The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-09-08
|SXTYF0tRTH CONGRESS ADJOURNED AT 10 A. m. TODAY
Complete Review Of the Lengthy Sc!
RECORD BREAKING SESSION OF
CONGRESS COMES TO A CLOSE
Appropriations and Authorizations Total Nearly
Two Billion Dollars Many Records Are
Smashed Review of Sessions Work,
(By Associated Press.)

SmaShed-keVleV
(By Associated Press.)
Washington, Sept. S.-Congress ad
journed cine die at ten o'clock thi.
morning concluding session record
breaking in many respects with ap
preparations and authorizations fol
the future running we'll towards. $2,.
000,Oo0,0OO.
The Homestead grazing bill was
passed without record vote in the
Senate. The measure provided fol
stock raising on homesteads of GAO
acres.
President Wilson held reception
in his room as a line of Senators and
Representatives passed through, while
he sat at his table signing bills.
During the session 252 bills became
law, 80 public resolutions and $50
private bills and resolutions were
adopted.
The total amount appropriated ex-
ceeds s1,S5O,0O0.
When the gavel fell Congress had
directed reorganization and reequip.
ment Of the Army and Navy for de-
fense Of the country at the unprece.
dented cost Of $655, 900, 900 with au.
thorisation that will increase the total
10 three years to nearly $500, 900, 900.
With all other expenditures, appropri-
ations were brought to the grand total
Of $6S7 1888, 6S2, the greatest aggrs.
gate In the country's history and ex-
cesding that for the 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
heritancs tax, munitions tax and mis-
cellaneous excise taxes to raise $685.
O0O,000 and by directing sale of $780,.
900, 900 Panama Canal bonds.
Congress established Tariff. Com.
mission; Government Shipping Board
to rehabilitate the American merchant
marine; Workmen's Compensation
Commission to administer a new uni
form compensation law; a Farm Loan
banking system; Child Labor law;
enlarged the system of self-govern-
, msnt in the PHILIPPINES and enacted
many other important laws which had
been contemplated by the administrs-
tion.
The session was disturbed through.
out by frequently recurring threats Of
foreign complications from the Euro
pean war and eminence at one time Of
q diplomatic break with Germany; in.
terference 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. Brandsis, Of Boston, to- sue.
ceed the late Justice Lamar as a mem
Der of the Supreme Court. Weeks Of
investigation and deliberation by the
Judiciary committee ended in confrma.
ton by large majority. T.
In the week before adjournment Con-
gress was occupied with legislation
which prevented threatened nation.
wide railroad strike President Wilson
after futile negotiations with officials
Of the railroads and railroad brother.
hoods, submitted the controversy to
congress, recommending legislation to
prevent the strike and to prevent such
emergencies from arising In the future.
After week Of consideration, dur.
inn which the president visited the
capitol daily, comforting with admins.
tration leaders, a bill was passed to e.
tabIish IN eight.hour day - . basis for
nav Of railroad workers, the present
rate Of pay for ten hours work not to
81 reduced and the men to receive pro-
rata pay for work in excess Of eight
hours pending an investigation by q
specisl commission into the effect Of
the sight-hour day on railroad rev.
spuss.
Most important legislative enact.
n,ents Of the session, exclusive Of lsws
for national defense, included the fol-
lowing: 4,
GOvERNMENT SHIP Law: Appro.
psiating $50, ,oOo.ooo to operate ships ia
foreign and coastwise trade when una.
able 20 lesse them to individuals or pri.
vate corporations.
CHILD LABOR Law: Denying in'
torstats commerce to products o.
sSIass and quarries employing children
uSlsr lS years Of age and factories
M ), eannsries and other establish
n employing children under i
1lsAL CREDITS LAW, E'.ab'