The Washington herald., 1918-04-07
UNHEARD- -OF-MONEY OUTLAY I
MOST IMPRESSIVE ACTION

Perhaps the most impressive thing
about the years record in Congress
has been the outlay of money. The
grand total of outright appropriations.
contracts authorized and loans made
to Americas allies now reaches be-
yond the 81, 0OO. go 900 mark. OF this
stupendous amount, more than 81 ,O00.
0O0.O00 was appropriated and authorized
expended in the first six months OF
the war. Seven billions went i'm loans
TO the allies. The remainder went
largely to four main sources: Ships,
aircraft, the army and the navy. The
generosity OF Congress exceeded the
administration spending ability, and
since Congress reconvened in Decem-
Der appropriations have been Of .
minor nature compared TO the previ-
Gus eight months.
Two declarations Of war within 4
yesT-that against Germany on April
and that against Austria-Hungary
on December G-also constitute a rec
ord breaker in Congressional history.
In the matter Of foreign affairs, the
year in Congress was also made re-
markable by the reception Of the pc
ciRI missions sent to the United States
llOll AAiAtt " AlllAt bN AllC dlllNu bON-
ernments.
No other Congress has ever received
so many personal visits from the
President Five times President VIII
son has gone before Congress as
sembled in joint session to address
it upon war policy and legislation.
Beginning with his first war address
in April. he appeared again on De-
A to , ~
against Austria Hungary; again on
January to advocate the new rail-
road legislation. and on January
and February II he spoke on terms OF
peace.
The most important OF the wal
| legislation enacted by the Congress
may be summed up with the follow.
ing laws: The draft law. the espion'
age law, the food control Law, the
revenue law, and trading with the
war finance bill
| The draft law was the first biG
piece OF legislation following the dec.
laration Of war. After weeks Of hard
| fighting. opposition led by advocates
OF voluntary military service. rein.
forced by the pacifists, was worn
/ NSNAA anu AAAN NAE pdESEA
by both houses by substantial ma,
! jorities. On May IS President Wilson
! signed the bill making 1O, 600 900 Ameri
! cans liable to military service.
/ The espionage law was an omnibus
measure including a dozen or so o
important acts extending to the Ad
ministraton the broadest powers e
deal with sedition. pro-Germanism
. Tafn
tions TO the successful conduct OF tn,
war. 1t was hard fought because &
included a provision granting the Ad
ministration the most drastic powers
to censor the press. This provision
weeks of stubborn contest and tn,
bill was placed on the statute book
on June Is.
The food control bill and the reve
nue. bills kept Congress. or rather
the Senate. busy throughout tn,
summer. Senator Reed, Of Missouri
led n determined fight against tn,
food control bill. which established
Herbert c. Hoover and DIR. Harry A
Garfield as the food and fuel admins
traitors of the United States. Aftei
going through various processes o.
amendment. the bill was finally passe1
by the Senate and was signed by tht
| President on August 10
The revenue bill. calculated e
raise $2.5OO.OOOo0O to defray the wal
expenses; and reaching TO the pocke
Of every man. woman and child IL
the country. met with bitter opposi
tion from Senators. who demanded
the conscription of wealth to pay fol-
the war. Weeks Of animated debate
finally resulted in the passage OF tht
bill with considerable amendments
The trading with the enemy act
one of the most important OF the wal
measures. laying down many princi