The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-10-20
IMMENSE LOT
OF WORK Done
BY CONGRESS
Session Remarkable, of Course,
for Its Action on War
Measures.
LITTLE FRICTION NOTICED
Members, as General Thing, Were
Observation-Disclosures Sue
cessfuI in Most Legislation
1t Wanted Adopted.

SESSION IN the parliamentary history
of the world" was the way Demo-
cratic and Republican leaders charac-
terized the first war session of the
Sixty congress, which came to
close at three o'clock in the afternoon
of October 6, exactly six months after
the declaration of war against Ger
many.
The record of legislation enacted
and money appropriated has no paraI-
lel anywhere in the annals of all time
Beginning with the declaration of
war against Germany in April, con-
gress has passed bill after bill of the
most revolutionary character, includ-
Ing such measures as the draft bill
and the food control bill. Appropria-
lions and contract authorizations for
the present fiscal year, totalling $21,-
100000 including 100000, 900 in
loans to the allies. were voted with
out single dissenting voice, a record
equalled nowhere, not even in the
kaiser-dominated German reichstag.
How Money Is Expended.
The following table shows how the
money is to be spent:
Army Observation-Disclosures. IS, 81. zoo, 900
Navy ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1S75 OOO, 900
Merchant shipping feet...-.... 1883. 100000
Loans to the allies. 1000 OOO, 900
Defense fund for
President ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 100000, 600
Food and fuel controi....-...... 173. OO0, 900
Soldiers and sailors insurance I76,OO0. 900
Interest bonds and certif-
Gates ................... 100000, goo
Civil establishment of govern
ment .......................... s5S. OOO. 900
All other expenses. .............. 1O2, O0O, 900
AS part of the scheme of meeting
these enormous expenditures congress
passed the S2,535, 100000 war revenue
bill, the largest taxation bill in Amer
lean history, levying directly or in
directly upon. every man, women and
child in the United States. Something
more than a billion dollars of this
amount will be taken from war profits.
All incomes more than $1,000 for sin
gle men and more than $1,000 for mar
ried men are made subject to taxation.
Where New Taxes Fall.
Here are some things upon which
the average citizen will pay taxes I'M
der the new war tax bill:
Approximately 2 per cent increase
on incomes of $1,000 or less.
Letter postage, except local letters,
Increased to 8 cents and postcards to
2 cents, beginning November 3.
One cent for each 10 cents paid for
admissions to amusements.
Five-cent shows and 10-cent outdoor
amusement parks exempted.
Ten per cent on all club dues of S12
a year or more.
One cent for each % cents paid for
parcel post.
One cent on each % cents express
package charge.
Three per cent of all freight charges.
Eight per cent of passenger fares by
rail or water, except trips of less than
80 miles
Ten 10. cent of charges for seats,
BERN and staterooms on parlor cars
or vessels.
Five cents on each telegraph, tele-
phone or radio message costing 10
cents or more.
Three per cent on jewelry.
Eight cents on each 500 of life in
surance. The tax on whisky is in
creased from $1.10 gallon to $500.
The tax on beer is increased from 81
barrel to $2.75.
Increased tax on cigars, cigarettes
and manufactured tobacco and snuff.
Little Dissension During Session.
Despite pacifist activities. the ses.
sion was marked with comparatively
little dissensiOn, the fighting centering
about questions mainly affecting pol.
icy. The most stubborn contests were
staged over the revenue bill. the draft
bill and the food control bill. In ev-
cry case, except censorship of the
newspapers and speech, the admins.
tration has received everything it askee
of congress for the conduct of the
war.
Congress was in session 1SS days
During that time more than 10000
army, navy and marine corps nomina.
tons sent to the senate were con-
firmed, among them the advancement
of Major General PerShing, comman-
der in chief of the armies in France,
and Major General Bliss, chief of staff,
to the rank of full general, held only
four times previously in American his