River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-07-23
WASHINGTON LETTER
From James A. Frsar, Member Of conur sss
10th District.


to controversies between the Presi-
dent and the Senate over the APP
pointment of members of the Fed
eral Reserve Board. Past business
affiliations of Mr. Jones and the
refusal Of Mr.. Warburg to come
before the Senate Committee have
been bones of contention receiV-
ing many columns of valuable news
space. Again the Senate is charg-
ed with holding up important trust
legislation and with seeking to
give right of way to the river and
harbor bill which is being press
ed by Senator Simmons OF North
Carolina. On the other hand Sim
mons claims a filibuster exists a
gainst his bill which contains 26
different appropriations for the
creeks and rivulets Of North Caro-
lima and $9,OOO,OOO for the lower
Mississippi River.
A Wisconsin news item is going
the rounds of Eastern newspapers,
mnder a Rhinelander date line
which says of a cut over land pro-
ject: Gone of these modern land
clearers entered the business last
year on a small%Scale and finding
there was an almoseNunlimited de-
mand for his work, branched out
this year and expects to clear
twenty-five thousands acres" At
ter an experience of several years
on the state immigration Board
where much study was given to
the problem of clearing our North
ern Wisconsin lands, l feel sure
the Rhinelander story will stump"
the average Wisconsinite who has
Wrestled with stump problems.
LaFollette's Seamens Bill prOvid-
ing better protection for ocean
and lake passengers has been re-
ported out of the House commit
tee, but cannot be reached this
session without a special rule. The
original bill provided lifeboats for
all passengers, every boat to be
manned by able bodied seamen.
The House committee modified I'M
pOrtant provisions of the original
bill as it passed the Senate. The
loss of life on the Titanic and En-
press gives a m@mentary shock,
but is soon forgotten.
One OF the most far reaching
decisions made by the Interstate
Commerce Commission is that
wherein the directors of the New
Haven Railway are held respons-
ible for the waste of the company
funds. Suit has been brought a.
gainst the directors to recover
$94O00,0 900 alleged to have been
looted from the company treasury
Between the Commissions report
and litigation, directors will soon
realize that no one man can own
directors without somebody an
sWering to stockholders for reck-
less mismanagement.
The House has cleaned up many
matters and is waiting for the
Senate to act. While the minor
ity Members have little voice in
framing important legislation be-
cause of caucus methods, criticisms
pointed and frequent coming from
Republican Members have been
helpful in avoiding some unWise
legislation. Congressional work Of
fers few opportunities to new
Members, especially to those of
the minority party. They are nee
essarily placed at a disadvantage
because of unimpOrtant committee
assignments and lack of legisla-
tive experience in Congress.
In common with other new mem
bers, the writer has found this
handicap, but | have endeavored
to point out practices which need
that ought not to pass. Providing
the fight against wasteful pork
barrel methods of legislation is to
be continued, much valuable aid
has been promised me by leading
members of all three political par
ties represented in the House. Con-
gratulations come from those who
say if no other service has been
rendered the country than that of
striking a few of the worst items
from the bill, it is a victory and
whatever the results of the Senate
fight, it is also conceded that fu-
ture bills will be drawn more care
fully and millions of dollars here
after saved through the elimina-
ton of many wasteful projects
Publicity is a good weapon against
such vicious propositions. Legiti-
mate improvements are necessary
but political favors paid for by
the public are not legitimate noI
right.
For nearly a year and a half
Congress has been in continuous
session, and the writer has been
in constant attendance although
majority Members including party
leaders, are now home repairing
fences. Through a notable SEES
sion / have endeavored to present
congressional doings fairly to the
home District. Starting out with
the intention of sending OCCASION
al notes, the selfimposed task has
resulted in about sixty different
letters during the two sessions
necessarily letters have been oft
enhurriedly written and between
regular correspondence reaching
many letters every day, depart.
ment matters, committee work, anc
attendace at House sessions, these
Ioffarc haua fpopranflu failpH r.