The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-09-14
Saturday Given Up to the
Consideration of
Them
OPPOSITION TO
FREIGHT TAX
$1S,000,00 Cut Out of Riv-
ers and Harbors Bill to
Sorrow of South

Washington, Sept. Ia. - Congress
had a vigorous Saturday. The CLEAN OF
the pruning knife was in the Sen
ate. Saturday evening senators, chiefly
| from the middle west and the south.
were mourning a slash of about $4,000
900 from the rivers and harbors bill,
| Much of the reduction came from pro
posed appropriations for the Mississippi
and Ohio rivers. The sound OF Demo-
cratic battle rises in the House over the
war revenue BILL which has assumed n
new phase of controversy daily all the
week. So formidable has Democratic OPP
position to freight tax become that
Representative Underwood decided Sat
lurday to withhold the bill until Presi-
dent Wilson returns Tuesday. Postmas-
ter General Burleson gave word that
the president approves all the taxes, but
this does not stay Democratic anxiety.
Representative Kitchen of North Caro-
lima prospective chairman of the ways
and means in the next Congress, and
Representative Garner of Texas are both
on the warpath. A caucus petition has
been circulated and the caucus will be
held early in the week unless the presi'
dent says he is satisfied with the bill and
must have it enacted as it stands. The
insul rectionists would impose taxes on
whisky, incomes and cigarets, above the
present federal taxes, and on inherit
ances and automobiles. Representative
Underwood's leadership is said to be
somewhat at issue in the matter, but
this is probably not so serious as some
are claiming.
The notable event in the House pro-
ceedings Saturday afternoon was the
speeches by Chairman Fitzgerald and
Representative Gillett, the latter leading
minority member of appropriations, in
ANALYSIS OF the money voted at this ses-
sion. Mr. Fitzgerald backed away en-
tirely from the economy argument which
Democrats were reiterating vigorously
two years ago, and rather spoke in JUS
tification of large expenditures. He com
mented upon IAN entirely different polit-
zeal atmosphere" now prevailing. Every
secion OF the country is demanding that
the powers OF the federal government
be enlarged, that its activities be extend
ed, that its agents be empowered to in
wade fields never contemplated by the
founders of the government" Thus his
speech emphasizing the new conditions,
introduced new turn in Democratic
logic.
Representative GiIlett in reply spoke
for an hour, az did MIR. Fitzgerald.
The Senate debated the rivers and har
bors bill, but did not do any voting.
There continues some doubt whether the
bill can get through but the big reduc
tions in committee, which have not vet
been presented on the floor, make this
more likely. The slsshing OF SlS,000,000
from the bill is great victory for Sem
ator Burton of Ohio He has made UNI
battle for two months and
the talking time he has held in the SEN
ate has run into weeks Of the session.
Surprise at Washington.
Washington, Sept. Estate depart
ment officials were surprised to read
news dispatches at Washington Satur-
day from Paris to the effect that the
newly-appointed ambassador, William G.
Sharp, had given published interview
there as indiscreet Not only
lad there been no word received at the |
department OF the interview, but officials |
said they had no other inkling OF the in
eident from. any source. Under the ar
rangement made before Mr.. Sharp left !
Washington, ambassador Herrick was to
continue in charge of the embassy with /
its manifold interests until such time as
Mr.. Sharp was familiar with the work
when he was to present his credentials
As yet he has only an unofficial status in
France.