The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-12-10


members Of both house and senate
On the ground; with the ways and
means committee rapidly getting
the lineup of the various committees
whipped into shape; with the SEN
ate democrats caucusing daily in an
endeavor to arrive at a decision on
the program to be adopted and
with the Presidents message in the
hands of the printer, the stage is
pretty well set for the opening of
the sixty-fourtii congress next Mon
day.
I have talked with scores of
members but recently returned to
Washington from their respective
districts and upon one point all are
well agreed and that is that the
approaching session is going to be
full of life from start to finish.
The Republicans are making no
effort to conceal the fact that they
propose to worry the democrats as
mulch as possible right from the
beginning and in anticipation of
some vigorous attacks, the demo-
Gratis are preparing to defend their
position with the utmost yigor.
With a presidential election posi-
bly, Ringing upon what is done or
left undone right here during the
next six or sever months, mighty
few opportunities to confuse, con-
found or discredit the opposition
are going to be overlooked by the
astute men who will occupy con-
spicuous positions on the firing
line. The session will be full of
politics and this may serve to ham
per the progress of legitimate bust
ness so that some of the important
features of the democratic legisla-
tive program may have to be side
tracked.
Of course, the subject uppermost |
IN the minds of all the members
and especially the democrats is the
preparedness question. The sub
ject of the next importance is the
revenue measure which will have to
be framed in order to raise the
required to pay the increas-
ed army and navy bill. Trailing
along are the conservation bills,
the Philippine bill, the rural credits
bill and three or four others of al
most equal importance.
While the estimates submitted
by the Executive of the money re-
Juired or desired to run the govern
ment for the next fiscal year have
not yet been published, 1 know that
he total asked for exceeds the
amount appropriated by the last
by 1855, 900, 900. This is
4 tremendous jump but practically
Ill of it comes from the departments
If war and and navy. The other
were urged to hold
Town their estimates but the figures
will likely show that all of them
ire asking for more money than
hey got last year. Economy is
word which hardly exists among
hose men in the various executive
who are charged with
he task of estimating the financial
of the government.
While congress is always being Jam
pasted by The press and others for
is extravagant appropriations OF
public moneys, the fact is that but
vice within the memory of man
las congress ever voted as much
money as the executive department
las asked for. Score one for abused
lowntrodden congress.
fear it is going to be hard winter
or that much condemned but ancient
nstitutl, II known as the pork barrel.
he boys Tho are interested i'm securing
money for river and harbor work are
yisibly disturbed over the situation
While others who have been looking
onward to an opportunity to work
through some public building appro-
,riations are in no cheerful frame of
mind over the prospects. The word
las gone forth that the river and har-
,or bill will be decidedly meagre in its
cope while in the way of public build
ngs, the estimates provide only for the
ompletion Of the work already begun.