Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1914-02-06

~ :. - OAOA appointed under
.ne iait administration to make an
investigation of the public building
necessities" OF the country. Mr.. Al
ien mas completed his work and the
commission is about to report
some OF the things which this com
mission has ascertained ought to fly
Inc attention and perhaps ought to get
tue support of the country. but viii
.ney! Every town in the land which
nas none wants public buildings. and
Inc pea always is that another town
no Digger and no more important hay
one' so why the discrimination"
Great Waste Of Money.
IL mas been learned by the investi-
gators that 1t will be six years before
the public buildings already author-
1zed by congress will be completed.
Congress viii be told, with facts and
ngures TO support the telling. that
there has been an enormous waste Of
money because OF the haphazard sys-
tenn OF appropriating for post offices.
custom houses and the like.
One OF the discoveries of the COM
mission is that the cheapest OF the
buildings costs at least $500 a year
Tor maintenance and that buildings OF
the kind usually erected in the county
seat towns cost $1,000 year for main.
tenance. As against these figures the
post office department shows that 1t
is able to rent quarters for from $500
a 7ypo
der maintenance charges.
Congress will be told in a few days
that there should be a permanent
tribunal authorized to see whether q
government-owned post office building
IS necessary in the town or city which
through its congressman asks for it.
The commission will recommend that
such tribunal be established.
Says Business Is Safe.
Democratic senators and representa-.
tives hold that President Wilson's
conviction. as expressed in his recent
address, that no harm is to come to
the business of the country from the
legislative work which is to be done, is
the most striking feature Of his mes
sage to congress and to the people.
The presidents recent address has
been productive of more comment in
this city than anything else which has
come from his pen or his tongue since
he became president of the United
States.
The business world has read Mr..
Wilson's address and probably has
studied it as every member of congress
has done. Mr. Wilson took occasion
to make it plain that he takes it for
granted no possible harm can come
to the commercial interests from the
legislation which the Democrats have
before them
In his address the president, speak
ing for the best informed men OF the
business world" as il he had certain
knowledge of his right so to speak,
said: I'VE shall now be their spokes-
man. That is the strength OF our po-
sition and a sure prophesy OF what
will ensue when our reasonable work
is done"
Unquestionably President Wilson ex-
poets the antitrust legislation for
which, with congress. he will be re-
sponsible, to be greeted with cordial
ity like that which he seems to be
convinced has been accorded currency
legislation.
Where Difficulty May Come.
1t is some distance. however, from
a presidents message to 8 federaI
law. Congress yet has to actin these
matters concerning the trusts OF the
country. The leaders must take hold
of matters and frame the legislation
which ultimately shall be passed.
From present indications the Demo
cratic chieftains intend to follow
closely the lines of the presidents
recommendation, but that attempts
will be- made to divert them from
these lines is certain.
The chief difficulty perhaps which
the Democratic majority Will nave 20
meet is that OF framing the measure
which will make guilt personal. the
president in his address said. every
act of business is done at the CON.
mand or upon the initiative OF some
ascertainable person Or persons.
These should. be held Individually re.
.sDonsible and the punishment shouio
fall upon them, not upon the business
organization Of which they make IL
legal use.
Mr. Wilson thinks that one OF the
main objects of the legislation should
he to, divest such persons of their cor
norate cloaks and deal with them as
with those who do not represent
their corporations, but who deliberate
~ break the law. Several times be
fore this presidents of the United
ctafes have said that the big guilty
man should suffer and not the little
tool OF the guilty man. Heretofore
nsually the big fellows have escaped.
AR wilson's hardest work proDaDiy
viii viii be to get legislation that not only
vii, make guilt personal. but viii
make punishment personal It is SAID
- Washington that the president Ions
ka~-..H ors