The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-09-08

nition for leave tu print remarks In the Congressional Record, and their requests were hustled through in rec ord breaking time.
 The first session of the Sixty-fourth Congress which adjourned today was concerned chiefly with national de- fense.
 When the gavel fell Congress had directed reorganization and reequip- ment of the army and navy for de- fense of the country at the unprece- dented cost of 55,000,000 with au- thorizations that will increase the to- tai in three years to nearly $800,- 000,000. With all other expenditures appropriations were brought to the grand total of $1,637, ,583,6S2, the greatest aggregate in the country's history and exceeding that for the last fiscal year by more than half billion dollars.
 Expenditures, necessitated by pre- paredness and the calling into action of military forces to meet the Mexi- can emergency demanded revenue legislation in the closing days of the sesSion. Congress responded by doub- ling the normal tax on incomes, cre- ating an inheritance tax. munitions tax and miscellaneous excise taxes to raise s205,0oO,o00 and by directing sale of $130,000,00O Panama Canal bonds.
 Congress established a Tariff com mission; Government Shipping Board to rehabilitate the American merchant marine; .Workmen's Com pensation Commission to administer new uniform compensation law; a Farm Loan hankfne system; a Child Labor law; enlarged the system of self-government in the Philippines and enacted many other important laws which had been contemplated by the administration.
 The session was disturbed through out by frequently recurring threats Of foreign complications from the Euro pean war and imminence at one time of a diplomatic break with Germany; interference with American mails and commerce, invasion of American soll and killing of Americans by Mexican bandits, and danger of actual war with Mexico.
 Later in the session trouble arose in the Senate over the nomination or Louis D. Brandeis. of Boston, to suc- ceed the late Justice Lamar as member of the Supreme Court Weeks of investigation and deliberat1on by the Judiciary committee ended in confirmation of MT. Brandeis by large majority.
 Most important legislative enact ments of the session, exclusive Of laws for national defense. included the fol- lowing:
 Government Ship Law.
 Appropriating s5o.0OO,o00 to oper- ate ships in foreign and coastwise trade when unable to lease them to individuals or private corporations.
 Child Labor Law
 Denying interstate commerce to products of mines and quarries em- blowing children under 16 years of age and factories, mills. canner1es and other establishments employing chill dren under 14 years.
 Rural Credits Law
 Establishing Farm Loan Board in control of a system of Farm Loan Mortgage Banks.
 Workmen's Compensation.
 Providing uniform sick and acci- dent benefits for employees of the Fed eral government and benefits to de- pendents in case of death.
 Emergency Revenue Law.
 Providing for doubling the normal income tax on the lowest class, mak- ing an additional surtax ranging from | per cent. on that portion of incomes | exceeding $20,000 to 13 per cent. on amount of incomes in excess of $2,- I 100000; 1evying a graduated tax Of to 10 per cent. on inheritance rang ing from $50,000 to $5,00O,OOO; ID l per cent. net profit on manufacturers of munitions, per cent. net profit tax 1 on manufacturers of materials enter | ing into munitions; a license tax on | actually invested capital stock of cor porations capitalized at more than | s9s,000; wine, beer and liquor excise | taxes and miscellaneous stamp taxes. l
 Good Roads Law.
 Providing for cooperative Federal | aid to the states for construction or | highways, and apprproiating S75,- 900, 900 to be spent in five years.
 Postal Savings Law.
 Amendment increasing the amount | which individuals may deposit from $500 to $1.o0O with interest and an ad- ditiona1 $1.000 without interest.
 Federal Reserve.