Fergus County Democrat., 1916-09-14

tense of the country at the unpre-
cedented cost of $685., 900 900 with al-
thorizations that will increase the to.
tai in three years to nearly $780,.
100000. With all other expenditures,
appropriations were brought to the
grand total of 81 .637 .583.682, the great
est aggregate in the country's history
and exceeding that for the last fiscal
year by more than half billion dol
lars.
The crisis in congress over the in.
ternational complication follow Ger.
many's naval order to sink armed
belligerent merchant ships without
warning. Introduction of resolutions
warning Americans to keep off armed
merchantmen caused President Wilson
to halt diplomatic negotiations and 60
to the capitol to demand "show
down" The result was tabling of the
Gore resolution in the senate by a
vote of 68 to IA on March 3 and of
the McLemore resolution in the house
by vote Of 276 to l42 on March T.
Immediately afterwards the president
sent to Germany and read to congress
a note threatening to sever diplomat
ic relations unless the German Gov
ernment Immediately effected a modi.
fication of its methods of submarine
warfare. .....
Expenditures. necessitated by pre-.
paredness and the calling into action
OF military forces to meet the Mexi-
can emergency demanded revenue leg
islation tn the closing days OF the
session. Congress responded by
doubling the normal tax on incomes,
creating an inheritance tax. munitions
tax and miscellaneous excise taxes
to raise 1906, 100000 and by directing
sale Of $l30.000.O00 Panama Canal
bonds.
Congress established a tariff com
mission: government shipping board
TO rehabilitate the American mer-
chant marine; Workmen's compensa-
tion commission to administer new
uniform compensation law; farm
loan banking 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 Flu
ropean war and imminence at one time
OF 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 y. Brandeis OF Boston, to sue
ceed the late Justice Lamar as a
member OF the supreme court Weeks
Of investigation and deliberation by
the judiciary committee ended in con
flrmation OF MIR. Brandeis by large
majority.
In the week before adjournment
congress was occupied with legisla-
ton which prevented threatened
nationwide railroad strike President
Wilson. after futile negotiations with
officials of the railroads and railroad
brotherhoods. submitted the contro-
versy to congress. recommending leg
islation to prevent the strike and to
prevent such emergencies from arts
ing in the future.
After a week OF consideration during
which the president visited the CAPT
tol daily, comforting with administra
tion leaders, bill was passed to
establish an eight-hour day as basis
for pay Of railroad workers. the pres
ent rate OF pay for ten hours work
not to be reduced and the men to
receive pro rata pay for work in ex-
cess OF eight hours pending an In.
vestigat.on by special commission
into the effects OF the eight-hour day
on railroad revenues.
Most important legislative enact.
ments OF the session, exclusive OF
laws for national defense, included
the following:
Railroad eighthour day law-estab-
fishing eight hours as the standard
for reckoning the compensation OF rail.
road employees operating trains In In
terstate commerce after January l,
1917, and providing for a commission
Of three to investigate the effects
OF the eight.hour standard, present
wages not to be reduced during the
investigation nor for 80 days there
after and work Tn excess OF eight
hours to be paid for at q pro rata
rate
Government ship iaw-Appropria-
ting s6O.000,000 to operate ships in
foreign and coastwise trade when un.
able to lease them to individuals or
private corporations.
Child labor law-Denying inter.
state commerce to products OF mines
and quarries employing children un-
der l6 years Of age and factories
mills, canneries and other establish
ments employing children under II
years of age.
Rural credits law Establishing q
farm loan board in control Of a sys
tenn of farm loan mortgage banks.
Workmen's compensation law-Pro
yiding uniform sick and accident ben
efts for employees of the federal gov
ernment and benefits to dependents
in case of death.
Emergency revenue iaw-Providine
for doubling the normal income ta1
on the lowest class; making an ad
ditional surtax ranging from one pei
cent on that portion OF incomes ex
ceeding $4,000 to 13 per cent OF
amount of incomes in excess Of 50,
100000; levying a graduated tax of one
to ten per cent on inheritances rang
ing from $4,000 to $5,000.000; tel
per cent net priflt tax on manufac
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