River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-06-18
WASHINGTON LETTER
FROM JAMES A. FREkR, MEMBER o.
CONGRESS-, 10Th DISTRICT
Washington, June Is.

INK dCOab0g AN o&h610 a6S P1oSNA
has passed the bill advocated by
President Wilson in his message
when he asked Congress ungrudg-
ingly to grant him a repeal of the
act which was to grant American
coastwise vessels to go through the
canal free. 1t has been argued by
Great Britain that this is a discri-
mination and unjusti1ed by our
treaty with that country. Speeches.
arguments, protests and denuncia-
tions were made against the repeal
Even Tillman of South Carolina,
who voted to repeal the law, did it
grudgingly after a lively protest.
An amendment adopted by the Sen
ate is TO the effect that the United
States does not waive any rights to
exempt its ships hereafter if It so
desires. The amendment sounds
like a boyish threat, but that is the
result of over two months of storm
and trouble in the Senate
Senators Clapp and La Toilette
were among those who spoke against
the repeal. In the concluding hours
of debate, Vardaman and Williams
of Mississippi and other Southern
Senators required the Sergeant at
Arms presence, due to differences
of opinion on the tolls fight, bat
serious trouble was averted although
the result appears to be a dearly
bought victory for the Administers
ton.
Over ten million dollars has been
added to the pork barrel rivers and
harbors bill by the Senate Commit
tee and seven million dollars addi.
tional by the sundry civil bill which
was passed by the House last week.
Apart from efforts TO amend the
bill for FIVE days in the House and
also the sundry civil bill, the writer
has placed in the Congressional
Record about 80 pages, covering
three discussions against the rivers
and harbors bill. The first was in
April aud two others during the
present month.
Throughout the last discussion
on June 9Th, the floor leaders, Un.
derwood, Mann, Fitzgerald and
Murdoch, were present and at the
conclusion when | asked for ques-
tons from any n seeking to dis
prove my statements or that the
1914 pork barrel now reaches $780,
600, 900 in cash appropriations and
SOS, 600, 900 for present and new
projects covered by the 1914 bill,
not one charge was denied, as the
Record shows.
Apart from generous approval
given to the work by the press,
which comes In the way of editorial
commentator from many states, l
have received fine letters from lead
ing waterway experts in the country
and even ex-army engineers; but
the most highly priced words have
come from Senators from the other
end of the Capitol, including letters
and good words from Senator Bur-
ton, the best waterways expert in
Congress. He has thanked me for
starting a fight that other Senators
now assure me is going to bring
about the defeat of the bill. Ac'
cording to prospects, it is to be
talked to death in the Senate, and
one Senator from a neighboring
state promised to talk for six days
if necessary in order to kill the vi
ciouS measure.
During these hot days speaker
Clark and Mann, Fitzgerald and
other Representatives shine In white
or near white suits. Clark's i'm
maculate appearance in the chail
brought forth the comment that he
resembled a huge ice-cream cone
Over al the other end of the Capito'
Senators as a rule sport white OF
light linen suits in an effort fe fight
against the fierce Washington heat
Between its asphalt pavements an6
q naturally sultry atmosphere dur
ing the summer months, Washing
ton is about the hottest place in The
country at this season of the year.
\ \ X 4
Anchored near n of the rive
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