The Springdale news., 1917-10-26
SUMMARY OF WORK OF CON-
 GRESS BEARING ON THE WAR

resentatives shows that out of 91 laws of the Sixty-fifth Congress recently adjourned 56 related in one way or an- other to the national defnse and pre- paration for the prosecution of the war against Germany. Some of these 56 bills relate to minor matters, but all had bearing in varying degres upon the efficiency of the national de- fense
 The extraordinary session sat for 1S8 days. In the Senate during that time more than 10000 Army, Navy and Marine Corps nominations were confirmed. The appropriations for the present fiscal year, including con- tract authorizations for the same period, reached a total of $21 ,390 0,OO0, 000 This total includes $7,000,000,000 in loans to the allies. In round num- bers the authorizations of funds appro priated were as follows: Army, S8, 911, 100000; Navy, $1,875,000,0 ,000; merchant shipping fleet, $1,889,0 9,0OO,- GOO; loans to allies, $7,000, 0,000,0 ,000; de- fense fund for the President, $100, O0O,0OO; food and fuel control, $173, 100000; soldiers and sailors insur- ance, S176,000, ,000; interest on bonds and certificates, $200,000, ,000; civil es- tablishment, $95S, ,o00,000; all other
 
 expenses S102, 2,000,000.
 Passage of War Resolution.
 The war legislation began with the passage by the Senate, April 4 last, and by the House, April 6, of the joint resolution declaring that state of war existed between the United States and Germany and the approval of the resolution by the President im- mediately upon it's enrolment. The session adjourned on October 6, on which day the President signed var ious war measures, among them the S5.356 ,666,016 deficiency appropria- tion bill.
 The various appropriation bills were enacted from time to time throughout the session. The second joint resolu- tion to be passed was that of May lZ, under which the German ships in the ports of this country were seized and taken over for the use of the Govern ment. Then followed various resolu= tions relating to the rights of retired officers when detailed to active duty; to the officers of the Public Health Service serving on coast-guardZ yes sels or detailed for duty with the Ar my or Navy, and the questionable sta tus of themselves or their dependents; to relieve the owners of mining claims who have. entered the service from performing assessment work during such military service.
 Selective Service Law.
 By way of preparing for additional naval officers, on April 3 an act was approved authorizing one additional midshipman for each Senator, Repre- sentative. and Delegate in Congress On the same day the maximum llmlt of age for officers of the Naval Re serve on first appointment was in- creased from 9 to 50 years.
 The next war legislation was the se- lective service law, approved by the President May IS, under which se- lected Army of 100000 was provided for and other legislative features per taining to the Army enacted. This was followed on May 9, with legislation fo increase the strength of the Navy and the Marine Corps-in the case of the Navy from 87,000 to 150,000 and in the case of the Marine Corps from 17,4o0 to 30,000 On May % an act was approved giving the Interstate Commerce Commission additional power with respect to car service, and on August the act to increase the membership of the commission, and q dav later the act authorizing priority of shipments by any common carrier The war-risk act was amended and en- Iarged under the act of June F, which also carried an appropriation of $45,- 100000 to insure vessels and their careoes and the masters, officers, and crews.
 The Espionage Law.
 Two days later, on June fl, the act was approved authorizing the issue to States and Territories and the Dis trict of Columbia of rifles and other property for the equipment of organ