River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-06-25
WASHINGTON LETTER
FROM JAMES A. FREAR, MEMBER OF
CONGRESS-, 10Th DISTRICT

rus legislation shall be mt
through at this session of Con-
gress is opposed by floor leader
Underwood and other prominent
Democrats who fear the pace set
by the Administration has been
TOO hot. Questionable tariff re-
auctions, a revolution in the bank
ing system, repeal of the Panama
tools act and a few other drastic
measures have split the Admins
tration forces wide open.
To all this has been added \
Mexican policy of Watchful Wait
inging, that gives little hope Of
successful conclusion. Business is
hammering for a "let up" and
everything considered, The Presi-
dents lot is not a happy one. The
Republicans are in such a hopeless
minority that they have been shut
out from all important legislation.
The secret caucus has determined
what shall go through Congress
and how it shall go. An argument
in favor of caucus legislation is
offered by those who believe in
the procedure on the ground that
important legislation cannot be put
through excepting by caucus ac-
ton. This declaration is open to
argument.
The writer has given FREQUENT
notices to two appointments for
the Naval Academy apportioned to
our District, A competitive exam
nation was held some months ago
at Eau Claire for one of the posi-
tons with the result that only one
applicant appeared for examina-
ton and he failed to reach any
Wher near the required standard.
Second examinations are granted
where candidates are likely to
qualify, but none have presented
themselves from the Tenth Wis
consin District.
Pos sibly the experience of a
young marine officer may have a
deterrent effect because while he
was ready to meet Mars, the God
of War, he fell before a little fell
low named Cupid. The press is
giving space to the experiences of
young Lieut.. N. B. Humphrey, son
of General Humphrey of the re-
gular army and nephew of former
ex-Congressman Humphrey of
Wisconsin. Receiving 48 hours no.
tice to sail for Vera Cruz, he i'm
mediately left Boston for New
York where he was married and
accompanied by his wife of a day
he came on to Washington, the
home Of General Humphrey, to
form a part of a bridal party
wherein his sister was the bride.
Immediately after the second
ceremony here, the lieutenant left
the two brides, regaining his ship
at Boston within 48 hours and is
now on his way to Mexico-wife-
less.
Politics had full swing last week
when Congressman l.. G. Dyer, a
Republican from Missouri, was un-
seated by the House and M. j..
Gill, his Democratic opponent was
was given the position. Gill was
defeated by about one thousand
votes according to the returns.
but he presented evidence before
the Committee indicating Demo-
Gratis in one ward had "knifed"
him because of his disloyalty to
other democratic candidates. The
House was over one hundred dem
ocratic majority, seated Gill by
seventeen majority on roll call. 1t
was conceded that Dyer, the Re-
publican sitting member, was
blameless in the matter, but the
votes we're thrown out and Gill
was seated.
I was inclined to believe all con-
tests we're decided by politics
when investigation was refused in
the Whaley South Carolina case
by a committee on which / was
serving. However, in another case
Of Smith VS.. Carney, it refused to
unseat the Republican proving the
political prejudice does not always
govern.
A legislative probe has been
started in the senate to ascertain
why senatorial stationary has been
used in the exploitation of certain
gold mines in North Carolina. The
probe ought to widen and find out
by what method North Carolina
secured 26 worthless projects in
1914 rivers and larbors bill now
before the senate. That state re-
ceived the high water mark, but
under the code of legislative
afbics here If r~efIecta credit On