917, ending next June,
exclusive of these two items, were
$l,184,l57,3l7. Increases in compen-
sation and in numbers of employees
are to be found in the estimates ~
all branches of the government and
to meet that tendency, administra-
ton officials have attempted po-
icy of pairing down all propostls for
new projects with the exceptions of
national defense expenditures to meet
the growth of the country and many
burdens thrust upon United States
by war.
The greatest increases are, of
course, in the estimates for carrying
out the national policy of defense.
Where the war departments appro-
priation for the current year were
1881. .4S2.S02 it estimates this year for
$421 .352.447.
The navy appropriation which was
.S315.6l3781 for the current year,
would, according to estimate be S5Sz-
4o7.536. An estimate of SlZ,Z5O35o
for the Indian bureau represents an
increase over current appr opriation
of 81 .262,712. OF that sum $225,OOO is
asked to complete construction OF a
diversion dam and controlling works
for the Gila river irrigation project
at a site above Florence. Ariz, and
for beginning construction on canals
and structures to carry the natural
flow of the Gila river to the Indian
lands of the Gila River Indian reser-
walton and to public and private lands
III 1lldl COunty, hi iiLoio'
ming construction of an irrigation
system for 1868 acres of Indian land
on the Hoop Valley Indian Reserva-
ton in California $4,000 is asked.
Included in the estimates for the
department of the interior an ap-
preparation of $3oS0O0, an increase
of $4,000 is submitted for opera
ton and construction Of the I'm
compahgre valley reclamation pro-
ject, Colorado.
Estimates for the postal service
aggregate $325,355,820, an increase of
S2618,141 over the current year. An
estimate of Sl,224,000 is submitted
for International and transportation
of mail by steamboat or other power
boat routes or by aeroplanes and it
is provided that out of this appro-
priat;on the postmaster general
would be authorized to expend not
exceeding 100000 for purchase, ope-
ration and maintenance of aeroplanes
for an experimental aeroplane mail
service between such points as he
NAV deferu,ioe