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Show I GREAT CHANGES IN I2J0NTHS Political, Economical and Financial Fi-nancial Revolution Most Far-reaching in Years. GREAT 1913 EVENTS Income Tax, Direct Election, Tariff, Currency System and Parcel Post Among Victories. Washington, D. C , Jan. JL Twelve months of 1913 wrought changes in the American government political economical, financial probably more far-reaching than any other year of the last quarter century, this was ap-l ap-l parent today in a backward glance i over the memorable events of tho last year in all branches of governmental activity. A Democratic administration in na-Y na-Y tional affairs carrje to power in this twelve months with a Democratic president and a Democratic congress at his back for the first time since Grover Cleveland occupied the White House. The first constitutional amendment since 1880 were perfected, perfect-ed, providing two radical changes in the fundamentals of government an income tax and the direct election of United States senators. Memorable Events. The national bank and currency system, designed to float the debt ot the civil war, and which has operated ever since, was reorganized into a federal reserve system in which the central bank plan, the dominant system sys-tem of Europe was rejected and a financial fi-nancial reorganization perfected. A Democratic tariff law became ef fective, the first since the Wilson bill of 1893, and one of the most comprehensive com-prehensive tariff measures ever en acted. A parcel post system was brought into successful operation and some of its rates were later reduced while certain limitations were extended. The interstate commerce commis sion began a physical valuation of railways, a project which will cost millions and take years to complete, but which is expected to ultimately provide a basis of rate making. Meanwhile the fifty-two great east ern railway systems renewed appli cation at once for 5 per cent general increase in freight rates and the commission com-mission directed regulations in express ex-press rates which are expected to save the public approximately $30,000,000 a year. Last Stops In Canal Building. Last steps in building the Panama canal were taken with the probability that the greatest engineering feat of the age will be in operation in the new year. Practical control of the Philippine government was delivered to the natives na-tives of the islands by President Wilson's Wil-son's appointment of a native majority majori-ty of the Philippine commission. What promised a new era in rela- tlons of the government with great corporations in the enforcement of the Sherman anti-trust law was brought about by the "bloodless" dissolution dis-solution of the American Telephone & Telegraph company relations with the Western Union. President Wilson's open declaration that the adminlstra tlon desired to co-operate with "big business" in a peaceful admlnisira tlon of the law was received in business busi-ness and financial circles with evidences eviden-ces of optimism. The supreme court laid down several sev-eral declarations of deop-rooted importance. im-portance. It decided that owners of copyrights and patents may not control con-trol the price at which retail dealers re-sell their products to the consumer. It sustained the validity of the Sherman Sher-man law as a criminal measure for the first time in the turpentine trust In the cotton corner case it laid down the principle that a "corner" In an commodity was a violation of the antitrust anti-trust laws. In the state rate cases, it decided that states through their railroad commission have control over ov-er the rates of lines within their borders bor-ders irrespective of the interstate commerce commission. In International relations, affairs oi the year were hardly less eventful. Secretary Bryan's plan for international interna-tional peace was accepted in principle by more than thirty nations and treat-es treat-es with the United States actually were signed by the Netherlands ana Nicaragua, Withdrawal from Six-Power Loan. The most important pronouncements pronounce-ments of the administration's policy were made by President Wilson when ho withdrew the support of the United States from the bankers in the so-called so-called Bix-power Chinese loan; in hl3 Latin-American statement, in which he proclaimed the intention of the United States to recognize on the western hemisphere only those gov ernments "founded on law and order;" or-der;" In his now noted Mobile speech in which he pointed out tho menace of foreign concessions to the peace and security of Central and South America. Relations with Mexico the American Ameri-can government's refusal to recognize Huerta and a spirited exchange of notes on the subject were the diplo matlc event of the year. Great Brit ain protests against the exemption of American shipping from tolls In the Panama canal and Japan's protest against the anti alien land legislation in California were the two other principal prin-cipal features. They are still in the course of diplomatic discussion. American Trade Extension. Plans for the extension, of American Ameri-can trade abroad by the creation of commercial agents of the department of commerce wore launched; Import ant steps In the government's partlcl patlon in relations between capital and labor were the creation of a new portfolio in the cabinet for a secretary secre-tary of labor, to which William B. Wilson Wil-son of Pennsylvania, a prominent labor la-bor leader, was appointed, and the creation by congress of a federal com mission on Industrial relations which has begun a study of the entire subject. sub-ject. Commanding features in the internal intern-al affairs of the nation were the announcement an-nouncement of a liberal policy for the development of Alaska, with the proposed building of a government railroad; a policy of conservation for the immense properties of the Indian tribes and proposed federal control of all deposits of radium which lately became so valuable in medicine. Agriculturally, the year was one of unprecedented prosperity. While the volume of crops was below the average, aver-age, their value totalled nearly ten billion dollars. |