Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1914-12-24
Washinsto Letter.
tFrom Geo. w. sunmsr.. IN

trrom Geo. W. Sutnmeres@
Washington, Dec. 20 In their enier- |
ness to push everything along and getI
| II out Of the way, 30 there win be no
nefessty for an extra session Of the
9al lpngrsss fsxt fPrisGs stsa 9seis
bers Of Congress- are; cutting sRQrtl
itheir own holidays this year and4WillE
take but three days vacation, sxciuA
ding Christmas day and Sunday Mere
Iheadway has been made 50 far sthisl
session than is usually made in the cal.
Her days of the short session anifsif
matters should move along as smoothly
for the rest Of the session as they have
done solar a good deal will be accom-
iplished. Some Of the appropriation
bills, however, will cause trouble, ca
p scially the River and Ha.hor blu.
against which there probably. will be
serious opposition. IS charged that
the railroads are showing activity in
| opposing river IMPROVEMENTS and that
thar Influence viii be felt 10 the can, |
sideratlonuf new bill. Others say I'LL
il not the railroads which are. the cause
Of opposition to the imorovement. Of
rivers and harhors5 at large cost, hut.
the desire for greater economy. Cers
tain it's that economy wiz be 1hei !
watchWord in the House this sessIpiSi
while tn appropriation bills are undsfl
consideration. It will not be like The 4
i last Legislature in West Virginia. !
| which State Auditor Darst SAYS woala
have left the Statea million and 81 half
dollars in debt at the end of the yeasTr
if the money It Appropriated had been
spent Owing to the war condifi ions, a
war tax was necessary, but the ma
Ijorityn of the Senate and House seem
4 disnosed to see that no further extra
tax h necessary. and to prevent it are
adopting the p5lIcy Of limiting exp8n31
ditures. rather than increasing taxa
ton Whether he Px9mp o will be. 60 4
| lowed in West Virginia by the legisla-
tur4 which IS to meet iii a few. weeks
remains to be seen. AS one evidence
4of economy on the part of the House
Eof Representatives, ahe riveE andthar.
Ebor appranrja tion bill has BEEN pared
down to the lowest limit. Instead Of
about s., GOO. 600 for the Ohio river the.
1 bill which has been introduced Carries,
but SIS OOO,OO for new work on hat
river, with $684,000 for open channsl
work. The bill carries $25. 600 for FL
Big Sandy River. between West VIZ
ginia and Kentucky?
/ Howard N. Ogden, brother Of Her
schel e. Ogden, of the Wheeling Intel
ligencer. and member Of the PUBLIC
Service Commission, called at The.
White House last week and was intro
duced to the President by Congressman
at Large Sutherland. Mr.. Ogden. who
has been slated for removal from the
Public Service Commission for some
! time. issan applicant for appointment
as Republican member of the FEEDER
al Trade Commission. soon to be LAP
pointed by the President. There are
some Democrats here wondering, if
such an appointment is going to West
/ Virginia, Why Democrat can not
have 1t, instead of selecting man CON
nected with the most partisan element
Of the Republican party to give the fat
salary to.
i Asprited little contest last week BY
\ the aspirations of two men to succeed
i Oscar Underwood when he becomes Sem
ator on March 4 Representative
/ Claude Kitchin. of North Carolina, and
1 Re preventative Finis j. Garrett, Of
4 Tennessee, were the aspirants, but the
action Of the caucas on Friday showed
that Kitchens strength was greater
and resulted in the withdrawal Of Gar
rett from the race. OF course, the
j ntw Congress- will have to make the
SELECTION, but with Garrett out. Of the
j rage kitchin is practically certainsto
win. Az chairman Of thes way@ ana
4 means committee he. will HI Do chairman
af the committee on committees and
as BE i very friendly to the West Viz
Eginja majority members tbeg may getl
some better assignments n the IfexSl
Congress than they have been hol0inQ.
/ The condition of winter wheat 10.
West Virginia is not quite is good as
It was q year ago. according to the
Department of Agriculture, but it il
much better than for the average If
the last ten years A total Of 265. 900
acres in the State was sowed in wheat |
this year. compared with "a, 200. acresl
last year. The average price On DeccE
was 81 sOa in West Virginia. comparedl
with sI0e year ago.
Having obtained leave Of absence
from the House Of Representatives. Oh
account Of his health. Congressman |
Brown, accompanied 81 lis bride, leftl
Ea few days aga for Florida. where IL (
expects to remain till 4 ter the first 81 I
the new year. He hopes to return
much improved il health and % 81 /
ready for the trying weeks which willE
follow between the first uf the yeaF
and the fourth Of March Poster Zsig-
Ter. NJ. Rr9wnss secretary after al. /
most two years ct active work here.
including the strenuous duties 81 the "A
recent campaign has gels b BID home
q kiagwo6a for 8 short kesl and VIII n