River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-07-17
WASHINGTON LETTER
FROM JAMES A. FREAR, MEMBER OF
CONGRESS, 10th DISTRICT

WASHINGTON, D. C., July Is, 1918
The Senate moves with more de-
liberation than the House. Two
weeks of secret caucus and a few
additional days for general de-
bate sufficed to put the Underwood
tariff bill through the lower House
substantially as introduced. On
May 10th the bill reached the Sen
ate after which nearly eight weeks
elapsed before the Senate secret
caucus had it whipped into shape,
to introduce. The probabilities
are that the schedules agreed up
on by the caucus will compose our
tariff law for the next four years.
Interest has been aroused over the
attitude toward the bill, of Pro-
gressive Republican Senators who
are now being subjected to a vigor-
Gus back fire. No one presumes to
say how they will vote when the bill
is up for passage, but frequent
warnings have been voiced against
a secret caucus or an extremely
partizan measure.
Senator LaFollette's position was
stated on the floor of the Senate
over month ago. II am Republi-
can" he said. Il want to see pro-
tective bill; but want it SO m oder
derately protective that it will fair
ly measure, as best we can with our
imperfect information, the differ
ence between the cost of producing
the thing used on this side of the
ocean and producing it on the other
side, so that that difference will be
justly equalized by the tariff.
Then the laborer will be protected.
"* y <" do not want to See a bill
passed by you Democrats" he add
ed, so bad that because of the rad
ical changes wrought depression
and disaster will follow it, bringing
into power the men who respresent
the other extreme of tariff, the high
est possible duties"
When Colonel Mulhall gave his
cofessions to a newspaper for
$4,000 few days ago, he furnished
some facts, concerning his alleged
influence with Congressman in
past years; most of whom have
long ago been recalled by constitu-
ents while in other cases, lips are
forever closed. His confession,
which is now being investiged by a
Congressional Committee, sets forth
efforts by different business
agencies in the past to control NOM
nations and to influence Members
for or against legislation. Such
infences are easily recognized in
Wisconsin although not SO patent
as in former years.
When compared with the Wiscon-
sin railway lobby of 1908, Mulhall's
efforts in Congress appear insight
ficant. During that famous session
over two hundred shippers swarm
ed on the Assembly floor at critical
times, swelling the ranks of numer-
Gus railway attorneys and cheap
lobbyists, while inspired kilograms
and letters opposing proposed rail-
way legislation were stacked high
upon every Members desk.
A single incident, resting within
the knowledge of many people, dis
counts anything found in Mulhall's
$4,000 confession. When the rail-
way commission fight was at white
heat, the Governor one night learn
ed of secret caucus then being
held in one of the committee rooms.
He hurriedly sent word to the
Speaker of the Assembly and to a
member of the Railway Committee
urging them to locate the secret
meeting and if possible to expose
and break it up. After a brief
search through the corridors, these
two members found about sixty
members of the Legislature jammed
into large committee room; round
ed up, supposedly because of their
opposition to the railway commits
sion bill. A formidable array of
railway lawyers and Lobbyists were
also present and when the two un-
invited members arrived, a promi-