Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-01-06
OUR LAWMAKERS

The Sixty-third congress came to a
close on March 4, its final act OF spe
cha! importance being the adoption Of
a resolution 20 strengthen the powers
OF the president in the enforcement OF
neutrality laws. Both branches agreed
to the conference report on the naval
appropriation bill calling for two new
battleships, six destroyers and eight
cen submarines. The presidents NOM
nations for the promotion OF army
aid navy officers connected with the
building Of the Panama canal were
confirmed by the senate. so that Colo
mel Goethals and Brigadier General
Gorgas became major generals.
On January &c. tho West Virginia
legislature decided to submit q wom-
an suffrage amendment at the 1916
election. Two days later, in Tennes-
see, the house passed bill for ref
erenduE vote on woman suffrage, al
ready passed by the upper house. Ar
kansas declared for prohibition. In
Iowa, prohibition again becomes ef-
fective on January 1. 1916. Both Idaho
and Utah adopted prohibition bills.
March s. the North Dakota legisla-
ture passed a bill abolishing capital
punishment. South Dakota had taken
similar action January 30. March 10.
Rear Admirals Fletcher. Howard and
Cowles we're made adrirals, new
naval grade established by the last
congress. March IS. Governor Spry Of
Utah vetoed the state wide prohibition
bill April Z. the Alaska house passed
a measure submitting prohibition to
the voters. A week later. It agreed to
the senate bill abolishing capital pun
ishment. June 3. the government plea
to have the United States Steel cor
poration dissolved was denied by the
United States circuit court for New
Jersey and the defendant was held to
be a lawful enterprise.
Resignation Of Bryan.
June s, William ]. Bryan resigned
the office of secretary of state. declar
ing himself out OF sympathy with the
presidents policy toward the Euro
pean war. On the following day, Presi'
dent Wilson appointed Robert Lam
sing. counselor fer the state depart
ment, to take charge of the office. Mr.
, Lansing was made secretary of state
June 23. Statewide prohibition be
came operative in Alabama on July
l. On July 20. the interstate com
in express rates and on Augug. II Il
allowed increases in carload freigh
| rates on Al railroads in the middle
West On the following day. 1t ordered
reductions in freight rates on anthra
cite COAL August "a, the Eastman Ko
! dak company was declared to be an II
legal combination and ordered d!s
solved September 10. the member
of the constitutional convention O
New York state adopted the proposes
constitution, but 1t was overwhelming
ly defeated at the polls November
Statewide prohibition triumphed Il
South Carolina. September IA. by DE-
cisive majority
President Wilson announced, Octe
Der 6, his intention to vote for woma
suffrage at the special election In Ne,
Jersey OH October 10. Al that election
the proposed constitutional amenC
ment was defeated by = majority c
$4,000. November elections were hel
in eight states. Four of thesa-Kel
lucky. Maryland. Massachusetts an
Neutrality-suspicious. governors. In thre
states-M Massachusetts New York an
Pennsylvania-woma suffrage wa
rejected by large majorities. In Obi
a statewide prohibition measure VIC
defeated by majority of $500
, Changes In the national house of re-
resentatives reduced the Democrat
, majority to twenty-five The Sixt
, fourth congress opened December
) Senator Clarke OF Arkansas was cleo
= ed president pro tenn of the senate an
: Champ Clark was reelected speaker