Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-06-13


any session Of Congress. In some particu-
lars money has been voted lavishly but,
on the whole. the doctrine Of economy has
been enforced. There j. hardly one OF the
larger budgets, where the House and the
influential committees nave not cooperated
IN voting less than the official estimates.
The Senate, usually much more generous
than the House in spending the peoples
money has similarly striven for retrench-
mcnt.
But with all the grunting and sweating
for economy, totals have grown. simply
because the business of the federal gov
eminent has grown and can not be re-
pressed. The trend toward Capitalization
at Washington l. not only irresistible but
l. extremely popular. And a the govern
mcnt at Washington takes over work
that the States have been doing. or ought
to have done. the bills therefore must be
met. There nave been additional expenses
for the landing at Vera Cruz, especially in
the preparations for larger military activ-
ity than there has actually been. The new
enterprises in Alaska, including the gov
eminent railroad there, call for many mil
lions and, likely enough, what has been
voted therefor nj this session will be only
a beginning. In money matters, however,
this session of Congress with all it, striv-
ings for economy will apparently be very
prolific of deficits. There has been such
severe curtailment in many directions that
the funds provided will not keep hundreds
of federal undertakings going for tho
twelve months from the new fiscal year.
begins July | next. When the new
and last session of the present Congress
starts next December, one may expect a
mighty cutlery from many quarters. De
partmcnt heads and bureau chiefs will be
saying the wheels must stop after "A while
unless more funds are provided. II i in
anticipation of this that 20 much l. heard
being inadequate. Possibly they will be.
If it should happen, Mr.. Wilson will have
a new and a grave problem for the last
half Of his four year term.
Such a contingency would require more
revenue and a N appeal 20 Congress for
amendment of the fiscal acts. Ii j. I'M
likely that he would consent 10 any further
tinkering with the tariff. The easiest way
would be an increase of the income tax.
There has been considerable talk about
restoring duties on sugar but II ha> no
foundation. Certain ones have seized
upon nm investigation which Secretary Of
Commerce Redfieid l. conducting through
the bureau of corporations into the cost
Of producing and marketing beet sugar a
proof that the abolition of duties upon
that commodity would not be- adhered to.
A. n matter of fact Mr.. Redfield. expect
ing that free sugar would be "A t~avorte
point of attack, l. attempting To demon
~trate that the beet sugar industry J. able
To take care of itself under present condi-
tionS. lie j. trying to meet charges that
beet sugar companies are being forced into
bankruptcy and j. making a most comprc-
hensIve inquiry.
Agents Of the bureau Of corporations
have already traversed States like Mich
gan and Colorado, where large suns arr
invested IN beet sugar production. They
are heading for California. another great
beet sugar State. Secretary Redfield has
also called upon the bureau Of foreign
and domestic for figures about
the sugar industry generally. IL > not hi
intention, however. to investigate the cane
sugar industry. No agents are being sent
to Louisiana or Hawaii and. probably,
none will be. Al the bureau Of corpora
tions, it l. said final report on this inves-
%tigation will not be ready for months. II
j. nevertheless believed that IL figures
favor the Democratic view Of free sugar,
a report will be- forthcoming in the early
autumn in time for campaign consumption.
Washington has had a wearisome round
of Congressional debating in recent days.
II has not been cnlightening. The wonder
j. that with such a slim daily attendance
IN Senate and House, speakers could have
been 20 pcr~evcring. The latest House
debates have had 10 do with the antitrust
bills-establishing an interstate trade com
mission. amending the Sherman law by
adding new restrictions like the prohibit
ton Of interlocking dlrectoraieS, and regu-
lating the issuance of securities by rail
road corporations. There have been very
few speeches on these important subjects
which will be remembered. There was
much opposition in the House to practic-
ally all these bills and vet they were en-
n n -taar