Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-10-09
SeIeCtive Service Law, Great
Loans and Credits, Army
and Navy Bills and Tax
Measures Are Passed

WASHINGTON. Oct 6.-A record OF
achievement probably unparalleled in
worldwide legislative history was
closed with adjournment today of the
session Of congress. Written into the
nations statutes in six months are laws
in numbers. scope and unanimity I'M
surpassed.
Called April . by President Wilson
swithin a month after his second inau-
gurationl TO enroll the United States
among Germany's foes. from the pass
age OF the war resolution, April 8, until
the presidents signature OF the last law
today. congress has worked necessarily
on legislation OF vital present and fu-
ture import in national and world devel-
opment. II now takes a two months
respite. returning December for the
regular session and facing another stu
pendous program OF war and domestic
action
FIGHTING FORCES ENLARGED.
Marking the session passing into MS
tory were its war declarations; provision
for quick and large increase in the ma
tiou's lighting fOrces-On land. sea and
. in the air; appropriations Of more than
$4,000. 0OO. 600. measures Of taxation
and credits to meet the financial drafts
and yesting the president with vast
powers
Looming ahead for disposition at the
, December session are more enormous
spproprfatiOns, for this and next year.
great tax and bond bills and a mass Of
other war and domestic legislation. with
congressional primaries and elections
closely following
Among the most important measures
enacted were:
The army service law. two war credits
he n
lies. and sale Of domestic bonds. the
war tax law. appropriation of $4,000
600 for airplanes. the espionage act.
control OF foods. feeds and fuel; the
trading ith-the-enemy act, including
authority for the president TO embargo
imports. the soldiers and sailors insur-
ance act and the war budget bills.
The principal disputes of the session
were on the draft food control and
war tax bills. with opposition center
ed in the senate. ClOture was twice
resorted to thereon the food and war
tax measures-but its actual imposition
averted after a month was spent IN
each bill
During the session six allied missions
appeared before congress. addresses be-
ing made BY Lord BaIfour. OF the Brit
ism mission: Premier Vivian, ana Mar
shall Joffre. OF the French; Prince
Udine. of the Italian; Baron Moncheur,
of the Belgian; BOTia Bakhmeteff. of
the Russian. and ViscOunt Ishii, OF the
japanese
Congres saIso found time to take i'm
portant action on two important do
mesrgc marters-prohibitiOn and woman
suffrage
FACES LIQUOR QUESTION
Besides prohibiting manufacture or
importation OF distilled beverages and
authorizing the president in the food
control bill. TO stop or curtail that of
beer and wines. the senate by a vote of
65 TO 20 also passed the Sheppard reso-
luton. proposing a national dry amend
ment to the federal constitution It is
pending in the house for action in De-
cember-
The house created a special committee
on woman suffrage, while the senate IA
ovrably reported the Susan b. Anthony
amendment proposing a nequal franchise
amendment 20 the constitution. The
latter viii be pressed next session.
Several bills passed the senate and
house but failed OF joint approval and
remain pending on the calendar.
Among them are the soldiers and sail
ors' civil rights bill, the daylight saving
measure. the Webb export bill. the meas
ure regulating killing of migratory
birds and the national prohibition meas
ure. The proposed Colombian treaty.
for payment Of $4,000. 900 in satisfac-
ton Of her loss OF the Panama Canal
zone. also failed OF senate ratificati ton
and IS on the calendar.
The next session OF congress will be
extended. running possibly into Septem-
Der or October. Speaker Clark predicted
today. but fits total appropriations will
be less than those OF the present one.
Unless an arrangement can be made
20 eliminate the Christmas holidays. we
win be here until late in the fall" said
the speaker.
with the initial expenditures for our
national defenses met. including the cost
OF cantonments and equipping our great
army, the cost next year Will be les
sened"