Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-12-06
CONGRESS BEGINS
LONG SESSION
Both Houses Resume Work at
Washington.
MANY WAR MEASURES DUE
Most Momentous Session in History Is
Under Way to Provide Sinews to
Crush the Enemy-Army May
Be Increased to 100000.

turned to work today. After an eight
| weeks rest the members are back, pre-
pared to buckle down to session that
may drag along until next October.
Momentous events are anticipated.
War legislation of supreme impor-
lance will hold the center of the stage.
The gavel fell in. both houses
promptly at noon, Vice President Mar
shall presiding in the senate and
Speaker Clark in the house.
Returning lawmakers have brought
with them innumerable suggestions for
legislation.
War measures which are certain to
come up for discussion during the
session include the following:
Amendments to the present war tax
law and authorization of new bond
issues for the fiscal year 191S-1919.
Appropriations Of $13,OO0OO0,OO0 or
| more for the next fiscal year.
Expansion Of the army, which upon
the completion of the second draft
will reach by next summer almost
100000 to from 100000 to 5,OO0,-
600.
Authorization of new foreign loans
Of S7,OO0,00OO0O Or more for that
year.
Increase in the Navy.
An increase in the size of the navy
now numbering about 100000 and the
| construction Of more destroyers and
other craft for combating the sub
marine peril.
Amendments to the draft law low
ering the minimum age from twenty
one to eighteen or nineteen without,
probably, extending it's scope above
thirty.
Authorize ton of additional drafts
from those already registered or
others to be listed in the future.
Universal military training as a per-
| manent policy.
Declaration of war against Austria,
Turkey and Bulgaria, allies of Ger
many.
Power to take citizenship from
naturalized citizens who fail to sup
port the government.
Military to Try PIotters.
Transfer from the civil courts to
the military authorities of all cases of
persons who destroy food intended
| for the army or navy, blow up
bridges, place bombs for the purpose
of destroying life or indulge in .abo-
tage.
Civil rights legislation procaiming
a moratorium for soldiers and sailors,
making it impossible for the to
suffer losses through the failure to pay
insurance premiums, house rent and
similar items during the war.
Amendments to food control law
giving the food administration power
over small retailers and otherwise
extending it's authority.
Development Of shipping program
as one of the most important phases of
the war.
Railroad legislation including crea-
ton of transportation director with
authority over all the roads of the
| country.
Labor measures including conscrip-
ton of labor for government in
dustries if strikes continue to curtai1
production in the shipyards and NUM-
tons plants.
13 Billion Budget Presented.
Washington, Dec. At will require
+! S13,O18, 725, 59464 to run the United
States government during the legisla-
tive year of 1913. Secretary Of the
Treasury McAdoo so informed cont
gress.
The figures were less than those
which were demanded from the final
| session Of the SiXty-fourth congress
and the special session of the Sixty
fifth (war) congress. The total of the
cash provided by the latter two, fig
ures of which accompanied the esti
mates, show that total of $780,
361 ,267.59 was provided at those two
sessions. This sum included seven
billion dollars appropriated for the
purchase Of obligations of foreign
governments This item is missing
from the 1918 total. It is likely, how
ever, that the congress will appropri-
ate at least six billion dollars for this
same purpose, or total of S5O0,OOO,0OO
monthly.
Congressional leaders very frankly
say that although they plan to exer-
else the utmost economy they have
little hope that it will be possible to
keep the total figures for 1919 below
those of the fiscal year of 1918, which
ends on June 80 next.
1919 Estimates
The total of the estimates for 1919
by departments, as made by Secretary
McAdoo, follows:
legislative establishments. 8,026, 325.00
Executive establishment 80. 65 329 1863 90
judicial establishment ..... 1896, 1900
Department of agriculture. 26, ,551. 90
Foreign intercourse 6,535, OH. 66
Military establishment .... 6,615, 1856, 553.72
Naval establishment 1,014,077, "a
Indian affairs ................. 12,255. 1000
Pensions Observation-Disclosures. $4,000, 10000
Panama canal ............... %, III, 624 60
Public works ................ 1854, 918, 055 2L
Postal service ................ ~, 818,345.00
Miscellaneous ...........: 1,026, 208, 31712