THE AMERICAN YEAR BOOK A RECORD OF EVENTS AND I. AMERICAN HISTORY CONGRESS AND ADMINISTRATION from the air by hydroelectric power, Legislative and Administrative | facture of armor plate and naval proTendencies. In several respects the jectiles, for the extraction of nitrates first session of the Sixty-fourth Congress, which began on Dec. 6, 1915, and ended on Sept. 8, was very remarkable. In dealing with the problems of national defense, Congress went far beyond the recommendations which the President had laid before it. Army reorganization, the enormous appropriations made for naval and military purposes, and the new taxes devised to meet these expenditures, easily assumed the place of first importance in the work of the session. But aside from these, the legislation ranged over a wide field and touched the economic interests of the country at many points. The Democrats, in passing the Child Labor Act Executive influence has never been and in establishing an eight-hour day more dominant in national legislafor certain classes of railroad em- tion. Various circumstances played ployees, committed themselves to an into the President's hands—the desire extreme assertion of Federal author- of his party to face the Presidential ity. Not less significant was the dis- election with a commanding record of position shown to expand Government achievement, and still more the natactivity in the domain of industry ural ascendancy of the Executive in a and commerce, this being exemplified time of serious international compliby the provision made for the manu-cations. THE SIXTY-FOURTH CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION The President's Message.-In his annual message of Dec. 7, 1915, President Wilson recommended a fairly definite scheme of legislation. He advocated: (1) Substantial increase in national defense, a regular army of 142,000 and a force of 400,000 "disciplined citizens"; (2) Financial legislation to meet the L ་ (6) A system of rural credits for the encouragement of agriculture. (7) The opening up of natural resources for development under proper safeguards. (8) The appointment of a commission to inquire into the whole subject of in terstate railroad transportation. Further recommendations were made during the course of the session. The President urged Democratic leaders in both houses to secure the passage of bills erecting a permanent Tariff Commission, prohibiting the interstate shipment of the products of child labor, and providing compensation for workmen injured in the Federal service. Finally, on Aug. 29, when a great strike of railroad employees seemed imminent, he appeared before Congress and asked immediate legislation granting the eight-hour day which the men demanded. Final action was taken, though not always in rigid conformity with the President's ideas, on almost all of these proposals; only the measures relating to natural resources, vocational education, and the government of Porto Rico failed to pass both houses. In view of the desire for an early adjournment, executive pressure alone prevented the abandonment of other measures. The force of that pressure was demonstrated when Congress reluctantly passed the Child Labor bill and the Adamson EightHour bill, when it abandoned its evident intention of interfering in the adjustment of the armed-merchantmen question, and when the House acquiesced in the Senate's larger view of naval and military requirements. In his relations with the House the President was somewhat embarrassed by the attitude of the new Democratic floor leader; for Mr. Kitchin (N. C.), far from encouraging the party to support the Administration programme, expressed open disapproval of the bills which provided for national defense and the Tariff Commission. He said of the General Revenue bill, when himself reporting it from the Committee of Ways and Means, that it contained "too much Republicanism for an old-line Democrat." The legislative record of the session in acts of public interest was unusually large. A complete list of the important measures of general interest is given elsewhere (see V, The National Administration), and most of them are discussed in more or less detail in the articles dealing with the subjects to which they relate. This following review of the proceedings of Congress deals only with those measures and events of distinct political significance. The National Defense Act.-The first aspect of national defense to occupy the attention of Congress was reorganization of the Army. Committee hearings which began early in January canvassed the whole subject with exceptional thoroughness. Technical experts, while disagreeing in matters of detail, united in urging a substantial and immediate increase of the military establishment. The chief questions which had to be considered were the strength of the Regular Army and the nature of the force which must be created to supplement it; on the second point choice lay between the "continental army" proposed by the President and Secretary of War Garrison, and a federalized National Guard. General Scott, the Chief of Staff, and General Bliss gave unqualified endorsement to Mr. Garrison's plan. But the National Guard Association, condemning this plan as impracticable, advocated federalization of the Guard and presented to the committees of both houses a bill which provided Federal pay for the militia, qualifying examinations for officers, a minimum of 48 drills a year, and war service within and without the United States. So persistent was the lobby maintained at Washington by the Association that