Spray courier. (Spray, Or.) 1???-19??, 1916-09-14


sion Of the Sixty-fourth congress
which adjourned Friday. Sept 8, wa
concerned chiefly with national dc
fensc.
When the gavel fell congress ha'
directed reorganization and re-equip
ment Of the army and navy for defens,
Of the country at the unprecedente,
cost Of $685.. 600, 600, with authorize
tions that will increase the total II
three years TO nearly $500. 900, 600
With all other expenditures. appropri
ations were brought TO the grand tota
Of 81, ,637, 5S3, 882. 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, neccssitated 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
herltance tax, munitions tax and mis-
cellaneous excise taxes to raise $685.
600. 1000, and by directing the sale Of
$3.50, 900. 900 Panama Canal bonds.
Congress established tariff COM
mission, a government shipping board
to rehabilitate the American merchant
marine; workmen's compensation
commission to administer a 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, 900 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 ID 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 law--Providing
for doubling the normal income tax on
the lowest class; making an addition
al surtax ranging from per cent on
that portion of incomes exceeding
$40, 900 to 13 per cent on amount Of
incomes In excess Of so, 900, 600; levy
ing graduated tax Of to 10 per cent
on inheritances ranging from $50, 900
to $5, 900, 900; 10 per cent net profit
tax on manufacturers of munitions, 5
per cent net profit tax on manufac-
turers Of materials entering into muni-
tions; license tax on actually invest
cd 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
Of highways and appro-
priating $75, 900, 900 to be spent in five
years.
Postal savings law-Amendmen in
.reasing the amount which individuals
may deposit from $500 to $1,000 with
and additional $1,000 with
,ut interest.
Federal OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, in
,luding amendment to the Clayton
,nti-trust law permitting officers and
directors Of member banks to become
,fficers and directors of not more than
,wo other non-competing banks;
permitting national banks
o establish foreign branches, liberal y
zing regulations for discounting COM
nercial paper and permitting member {
,anks in towns of 5000 or less popula-
ion to act as agents for insurance 8
Railroad legislation-Creation of a +
oint subcommittee of senate and I
louse interstate commerce committees !
o investigate necessity for further ?
egislation for railroads and the Inter-
tate Commerce commission, question
I government ownership of public
Utilities and comparative worth of
government ownership as against gov
regulation.
Railroad eight-hour day law -Estab- a
ishing eight hours as the standard for c
eckoning the compensation of railroad o
operating trains in interstate o
ommerce after January l, 1917, and o
roviding for q commission Of three to il
investigate the effects Of the eight p
our standard, present wages not to t,