The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-17
WASHINGTON LETTER
Women Taking Sides in the
 Pinchot- Ballinger Case New Proposition as to In come and Internal Reve-
 nue Taxes-The Life Saw
 ing Service Pensions for Two Indians = Railroad
 Agents Greed


 Washington, May Jeff the Ballin- ger-Pinchot controversy were being | tried before the audience which reg | ularly attends the hearings, instead of a sedate congressional committee, the chances are that there would be rare hairpulling.
 Hairpulling is the correct form, for fully 90 per cent of the regulars at the hearing are women. They are the most violent of partisans, and do not halt at expressing their opinions aud- ibly. Wherefore Chairman Nelson has been dragged into feminine fuss. Mrs. Ballinger, wife of the Secretary has been a fairly regular attendant at the, hearings, occupying seat in the front row now just next to the press table. Mrs. Pinchota mother of the former forester, who is of course on the opposite side of the controversy, generally occupies seat in the row just behind Mrs. Ballinger. Each of these ladies is surrounded by group of adherents.
 One day recently Mrs. Humphrey, wife of the congressman from Wash ington, and personal friend of Mrs. Ballinger went to Chairman Nelson with the complaint that the comments
 
 were perfectly disgusting and dread fully annoying to Mrs. Ballinger. Not fifteen minutes after this complaiAt, Senator Nelson had visit from one of Mrs. Pinchot's friends, declaring that the audible comments of those with Mrs. Ballinger were "abhorrent and annoying to the mother of the former forester.
 Senator Nelson had to admit that he couldn't control the ladies and that he had hard enough time presiding over the committee. as, it was.
 So it happens that the newspaper men, who sit at a table just at the end of the two rows occupied by the rival camps, bear the brunt of the hostile feeling The wife of another cabinet officer was with Mrs. Ball. finger one day recently. She was an- xious that the newspaper men should chronicle the fact that she was pre- sent, and as a devoted adherent of the Ballinger cause. She transmitted that message to the nearest neWspa- perrnan, while the Pinchot supporters glared and Sneered. They had no cabinet officers wife with them, and, consequently were greatly miffled4
 But when the said Cabinet officers wife insisted upon criticizing the news paper men because they whispered oc- casionally there was great joy among the Pinchotites. One of the news papermen declared audibly in reply that he had to be present, but the lady didn't. The wife of the cabinet officer threatened the newspapermen1 with the name of her husband, but it didn't work.
 But it was the Ballinger supporters turn to grin when one of the Pin chot adherents persisted in whispering to one harrassed newspaper worker, criticising his stories" as being col ored to suit the Ballinger side.
 So far the honors are even, but the feeling is intense. There may be a hairpullin~ contest almost any day. It was suggested by one member Of the hcommittee that the thing to do would be to range one group on one side of the room and the other safely on the farther side. Senator Nelson said he would take the matter under adviSement.
 Divorce Uncle Sam from the liquor business by ratifying the income tax amendment and apply the receipts from that source to take the place of the internal revenue taxes.
 This is the scheme which "Lafe'' Pence, orator capitalist, student or political economy and former repre- sentative from Colorado, is booming. He started the ball rolling by secur- ing an endorsement of the plan from the conference of the Christian Church of Pittsburg and now he is in the midst of campaign to put his idea before the country.
 Pence wants the states to ratify the income tax amendment to the Con- stitution and then go on record as favoring the abolishment of the pres ent internal revenue taxes on liquor. He declares that this will solve the question of the rights of the states in dealing with the liquor problem. Pence argues this way:
 ''The internal revenue taxes on liuuor were levied originally way back in the reconstruction period af- ter the Civil War It was intended to replensh a depleted Treasury. When enacted, the idea was to make the taxes only temporary. President Lin coin only assented to the levy on this | understanding. But Lincoln died from an assassins bullet and for some in | scrutible reason the law was never | repealed. Uncle sam has been mak- ing money out of the whisky busi- l ness ever since. IL is a good source | of revenue. In these times of billion | I,n