The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-04-07
CONGRESS MAY BE IN SESSION
THRoUGH SUMNER, SAYS
SPEAKER CLARK. M
WEIeATY MEASURES PENDING
Army and Navy Bills May Take Long
Time-5ioIogicai Survey an Impor-
tant overwhelmingly Rapid Work
In Mexico.
Ry oEoRGE CLINTON,

without honor in Washington and in
the country. The more hopeful ones
declare that it viii all be over by In.
dependence day, while the others, less
hopeful, notably Speaker Champ Clark,
say that senate and house will be in
session until summer has been dis
| missed.
There is a long legislative program
full of items as yet uncanceled The
preparedness bill framed by the com
mittee on military affairs has passed
the house, but the senate still is de-
batting the Chamberlain measure on its
own account. The >erate bill provides
for much greater degree of army
preparedness than does the one IA
thered by the representatives. 1t is
probable that the senate will stick to
its own measure and that long sessions
on the part of the conferees of the
two houses will be necessary before an
agreement can be reached.
The navy preparedness bill has not
been passed by either house. The
committee on naval affairs of the
hous has been discussing sea matters
for weeks.
Senate Savors Big Navy.
In the senate the naval committee is
inclined to favor larger measure of
naval preparedness than is the case in
the house. So it seems likely that the
conferees on naval matters will have
long-continued sessions before the two
houses will agree upon the form which
the Legislation shall take
Not long ago the administration al
lowed it to become known that it was
in favor of tariff commission legisla-
ton. Bills have been prepared to meet
the presidents wishes in this matter
and it is expected that before con-
gress adiourns legal authority win be
given for the establishment of COM
mission with advisory powers. to study
all things relating to the schedules and
to make reports thereon to congress.
"A good-roads bill has passed the
house of representatives, carrying with
it apprdpria for the extension Of
the work of highway building. The
measure is now on the calendar Of the
senate, but it does not resemble in all
its parts the bill that passed the
house. 1t is probable that good roads
discussion will consume some days of
debate in the upper house.
The bill giving the Philippines indie
pendence on a certain date, and pro
viding for various changes in the gov
ornamental system now in vogue in the
islands, is still under consideration. No
one definitely can tell when it will re-
ceive the final vote. Rural credit leg
islation, the great government ship
ping bill and the immigration measure
are yet in allegiance. Add to these the
majority of the great appropriation
bills and all of the revenue-raising
bills AMI t will be seen that if con-
gress is to adjourn by, the Fourth OF
July speed must be maintained and
that there must be an absence of sur
prjses In the way of injected legisla-
ton concerning which no one knows
anything at the present hour.
Interest In Revenue Bills.
The revenue-raising bills are those
which are attracting perhaps the
sharpest attention from the country,
if one eliminates from consideration
the great preparedness measures. 1t
is virtually certain that good many
more millions of dollars must be raised
in the next year than it was neces-
sary to raise in the past year. The
army and navy are to be increased,
and other necessary expenses are to
be added to the debit page of the gov
ernment's ledger.
1t seems likely that provision will
be made to raise some additional mil
lions by means of an increase in the
income tax. It does not seem at all
likely that any change will be made in
the paragraphs which exempt $4,000
incomes of married persons al d $4,000
incomes of unmarried persons. The
additional taxes in all probability will
be laid on incomes of a greater
amount. Money may also be raised
by form OF inheritance tax, and it is
probable that a tax may be levied on
the profits of concerns engaged in max
ing munitions of war.
Valuable Work for Farmers.
Every American citizen who re-
ceives government publications |
through the mail and who reads
them. knows something about the bio
logical survey of the department of ag-
riculture. 1t is Uncle Sans biologists
who tell the agriculturists what birds
and animals are injurious to the crops
and which of them are beneficial.
They do their valuable work in con-
nection with their constant field study
OF the habits of American mammal and
bird life.
All of the biologists. Of course. are
scientists and ordinarily people look
on scientists as belonging to rather
an aloof species Of mankind. SO far
as the workers In the biological sur
vey are concerned this estimate Of the