The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1916-09-15
64M CONGRESS ADJOURNS
Record Shows Appropriations Exceeding
by More than Half Billion Past
Years Expenditures.

Washington, D. G. - The first ses-
sion Of the Sixty-fourth congress,
which adjourned Friday, Sept 8, was
concerned chiefly with national de-
fense.
When the gavel fell congress had
directed reorganization and re-equip-
ment Of the army and navy for defense
Of the country at the unprecedented
cost Of $685., 000, 900, with authoriza-
tions that will increase the total in
three years to nearly $500, 900, 900.
With all other expenditures, appropri-
ations were brought to the grand total
Of 81, 637, 583, 682, the greatest aggre-
gate in the country's history, and ex-
ceeding 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 $685.
100000, and by directing the sale of
$3.50, 600. 600 Panama Canal bonds.
Congress established a tariff COM
mission, a government shipping board
to rehabilitate the American merchant
marine; workmen's compensation
commission to administer new uni
form compensation law; farm loan
banking system; child labor law;
enlarged the system Of self-govern-
ment in the Philippines and enacted
many other important laws which had
been contemplated by the administra-
tion.
Most important legislative enact
ments Of the session, exclusive of laws
for national defense, included the fol-
lowing:
Government ship law - Appropriat-
ing $50, 900, 600 to operate ships in
foreign and coastwise trade when un-
able to lease them to individuals or
private corporations.
Child labor law-Denying interstate
commerce to products of mines and
quarries employing children under 16
years Of age and factories, mills, can
neries and other establishments en-
ploying children under IA years.
Rural credits law-Establishing a
farm loan board in control Of system
Of farm loan mortgage banks.
Workmen's compensation law-Pro-
viding uniform sick and accident bene- /
fits for employees of the Federal gov
ernment and benefits to dependents
in case of death.
Emergency revenue Providing
for doubling the normal income tax on
the lowest class; making an addition
al surtax ranging from l per cent on
that portion of incomes exceeding
$40, 900 to Is per cent on amount of
incomes in excess of So, 600, 900; levy
ing graduated tax of to 10 per cent
on inheritances ranging from $50, 900
to S5, 900, 900; 10 per cent net profit
per cent net profit tax on manufac-
turers Of materials entering into muni-
tions; license tax on actually invest
ed capital stock of corporations capi-
talized at more than 500, 900; wine,
beer and liquor excise taxes and mis-
cellaneous stamp taxes.
Good roads law-Providing for CO.
operative Federal aid to the states for
construction Of highways ard appro-
priating s75, 600, 600 to be spent in five
years.
Postal savings law-Amendment in
creasing the amount which individuals !
may deposit from $500 to $1,000 with
interest, and additional $1,000 with
out interest.
Federal reserve-Amendments, in
cluding amendment to the Clayton
antitrust law permitting officers and
directors Of member banks to become
officers and directors of not more than I
two other non-competing banks;
amendments permitting national banks
to establish foreign branches, liberal
izing regulations for discounting COM
mercial paper and permitting member {
banks in towns Of 5000 or less popula-
tion to act as agents for insurance
companies. !
Railroad legislation-C Creation of a I
joint subcommittee Of senate and
house interstate commerce committees
to investigate necessity for further I