Mohave County miner., 1916-09-09
LATE SESSION OF CONGRESS MARKED CHIEFLY BY PASSAGE
 OF NATIONAL DEFENSE BILLS

The first session of the 64th con- gress, which adjourned yesterday, was concerned chiefly with national de- fense.
 The crisis in congress over the inter national situation followed Germany's naval order to sink armed belli- gerent merchant ships without warn ing. Introduction of resolutions warning Americans to keep off armed merchantmen caused President Wilson to halt diplomatic negotiations and go to the capitol to demand "show down.. The result was tabling of the Gore resolution in the senate by vote of 68 to IA on March 8, and of the McLemore resolution in the house by a vote of 276 to 142 on March '. Immediately afterward. The presi- dent sent to Germany and read to congress a note threatening to sever diplomatic relations unless the German government immediately effected a modification of its methods of sub marine warfare"
 When the gavel fell congress had directed reorganization and re-equip- ment of the army and navy for de- fense of the country at the unprece- dented cost of $655,OOO,OO0 with au- thorizations that will increase the total in three years to nearly $800,- 100000. With all other expenditures, appropriations were brought to the grand total of s1,637 ,5S3, ,682, 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 Mexican emergency demanded revenue legisla- tion in the closing days of the session. Congress responded by doubling the normal tax on incomes, creating an in- heritance tax, munitions tax and mis- cellaneous excise taxes to raise S2O5,- 100000 and by directing sale of $780, 100000 Panama canal bonds.
 Congress established a tariff com mission; a government shipping board to rehabilitate the American merchant marine; a workmen's compensation commission to administer a new uni form compensation law; farm loan banking system; a child labor law; en- larged 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 soil 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 of Louis D. Brandeis of Boston, to suc- ceed he late Justice Lamar as a mem Der of the supreme court. Weeks of investigation and deliberation by the judiciary committee ended in confr- nation of MT. Brandeis by a large majority.
 In the week before adjournment congress was occupied with legislation which prevented a threatened nation wide railroad strike. President Will son after futile negotiations with officials of the railroads and railroad brotherhoods, submitted the contro- versy to congress, recommending legislation to prevent the strike and to prevent such emergencies from arising in the future.
 After a week of consideration, dur