The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-09-08
SESSION WASTEFUL,
SAY REPUBLICANS
Just Before Adjournment,
Both Houses Accepted the
Conference Report on the
Emergency Revenue Bill,
and Senate Ratified the
Danish West Indies Pur-
chase Treaty

Washington, D. c., Sept s.-Only a
small proportion OF the members of Con
gress were on hand to-day to watch the
first session of the 64th Congress, which
began last December, die Most had hur-
ried TO their homes after the late sessions
last night or even days before; and a
month after the political campaign closes
in November they must return for a
short session
Last night both houses accepted the
conference report on the emergency rev.
enue bill and the Senate ratified the Dan
ish West Indies purchase treaty and the
deficiency appropriation bill was also ap-
proved. To.day's session was necessitat.
ed only by the need of time to reprint
the measure in proper form for sigma
ture.
In the closing addresses, while await.
ing the arrival of President Wilson, ref
erences to the long program of legislative
achievement, dominated chiefly by ma
tional defense preparations at cost OF
more than S600000000, were made. The
Democrats lauded the record of the ses-
sion and commended it to the country,
while the Republicans alleged waste and
extravaganza in spite of the appropria
tions for defense.
The two houses adjourned sine die at
959 a. m.
When the gavel fell Congress had di.
rected reorganization and re equipment
of the army and navy for defense of the
country at the unprecedented cost OF
S655,000,000, with authorizations that
,,ss1 II ~
nearly Ss00,0oO,000. With all other ex-
pendtures, appropriations were brought
to the grand total OF 81 1897 ,5s3 8s2. the
greatest aggregate in the country's his
tory and exceeding that for the last fs-
cal year by more than S500,00O,o00,
Expenditures necessitated by prepared !
ness and the calling into action of mill |
tary forces to meet the Mexican emer
gency demanded revenue legislation in
the closing days of the session. Congress |
responded by doubling the normal tax on
incomes, creating an Inheritance tax, mu-
ntions tax and miscellaneous excise
taxes to raise S2o5 10000 and by direct
ing sale of $l30,000,00O Panama canal
bonds
Congress established a tariff commits
sion; government shipping board to re-
habilitate the American merchant ma
rine; workmen's compensation commits
sion to administer new uniform COM
pensation law; farm loan banking sys-
tenn; n child labor law; enlarged the sys-
tenn of self government in the Philip
pines and enacted many other important
laws which had been contemplated by the
administration.
The session was disturbed throughout
by frequently recurring threats of for Z
sign complications from the European :
war and imminence at one time OF :
diplomatic break with Germany; inter !
ference with American mails and com
nerce, invasion of American soil and i,
,illing of Americans by Mexican bandits, },
md danger of actual war with Mexico.
Later in the session trouble arose in
he Senate over the nomination of Louis "
J. Brandeis OF Boston to succeed the late
Justice Lamar as member of the SUI
,reme court. Weeks of investigation
nd deliberation by the judiciary com y
nittee ended in confirmation of Mr.. y
}randeis by large majority. =
In the week before adjournment Con-
ress was occupied with legislation which =
itNtHitu d UdtlpT-Nlut rdll-
Dad strike. President Wilson after flu
lie negotiations with officials of the
ailroads and railroad brotherhoods, sub
lifted the controversy to Congress, rec P
legislation to avert the strike
nd to prevent such emergencies from
rising in the future.
After a week of consideration, during "
hich the president visited the capitol at
ally, comforting with administration III
aders, bill was passed to establish an IL
ght hour day as a basis for pay of ve
Iilroad workers, the present rate of pay
II 10 hours work not to be reduced and M
lie men to receive pro rata pay for work ca
excess Of eight hours, pending an in tn
'stigation by special commission into re
lie effect Of the eight-hou day on rail I'M
ad revenues. ra
Most important legislative enactments co
the session, exclusive of laws for ma II
Dnal defense, included the following: Go
Government ship law: Appropristing
100000 to operate ships in foreign
d coastwise trade when unable to lease
EN- to individuals or private corpora NJ,
ms.
Child labor law; Denying interstate
mmerce to products Of mines and quar-
IS employing children under Is years Ca
age and factories, mills, canneries and Ay
her establishments employing children rec
der Il years the
Rural credits Law: Establishing . farm Tn
IN board in control Of a system Of a
m loan mortgage banks
y NOTkmen's compensation law; Provid- int