Senator Chamberlain, chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs, and several of his colleagues denounced it in vigorous terms. The House bill was introduced by Mr. Hay (Va.) on March 6. It provided for a Regular Army of 143,000, a federalized National Guard which would reach a strength of over 400,000 in five years, and civilian training camps expected to develop an additional force of 100,000. Notwith THE AMERICAN YEAR BOOK A RECORD OF EVENTS AND PROGRESS I. AMERICAN HISTORY CONGRESS AND ADMINISTRATION Legislative and EDWARD M. SAIT from the air by hydroelectric power, for the enlargement of the existing gunpowder plant, for the equipment of navy yards with facilities for the construction of capital ships, and for Government participation in the shipping business. The multiplication of administrative commissions, which had begun with the establishment of the Federal Reserve Board in 1913 and the Federal Trade Commission in 1914, was another feature of the session. Congress erected a Shipping Board of five members, a Farm Loan Board of five, a Tariff Commission of six, and an Employees' Compensation Commission of three. Administrative | facture of armor plate and naval proTendencies. In several respects the jectiles, for the extraction of nitrates first session of the Sixty-fourth Congress, which began on Dec. 6, 1915, and ended on Sept. 8, was very remarkable. In dealing with the problems of national defense, Congress went far beyond the recommendations which the President had laid before it. Army reorganization, the enormous appropriations made for naval and military purposes, and the new taxes devised to meet these expenditures, easily assumed the place of first importance in the work of the session. But aside from these, the legislation ranged over a wide field and touched the economic interests of the country at many points. The Democrats, in passing the Child Labor Act and in establishing an eight-hour day for certain classes of railroad employees, committed themselves to an extreme assertion of Federal authority. Not less significant was the disposition shown to expand Government activity in the domain of industry and commerce, this being exemplified by the provision made for the manu Executive influence has never been more dominant in national legislation. Various circumstances played into the President's hands-the desire of his party to face the Presidential election with a commanding record of achievement, and still more the natural ascendancy of the Executive in a time of serious international complications. THE SIXTY-FOURTH CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION The President's Message.—In his annual message of Dec. 7, 1915, President Wilson recommended a fairly definite scheme of legislation. He advocated: (1) Substantial increase in national defense, a regular army of 142,000 and a force of 400,000 “disciplined citizens"; (6) A system of rural credits for the encouragement of agriculture. (7) The opening up of natural resources for development under proper safeguards. (8) The appointment of a commission to inquire into the whole subject of interstate railroad transportation. Further recommendations were made during the course of the session. The President urged Democratic leaders in both houses to secure the passage of bills erecting a permanent Tariff Commission, prohibiting the interstate shipment of the products of child labor, and providing compensation for workmen injured in the Federal service. Finally, on Aug. 29, when a great strike of railroad employees seemed imminent, he appeared before Congress and asked immediate legislation granting the eight-hour day which the men demanded. Final action was taken, though not always in rigid conformity with the President's ideas, on almost all of these proposals; only the measures relating to natural resources, vocational education, and the government of Porto Rico failed to pass both houses. In view of the desire for an early adjournment, executive pressure alone prevented the abandonment of other measures. The force of that pressure was demonstrated when Congress reluctantly passed the Child Labor bill and the Adamson EightHour bill, when it abandoned its evident intention of interfering in the adjustment of the armed-merchantmen question, and when the House acquiesced in the Senate's larger view of naval and military requirements. In his relations with the House the President was somewhat embarrassed by the attitude of the new Democratic floor leader; for Mr. Kitchin (N. C.), far from encouraging the party to support the Administration programme, expressed open disapproval of the bills which provided for national defense and the Tariff Commission. He said of the General Revenue bill, when himself reporting it from the Committee of Ways and Means, that it contained "too much Republicanism for an old-line Democrat." The legislative record of the session in acts of public interest was unusually large. A complete list of the important measures of general interest is given elsewhere (see V, The National Administration), and most of them are discussed in more or less detail in the articles dealing with the subjects to which they relate. This following review of the proceedings of Congress deals only with those measures and events of distinct political significance. The National Defense Act.