The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1916-09-15
LEGISLATIVE ~ENAcTMENTs
Of Things Accomplished By
the Sixty-Fourth Congress.

Washington, Sept. S.-The first
session of the Sixty-Fourth Congress,
which adjourned today, was concern
ed chiefly with national defense.
When the gavel fell Congress had
directed reorganization and re-eauip-
ment of the army and navy for de-
tense of the country at the unprece-
denied cost of $685., O00, 900, with
authorizations that will increase the
total in three years to nearly $780,
600, 600. With all other expendi-
lures, appropriations were brought
to the grand total of 1881, 5S3, 1882,
he greatest aggregate in the coun-
try's history and exceeding that for
the last fiscal year by more than half
a billion dollars.
Expenditures, necessitated by pre-
paredness and the calling into action
of military forces to meet the Mexi-
can demanded e
legislation in the closing days of the
session. Congress responded by
doubling the normal tax on incomes
to raise $2O5, 100000 and by direct
ing sale of $130,000,O 600 Panama
Canal bonds.
Congress established a tariff COM
mission; a government shipping
hoard to rehabilitate the American
merchant marine; a workmen's com
pepsation commission to administer
a new uniform compensation law; a
farm loan banking system; a child
labor law; enlarge 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
European war and imminence at one
time of a diplomatic break with Ger
many; interference with American
mails and commerce, invasion Of
American soil and killing of Ameri-
cans by Mexican bandits and danger
of actual war with Mexico.
Latre in the session trouble arose
in the Senate over the nomination
Of Louis d. Brandeis, of Boston, to
succeed the late Justice Lamar as a
member of the supreme court.
Weeks of investigation and delibera-
ton by the judiciary committee end
ed in confirmation of Mr.. Brandeis
by a large majority.
In the week before adjournment
Congress was occupied with legisla-
ton which prevented a threatened
nationwide railroad strike. Presi-
dent Wilson, after futile negotia-
tons with officials of the railroads
and railroad brotherhoods, submitted
the controversy to Congress, recon-
mending legislation to avert the
strike and to prevent such emergen-
cies from arising in the future.
After a week of consideration. !
during which the president visited
the capitol daily comforting with adj
uinistration leaders, a bin was pass !
ed to establish an eight-hour day as
a basis for pay of railroad workers,
the present rate of pay fer 10 hours
work not to be reduced and the men
TO eceiv pro rata pay for work in
excess of eight hours, pending an in
vestigation by a special commission
into the effect of the eight-hour day
oil railroad revenues.
Most important legislative enact
ments Of the session, exclusive of
laws for national defense, included
the following:
Government Ship Law-Apprsp-
rating $50 1000, 900 to operate ships
in foreign and coastwise trade VIXEN
unable to lease them to individuals -,
or private corporations
Child Laor -Lsw-Denying inter-
state commerce to products of mines
and quarries, employing children I'm
der 16 years Of age, and factories,
mills, eanneries and other establish
ments employing children under IA
years
Rural Credits Law-Establishing
q farm loan board in control of a sys-
tenn of farm loan mortgage banks.
WOrkmen's Compensation Law
Providing uniform sick and accident
benefits for employees of the federal
government and benefits to depend
eRts in case of death.
Emergency Revenue Law-PrO-
viding for doubling the normal in
come tax on the lowest class; max
ing an additional surtaX ranging
from one per cent OH that portion of
incomes exceeding $4,000 to 13 per
cent on amount Of incomes in excess
Of $2,000,00O; levying a graduated
tax of one to 10 per cent or inheri
tancies ranging from $4,000 to
5000, 900; a 10 per cent net profit
tax on manufacturers of munitions,
five per cent net profit tax on manu-
facturers of materials entering into
munitions; a license tax OF actually
invested capital stock of corporations
capitalized at more than $9S. 900;
wine, beer and liquor excise taxes
and miscellaneous stamp taxes
Good Roads Law-Providing for
cooperative federal aid to the state
for construction of highways, and
appropriating $75,000,000 to be
spent in five years.
Postal Savings Law-Amendment
increasing the amount which individ-