Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1917-10-12
IMMENSE LOT
OF WORK DONE
BY CONGRESS
Session Remarkable, of Course,
for lis Action on War
Measures.
LITTLE FRICTION NOTICED

Members, as General Thing, Were
Observation-Disclosures Sue
cessful in Most Legislation
1t Wanted Adopted.
Washington.-"Them most remarkable
session in the parliamentary history
lof the world" was the way Demo
cratic and Republican leaders charac-
terized the first war session of the
,Sixty-fifth 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-
lions and contract authorizations for
the present fiscal year, totalling $21,-
390,000,000, Including $7,O00,000,00O 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
money is to be spent:
Army 30 81 0OO wv
Navy ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. l,Sl5OUO,OO0
Merchant shipping f1eet........ 1889 900. 900
Loans to the allies. ........ 1000 900
Defense fund for
President NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. IO,OUU,UUu
Food and fuel control. .......... 173 DOC, Go
Soldiers and sailors insurance 176000,0oO
Interest bonds and certifi-
Gates NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 2OO00O,OO0
Civil establishment of govern
ment $1,000, 900
All other expenses. 102 600, 900
AS part Of the scheme of meeting
these enormous expenditures congress
passed the So, 1916, 100000 war revenue
bill, the largest taxation bill in Amer
ican 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 $1,000 for sin
gle men and more than $4,000 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 un-
der the new war tax bill:
Approximately 2 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
year or more.
One cent for each % cents paid for
parcel post.
One cent on each 25 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
80 miles.
Ten per cent of charges for seats,
berth and staterooms on parlor cars
lor vessels.
Five cents on each telegraph, tele-
Iphone or radio message costing 10
cents or more.
Three per cent on jewelry.
Eight cents on each 500 of life in
xuIi fc in.
creased from $1.10 gallon to $500.
The tax on beer is increased from 81
a barrel to $2.75.
Increased tax on cigars, cigarettes
land 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
blu and the food control bill. In ev-
leIy case, except censorship of the
newspapers and speech, the admins.
tration has received everything it asked
lof congress for the conduct of the
war.
Congress was in session 188 days
During that time more than 10000
army, navy and marine corps nominal
Itions sent to the senate were con-
Ifirmed, 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