River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-05-07
WAsHIN GT0N LETTER
FROM JAMES A. FREAR, MEMBER OF
CONGRESS-, 10th DISTRICT
Washington, d. c., May 4 1914.

rfH doI11lS LOn, Il. -, u1d9 7 sAoA1'
Two full hours OF wrangling over
a point of order on the naval APP
preparation bill occupied the
House during a day last week.
One member spoke at least half a
dozen times on the point Of order
and others voiced their veiws
more or lass frequently. 1t all e
lated to a two line item of an APP
preparation bill which bill cover
ed 81 pages, and the extended de-
bate explains why congress is like
ly to spend a good share Of the
summe in Washington, SO that
chairmen Of committees may in
form themselves fully on points OF
order.
The force of this statement will
be better appreciated when it is
also understood that matters Of
great public interest or large ap-
preparation items, are usually
pushed through under whip and
spur. When the 5 ,000, 900 item
for canalizing the Ohio River, a
project contemplating a $4,000
600 expenditure in all, was before
the House the writer alone spoke
against it and offered statistics to
show the project was Valueless in
fact. Ten minutes was all the
time allowed to present facts in
opposition to the one item Of So,
900, 900 during the reading of the
bill, although sufficient time to
expose the viciosness OF the bill
was secured by offering numerous
amendments.
The measure is now in the hands
of the Senate Committee and l
can confidently say it will not get
through the Senate without a fight
Senators are crouded to the limit
with other matters of great NOM
ent to such an extent that 1t IS
hard to secure their active Oppos-
ition to any particular bill. l am
sure some sentiment has been a
reused on the other side Of the
Capitol over the fight in the House,
and two or three Senators are sure
to ask leading questions ABOUT the
1914 pork barrel.
Congressman Nelson Of WiscOn-
sin has filed a minority report re-
commencing the expulsion of Con-
gresham McDermott of Chicago.
1t will be remembered that Nc
Dermott was a member who had
much to do with Mulhall, the
Manufacturers lobbyist in Wash
ington. McDermOtt "~borrOWed"
money without repayment, from
the lobbyists for the pawnbrokers
and brewing interests, and did
many things that we're r~eprehens-
ible. The Judiciary Committee re-
commended that he be reprimand-
ed, and Nelson, a member OF the
Committee, asks that McDermOtt
be expelled. McDermott was e.
Iected as a Democrat and while
there is not and ought not be any
different standard Of honor or
honesty between parties, it is sig
nificant that blood is thicker than
water.
When sixty witnesses by affidavit
or by person testified before the
Election Committee that Congress-
man Whaley of Charleston spent
$50, 900 to get elected whereas the
legal limit is $4,000, the House re-
fused to grant an investigation of
charges for perjury, bribery and
corruption although 100 votes yer
cast for my resolution to investi-
gate. The other side of the aisle
voted solidly against an investigat-
ion. I predict the same fate for
Nelson's resolution although the
effort is not wasted.
Publicity brings it's W reward,
and Members will hesitate to vi
olate the law when assured that
punishment may result. Confirm
ing this statement is the opinion
by an old Member that standards
of personal rectitude have improv-
ed as a whole since direct nom
nations and direct elections of
u. S. Senators make Members OF
Congress directly accountable to
their constituents.
The Panama bill repeating free
canal tolls for domestic shipping
is before the Senate and will hold
the center of the stage for a month
or more. A bill just introduced
by Congressman Smith OF Mary
land proposed to give Alaska to
. Great Brittian in exchange for a
yielding on the tolls question,
furnishes another angle to a trouble
j some question Meanwhile b