Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-08
|CT|V|T|ES Of
OUR LAWMAKERS
At WASHINGTON
fth Congress Closes with Only
Two of the Administration
Measures on Statute Books
These Are the Revenue Bill
and Measure Giving Civil Gov
eminent to Porto Rico and
American Citizenship to Its
Inhabitants.

Washington. March 4.-Of all the legisla-
kn on the administration program proper.
lily two measures, the revenue bill and
e measure giving civil government to
>fto Rico and American citizenship to
inhabitants. got through the legislative
ngle at the close of the session. One
| tho most important enactments of the
rec months of the session.. the immi-
alton bill. passed both housese, despite
Presidents announced objection, and
en- was passed again by both over his
to.
Among the arbitration bills which failed
pre- the measures to supplement the
hanson law; the bill to enlarge the
terstate commerce commission; the
ebb bill to legalize Joint foreign selling
encies: and conservation legislation,
cluding the general dam bills and water
wer bills Bills which did not form part
the original program but which were
essed UNNECESSARILY by cabinet officers
ID administration leaders late in the
ssion. included amendments to the
Hoping act to give the President power
commander ships; a drastic espionage
Il which passed the Senate but never
be taken UP in the House. and amano-
ents to the federal reserve act to in
ease reserve bank gold holdings and
crease member bank reserves.
congress provided for the payma:it o.:
900. 900 for the Danish West Indies. The
mate failed to ratify. despite an urgent
quest by the President, the treaty to
y Colombia $15, 100000 for the separation
Panama Among important enactments
hich were not specifically included in
b program were the bill abolishing
looms in the District Of Columbia and
rider on the postoffice appropriation
j making It crime to transport liquor
interstate commerce into a prohibition
ate.
although the Senate filibuster stopped
b passage of appropriation bills carry
in all about SSH 100000, Congress man.
ed to get through ten other supply
hasures with a total OF nearly 81 zoo, 000..
Appropriation measures that failed
GUIDED the army appropriation bill
frying $40. 90 000 the sundry civil ap-
ppriat1on bill carrying $13900o0 1000: the
neral deficiency. $4,000 900; the rivers
d harbors. $ss.0Oo.ooo. and the Military
Fademy $l.sso1oo
BIG APPROPRIATION BILLS
rhe bills passed were: Naval. 8s5, 0oo, 900
stoffice, 33o.Ooo000; Invalid pensions
000. 900: legislative, executive ant
dicial. SO 0o0 900: Notifications. S51. 000. 900
riculturai. $3600OOOo: District of Colum
$13.000000: Indian, 100000: diplo
hhc and consular. $s.OoO,OO0 and urgen
hciency, 100000.
President Wilson was at the Capito
ring the closing hours Of the session
ming bills. Members Of the cabinet ant
cretary Tumu1ty. with a staff from tn
hite House. wero on hand to assist.
Among the measures to which the Presi
Mt attached his signature were tn
val and agricultural appropriation bills
resolution providing for a 100000 90
nd issue TO spool up warship construc
n. a resolution postponing Until July
Effectiveness Of the prohibition fea
Re Of the postofficc bin. resolutio
propriating $3,O0.OOo to continue wor
the Alaskan railroad and more than
ore of minor resolutions and bills.
Tho last measure signed provided per
N for the widow of Major-Geners
cdcrick Funston.