River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-03-04
WASHINGTON LETTER
from James a. Frear, Member Of Congress
10Th District

10Th District
The concluding days Of the Sixty
Third Congress will be reached this
week. In many respects this Con
gress has performed an unusual
amount of work, although some
years may be required to determine
its actual value. A revision of tariff
laws comes at an unfortunate time.
Ii is doubtful if custom receipts
would have been nearly sufficient
for revenue purposes with the I'm
derwood bill under ordinary circum-
stances, but the European war has
thrown all calculations to the winds.
Now we are paying war tax in
addition to an income tax, and in
all probability will have to increase
the war tax or issue bonds before
the next session of Congress. Just
what part the war has played in the
deficit will be matter of specula-
ton, although probably an import
ant factor.
The Federal Reserve Board, Trade
Commission and minor laws will
have to be tried out before judg-
ment can be passed upon them. One
significant fact stands out with
these important measures: t h e y
were so disfgured after introduce
ton that their best friends would
not recognize them in the completed
article.
Laws to correct evils often times
develope possibilities for more harm
than good, and therefore require
careful preparation in order to prop
erly meet the objects in view.
An extra session Of Congress is
uncertain at this writing. Several
bills have failed to get through both
Houses; but although the treasury
deficit is causing much anxiety, the
absence of Congress will call halt
on certain extravagancies which
seem to be riveted on to present
legislative methods.
A joint resolution approving the
Presidents efforts to promote in
ternational peace and commencing
his efforts to maintain peace has
been introduced by the writer. Dur
ing the closing days of this Con-
gress it is impossible to predict the
passage of any measure, however
meritorious it may be, but in view
of his tremendous responsibilities a
vote of confidence before adjourn
ment would strengthen the Presi-
dents position in the eyes of the
world.
Jenkins Lloyd Jones, the eminent
Chicago minister, said to me yester-
day that he worked in Chicago dur
ing nine months of the year and
lived in Wisconsin the remaining
three months. Ray Stannard Baker,
another former Badger boy who was
present at the time, said he, too,
lived in New England and New
York most of the year, but he man
aged to spend some time every year
in northern Wisconsin and at his
old home in St. Croix Falls.
Possibly David Grayson's adven-
lures in friendship and contentment
first found inspiration in the nor
thern Wisconsin woods. Speaking
Of these stories that have gripped
the whole country with their love of
nature, Mr., Baker said their re-
ma1kabIe success had been a COM
plete surprise, as his known work
lay in other fields.
X X X
La Follette's seamen's bill was
again passed by the House with
agreement to several Senate amend
nents. AS originally introduced,
the bill encountered much opposi-
ton, but with notifications it will
probably become law at this ses-
sion. Apart from giving rights to
seamen that have been ignored in
the past, the bill gives added Sc,
curity to passengers on ocean and
lake craft. No provision appears
to cover submarine torpedoes or