The sun., 1919-03-02

! to protect American industries at such
length until the War Finance Corpora
ton and the Capital Issues Committee
was authorized. The act appropriated
$500 100000 TO provide credits for In
dustries deemed essential to the conduct
OF the war
The greatest appropriation bill ever
passed by any legislative body became
law on July ., 1913, when the army
appropriation for the fiscal year 1919
was signed. This bill carried appro-
priations OF s1O,225.47S,312.91 and au-
thorized contract obligations OF Sl,SoS'-
332,S01. This act extended the author
ity conferred upon the President to in
crease temporarily the military estao-
llshment of the United States by author
izing him during each fiscal year 10
raise by draft the maximum number OF
men which may be organized. equipped,
trained and used during each year.
In the first two sessions loans to the
extent of $4,000, 100000 were author
lied, and In the closing days OF the third
session authorization for an addiuonal
loan Of $1,000. 100000 was asked.
! In the closing days of the second SEES
sion the Finance committees OF both
houses were busily engaged In framing
a new revenue bill which was to be the
greatest revenue bill ever adopted by
any American Congress. Not until the
third session, however, was the Dill
adopted 1t was estimated that tne
taxes provided for in the bill would
bring into the Treasury an income OF
IS, 900, 600, 900. Taxes were placed upon
luxuries of every chsrac,,r. the trainers
| OF the bill purposlng to place the burden
of the new taxes upon war prohts ana
articles not considered necessities OF
life. Income taxes were increased sc-
cordingIy, and when completed the bill
provided for raising $6,00O,O0o,ooo In
the current twelve months and sf.ooo'-
| 900 900 in the ensuing twelve months.
Battle over Press Censorship.
One of the first big lights In the Sixty
NTH Congress came during an attempt
to create a censorship Of newspapers.
This battle came to an end on June 10.
1918, when the President signed
greatly modified bill, which had for It's
purposes the suppression Of espionage.
but which did not contain so radical
authority for press censorship as hao
been desired by some members.
The food control bill was openly at
tackled on many sides and caused
lengthy debate in both houses. Herbert
Hoover who had been indicated as the
man to whom the President would dele
gate his powers, was unscathingly at
the. bill would result in the suppression
of the rights of the people and would
place in Government control the neces-
stiles OF life. Senator Reed OF Missouri
conducted almost single handed what
approached filibuster on this BILL For
more than three weeks he held up the
bills passage. The measure was signed
| on August TO- 1918, and Immediately
, there was created a Food Adminstra-
I4I lao
| Fuel Administration under DIR. Harry
\ Garfield.
| Congress after some debate passed
| bill laying down strict regulations and
| punishment for trading with the enemy
| and carrying S450.00o for enforcement.
| The first war risk insurance act for
| the protection OF soldiers, sailors ana
| marines was completed on October 6,
1918. An appropriation OF $l'S.2b0,ooo
was made to carry out the provisions
| OF the act.
| Soon after President Wilson had an
| nounced to Congress his intention OF
| placing railroads under Government
control legislators began creating leg!s-
| lation for this purpose. Some members
conducted a etiM fight to Use the war
measure as vehicle for providing per
manent Government control. Lengthy
hearings were hsld at which railroad
|
compensation for their lines. Small rail-
roads and short lines appealed for the
protection of Government control. on
March 81, 1918, the bill was passed, and
| II provided for temporary Government
control only. but carried an appropriation
| OF $500, 900, 900 for Government admins
tration
Protecting Men in the Service.
The soldiers and sa lors civil rights
bill. passed by the Sixty-hfth Congress,
contained provisions which stayed all
court action against soldiers and sailors
and gave protection in cases Of rents,
!nstalment contracts, mortgages. insur-
ance. taxes and public lands. President
Wilson vetoed the bill.
An interesting struggle OF the Congress
was the fight for an amendment to the
Federal Constitution which would grant
suffrage to women. The House passed
the amendment on January 10. 1918. and
Immediately women lobbyists flooded the
Senate side of the Capitol. For many
months the battle went on.
| Pres dent Wilson had steadfastly re-
fused to indorse the movement. Militant
suffra gists began picketing the White
House and the Capitol. and numerous
clashes occurred between the pickets and
civilians and sailors who maintained that
the women were Offering insult to the
President. The contest reached a semi
climax on September 80. 1918, when
president Wilson addressed the Senate
and asked passage OF tbs amendment as
a war measure. Twice II was brought
before the Senate, but each time failed by
one vote.
In paying diplomatic honors the Six
ty-iftk Congress has taken precedence
over all other Congresses. Members
OF both the French and British mis-
sons. which came to the United States
! early IN the war, were received in both
houses and got the privilege of the
floor. which has always been jealousy
guarded
Arthur Balfour. the English political
lsiIsf-. was heard. In the Ss7ate. a. was
Rene Viviani. former Premier oil
France. Marshal Joffre, the hero OF
the battle OF the Marine. was also q
guest OF both houses. The Japanese
Serbian. Belgian and italian missions
were similarly honored.
Much Work for New Congress-.
As the Sixty-dfth Congress come,
to a close the prospects OF the following
Congress are full of long sessions o.
heavy work. Republicans will take con
troll and 1t is predicted that an eXtrI
sessicn will be called soon. Peace tsrmi
and the League of Nations stand gu
as the two big points. Investigation o
the conduct OF the war by the Republi
can party seems a certainty.
Unless there he another great war |
| appears that the Sixty-fifth Congress
will stand in American history for vha