Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-05-14
IOWA. MONDAY, MAY IA, 1917
Congress Making
Haste SloD1y In
World War Crisis

Washington, May 1.-THE United
States has been at war with Germany
thirty-nine days and practically all
measures thru which this government
is to do it's part in the worlds battle
for humanity and civilization still are
in the talking stage in congress-
The actual accomplishments since
President Wilson convened the special
war session April 2 have been the
passage Of resolution declaring a
state of war on Germany and the en-
actment Of the $7.O00,000,000 law.
Pressed for speed by the administra :
ton 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.
AS congress today went into its thir-
ty- seventh working day the war pro-
gram stood thus:
War tax bill-Under debate in the
house and up for public hearings in
the senate finance committee.
Army bill-In conference again to
Ithresil over the action of the house in
restoring the so-called Roosevelt
amendment. It provides the army
needed in France
Food control bill-Debated one day
In the house,. an entirely different
form Of bill has been introduced in the
senate.
Shipping bills-The bill to vest legal
title to the seized German ships in the
government, has passed both houses,
but is in conference to fix differences; /;
the bill to appropriate s1,000,0O0 for a
start on the great merchant fleet to
overcome the submarine menace has
not been introduced, while plans are
discussed for paying for the ships out
Of the $1,000, 900, 900 loan. The bill au-
thorizing the taking over of ship build
ing facilities for foreign account has
been introduced.
Espionage bill-The house in passing
the bill retained the newspaper CEN
sorship section but did not enact an
embargo section, which the admins
tration wants to keep supplies from
going to Germany thru neutrals. The
senate has its bill under debate, re-
tanning an embargo section, but en-
tirely without . censorship feature.
= n0 AC0l 0A00S1AASAls W I14o iOii wv
ably will be In conference.
Prohibition-As an amendment to
the Espionage bill the senate has at
tached a section prohibiting the manu-
factdre Of intoxicating liquor from
food grains. Various prohibition pro-
posals are pending in the house. The
normal prohtbition forces in congress
coupled with rising: prices N food por-
tend - lively action 10 prevent food
stnffs being used Tor manufacture Of
liquor.
Federal reserve amendments--Pro-
posed by the administration to bring
more banks in the federal reserve sys-
tenn and by liberahzing the reserve re-
quirements increase the gold holdings
Of the system more than $500, 200, 900.
Congress was told their enactment
would prepare the federal reserve sys-
tenn for any shock it might be called
upon to sustain.
There are few other measures
which have administration sanction
and which congress viii be called on
to pass.
At present all the pushing influences
Of the administration are being con-
centrated to hurry action on the army
bill, the bill to provide ships to COM
bat the, submarine menace and to
guard the country against pinch of
hunger.