-The first aspect of national defense to occupy the attention of Congress was reorganization of the Army. Committee hearings which began early in January canvassed the whole subject with exceptional thoroughness. Technical experts, while disagreeing in matters of detail, united in urging a substantial and immediate increase of the military establishment. The chief questions which had to be considered were the strength of the Regular Army and the nature of the force which must be created to supplement it; on the second point choice lay between the "continental army" proposed by the President and Secretary of War Garrison, and a federalized National Guard. General Scott, the Chief of Staff, and General Bliss gave unqualified endorsement to Mr. Garrison's plan. But the National Guard Association, condemning this plan as impracticable, advocated federalization of the Guard and presented to the committees of both houses a bill which provided Federal pay for the militia, qualifying examinations for officers, a minimum of 48 drills a year, and war service within and without the United States. So persistent was the lobby maintained at Washington by the Association that Senator Chamberlain, chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs, and several of his colleagues denounced it in vigorous terms. The House bill was introduced by Mr. Hay (Va.) on March 6. It provided for a Regular Army of 143,000, a federalized National Guard which would reach a strength of over 400,000 in five years, and civilian training camps expected to develop an additional force of 100,000. Notwith standing the abandonment of the amendments: one for the construction "continental army" plan, which had of a nitrate plant costing $15,000,000; the other for the establishment of a school and college reserve corps. The bill passed on April 18 without a roll call. led Secretary Garrison to resign (see The Administration, infra), President Wilson intimated that he was fully satisfied with the bill. Prompt consideration was ensured by a special rule which the House adopted on May 16. On final passage, just a week later, the vote was 402 to 2, the minority of two being a Socialist, who opposed preparedness in any form, and a Republican who demanded more effective preparedness. But while the House so readily accepted the bill as a whole, a formidable minority regarded the provision for the Regular Army as inadequate, and a proposal to fix the establishment at 220,000 men was defeated by a slender majority of 22 (213 to 191), 33 Democrats supporting and 34 Republicans opposing it. The Senate bill was reported by Mr. Chamberlain (Ore.) on March 17. It provided for a Regular Army with a peace strength of 178,000; a federalized National Guard of 250,000; and a Federal volunteer force of 261,000 to be trained for a month each year in summer camps, the President being empowered to settle details as to enlistment, training, reserve, etc. The relative merits of the National Guard and the volunteers took the most prominent place as a theme of discussion. Leading Senators of both parties expressed doubts as to whether the organized militia could ever become an efficient fighting force; and Senator Borah of Idaho declared that, under the Constitution, it would be impossible for the Federal Government to assert an effective control over the militia. But eventually the Senate decided to accept the provisions of the bill as to both the National Guard and the volunteers. Twice it rejected a motion proposing to eliminate the volunteer force, first by a vote of 36 to 34 (19 Democrats supporting the motion, 24 opposing it), and afterwards by a vote of 40 to 37. In the closing hours of the debate an amendment was carried (43 to 37) increasing the peace strength of the Regular Army to 250,000 men, the majority comprising 22 Republicans and 21 Democrats. The Senate adopted two other important The differences between the two houses proved difficult to adjust in conference. On May 5 Mr. Hay announced a deadlock on three points: the size of the Regular Army, the volunteer plan, and the nitrate plant. But ten days later a final agreement was reached, this being accepted by the Senate on May 17 and by the House on May 20 (the vote being 349 to 25). The details of the National Defense Act, which was signed by the President on June 3, will be found elsewhere (see XII, The Army). It authorizes a regular army of about 186,000 officers and men; a federalized National Guard which will gradually reach a peace strength of over 425,000 men; a system of civilian training camps; a system of military training for schools and colleges; and the construction of Government plants, at a maximum cost of $20,000,000, for the production of nitrates and other products used in the manufacture of munitions and fertilizers. The Army Appropriation Act.-The enlargement of the military forces, as prescribed in the National Defense Act, entailed heavy expenditures. As reported to the House on June 16 the Army Appropriation bill carried $157,123,000, which exceeded the supply appropriated for the previous fiscal year by more than $55,000,000. It passed the House a week later without a roll call. While few changes had been made in the original dispositions of the bill, the exigencies of the Mexican situation had necessitated an increase of about $25,000,000. But this increase was altogether inadequate to cover the cost of equipping the National Guard, transporting it to the border, and maintaining it there; and mainly because of this circumstance the Senate, which passed the bill without a roll call on July 27, agreed upon an aggregate sum of nearly $314,000,000. In conference this amount was reduced to $267,596,530. Aside from the appropriations the bill contained several important features. It authorized the Presi |