Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1917-10-17
REVIEW OF WORK
DONE BY RECENT
"WAR CONGRESS-"
MANY IMPORTANT MEASURES EN-
ACTED INTO LAW AT THE SEES
SION JUST CLOSED.
TAX LEGISLATION is FEATURE

Administration Dominant Throughout
the Six Months During Which the
Legislators Were In Session.
Only One Measure Defeated.
Washington.-"The most remarkable
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-ffth 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 paral-
lei 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-
tons and contract authorizations for
the present fiscal year, tOtalling $21,-
10000, 900, including $7,000,000,0O0 in
loans to the allies, were voted with
out a 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
8noney Is to be spent:
Army ....................... IS, 81, 900, 900
Navy 1,875, 000, 600
Merchant shipping feet........ 1883, 1000
Loans to the allies. 1000, O0O, 900
Defense fund for
President Observation-Disclosures. 100, 00o, GOO
Food and fuel control. ........... 173, 600 600
Eoldiers' and sailors insurance 176, 900
Interest on bonds and certifi-
Gates 200, 900
Civil establishment OF govern
ment ...................... 95S, 900 900
All other expenses. 1902, 000, coo
As q part of the scheme of meeting
these enormous expenditures congress
passed the $2,535, 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 81 900 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 per cent increase
on incomes of $1,000 or less.
Letter postage, except local letters,
Increased to 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 $12
a year or more.
One cent for each Is cents paid for
parcel post.
One cent on each Is 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
30 miles.
Ten per cent of charges for seats,
berth 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 a gallon to $500.
The tax on beer is increased from 81
a 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 1t 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.
lions 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