Fergus County Democrat., 1916-01-06


the Blue Ridges of old Virginia and
a large number of the congressman
taking advantage of the holiday sea
son to take one last lingering survey
of their political fences back home. it
can scarcely be said that business has
been particularly rushing hereabouts
for some days but the real busy days
are not far ahead. One week from to-
day, the president will be back in
town aud congress will settle down to
real work of which, it may be added
there is quite lot at hand and press
ing for action.
Most all of the prophets are pre-
dieting that it is going to be an in
teresting session. 1t is likely to be
more than that. 1t may we'll turn into
one of the most boisterous and dra-
matically exciting congresses of re,
cent years. While things are placid
on the surface right now, lot of mis-
chief is being cooked up and the hap
piest thing about the whole business
is that no one appears to know just
where the trouble is going to break
forth, or when.
The democrats are getting precious
little joy out of this revenue situa
tion and unless the matter is handled
with vast skill iangle is liable to
occur right there which will be disas-
trous for the presidents entire pro
gram Every congressman one meets
here these days has his own well set
ideas as to the manner in which the
,ytpo Hxrhi i1I, %hn fl,,n nSe
program calls for should be raised.
Since there are not many congress
men who are particularly bothered
with income taxes which are levied on
incomes Of more than ten thousand
dollars annually, most CT them are
agreed that we might, with perfect
propriety, raise most of our battle
ship and powder money by doubling
or quadrupling the income tax on big
incomes. There is considerable sen
timent for a good stiff inheritance
tax and some sentiment for almost
every other sort of a tax that was
ever devised by the brain Of man.
Some are for issuing bonds and others
shun that course as thew would the
smallpox The ways and means com
mttee who will have finally to thresh
this thing out are receiving noun
tains of advice and probably thev will
feel that they need all of it before
they get the job completed.
4
Perhaps it is the shadow of very
great difficulties over the revenue
measures which has so perceptibly
cooled the enthusiasm of many mem
bers, and especially democratic mem
bers, for the army and navy program
as laid before the congress by the
president If | read the signs Alright
there are a good many fellows who
are going to vote for bigger army
and navy with serious misgivings as
to the wisdom or righteousness OF
such a course. There are others who
will vote for it because, down deep in
their hearts is an unnamed fear for
the safety and tranquility of their
country, but they will hate to vote sc
much money for such purpose. Their
there are those who like Augustus
Peabody Gardner who will vote fol-
the program, provided it contains any
sort of an increase. although con
vinced that the increase should be
many times greater.
|
| Naturally, the republicans are shed
ding no tears over the distinctly un
happy situation in which their demo
cratic brethren find themselves al
| the outset of the session Quite the
| contrary, Jim Mann and his cohorts
make no effort to conceal their entire
satisfaction over the outlook and cal
candidly admit that they propose tt
make the going as rocky as possible
for their ancient enemies between
now and the close of the session. Witt
national conventions less than si>
months away, there is quite lot o.
hard work for the official manufac
turers of campaign thunder to do. VI
to the present time. the republicans
haven't great deal of materia
stored up. Things have broken rather
we'll for the party in power and this
makes it all the more necessary tina
something be accomplished in the
short time remaining to them. The,
realize that, with incipient insurgenc,
in the democratic ranks over the new
revenue measure and preparedness
bills there is a chance for breaking
down the presidents program and II
that manner exhibit some proof 0
their oft-repeated assertion that tn
democrats are incompetent for tn
lob of running the government. |
the president should be successful il
holding his forces together and put
ting his whole program over, 1t WI
be terrible blow for the g. o.
hosts.
Again, the democrats occupy al
admittedly precarious situation, con
sidering the slender majority by whici
they hold the house and difficult prom
lens which they face, all is not alloy
ed JOY among the republicans. Ihe'
are doing a lot of loud talking bu
back of it all is a deal of uneertalnt
and apprehension concerning VIVA
shall happen there in Chicago IN tn
early days of June.
| \
The democrats at least know tai
man whom they are to follow in tn
have to worry any on that score. tn
approaching campaign They don
republican situation, however, is liabl
to become more complicated as tn
davs run along and many of them pr
vately confess the fear that histor
may repeat itself when the slate fix
in tbi