Omaha daily bee., 1917-05-15
WAR LEGISLATION
MOVING SLOWLY
Declaration and Appropriation
Bills Are Only Measures
Passed in Thirty.Six.
Working Days.

Washington, May 1.-THE United
States has seen at war with Germany
thirty-nine days and practically all
the measure: through which this gov
ernment is 10 do its part in the worlds
battle for humanity and civilization
still in the talking stage in con-
gress.
The actLal accomplishment since
President Wilson convened the spe-
cial war session in April has been the
passage of resolution declaring a
state OF wat with Germany and enact
ment of the S7,0O0,0O00OO loan law.
Those who predicted congress
would provide the nation with the
means OF making war successfully and
adjourn by June now have extended
their estimates to the middle OF Au-
gust.
Pressed Tor speed by the admins
tration on one side and on the other
by constituents at home. demanding
action, congress faces many big things
to do and quickly if the aid of the
United States in the world war is TO
be of its full value.
Status OF Legislation.
As congress today went into its
thirty-seventh working day the war
program stood this way:
War tax bill Under debate in the
house and up for public hearings IL
the senate finance committee. At the
present rate OF progress it probably
will be up before one house or the
other for at least month.
Army bill In conference again to
thresh owe. the action OF the house
in restoring the so-cailed Roosevelt
amendment 1t provides the army the
allies need in France.
Food control bill: Debated one day
in the house, an entirely different
form OF bill has been introduced in the
senate. =.
Shipping bill: The bill to vest legal
title to the seized German ships in
the government has passed both
houses, but is in conference for re-
consideration Of differences; the bill
to appropriate $400,000,0C0 for a start
on the grea; merchant feet to over
come the ,ubmarine menace has not
yet been introduced and may not be,
while plans are being discussed OF
paying for the ships out Of the ST.
t00,000000 loan. The bill to authorize
the taking ever OF shipbuilding facili-
ties ship building for foreign account
has been introduced, but is not vet
under consideration.
Espionage Bill in Senate.
Espionage bill: The house in pass
ing the bill retained the newspaper
censorship section demanded by the
administration, but did not enact an
embargo section, which the admins
tration wants to keep supplies from
going to Germany through neutrals.
The senate still has its bill under de-
bate, retaining such an embargo Sec
ton, but entirely without censor
ship provision. The real enactment
OF this bill probably will be in con-
ference, where the administration will
bring pressure to have both censor
ship and embargo sections inserted
in acceptable terms.
Prohibition: As an amendment to
the espionage bill the senate has at
tached section prohibiting the man.
ufacture of intoxicating liquors from
food grains. Various prohibition pro-
posals are pending in the house. The
normal strength Of the prohibition
forces in congress, coupled with the
rising prices OF food, present likeli-
hood Of some section to prevent food
stuffs from being manufactured into
liquor at least during the war.
Federal reserve amendments:
These additions to the existing bank
law were proposed by the administra-
ton to bring more banks into the
federal reserve system and by liber-
alizing the reserve requirements in
crease the gold holdings of the sys-
tenn more than $300,000,000. Con-
gress was told their enactment would
prepare the federal reserve system
for practically any shock it might be
called upon to sustain.
In addition to these principal meas
ures there are few others having ad.
ministration sanction and which con-
gress will be called on to pass before
adjourning.