The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1917-12-07
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 3,00o,o 200.

Washington, Dec. 3.-Congress re-
turned to work today. After an eight.
| weeks rest the members are back, pre-
/ pared to buckle down to i. 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 1918-1919.
| Appropriations Of $13, OO0,000,0OO or
!. more for the next fiscal year.
i Expansion of the army, which upon
the completion of the second draft
j will reach by next summer almost
100000 to from 100000 to 5,OOO.-
600.
! Authorization of new foreign loans
/ of S..000,000.OO0 or more for that
year.
Increase in the Navy.
/ An increase in the size of the navy
!; now numbering about 10000 and the
! construction of more destroyers and
i other craft for combating the SUBJ
! 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.
| Authorization of additional drafts
/ from those already registered or
/ others to be listed in the future.
| Universal military training as 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 sabo-
tage.
Civil rights legislation proclaiming
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 its 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 curtail
production in the shipyards and NUM-
tons plants.
! 10 Billion Budget Presented.
/ Washington, Dec. At will require
s S13,O1S, 725 ,59464 to run the United
States government during the legisla-
tive year Of 1918 Secretary Of the
Treasury McAdoo so informed con-
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 ,26759 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. 1t Is likely. how
ever that the congress will appropri-
ate at least six billion dollars for this
same purpose, or total of $500, 10000
monthly.
i 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. S02e. 225 On
Executive establishment -. S. 500 369 m
judicial establishment ...... 396 ion On
Department or agriculture. 26,45S, $751; 60
Foreign intercourse ........ 6535, OIL 66
Military establishment 6,615 1856 $50 ~
NTo-ro1 afliSi4Y 'n1A mr., go