The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1916-09-15
CON. JOHNSON
GIVES VIEWS
Royal c. Talks of Years $ Do
ings of Congress.

Predicting the victory of Charles
Evans Huges in November and conf
menting OIL the unusual appropria-
tions of the Sixty-fourth congress,
Congressman Royal G. johnson,
who returned to Aberdeen Sunday
with Mrs. Johnson and their child
zen, Everett and Harlan, reviewed
some of the highlights of the nine
months session just closed.
Republican senators aud con
gresham with whom l talked be-
fore leaving Washington, said Mr..
Johnson, are confident of the cleo
ton of Mr.. Hughes as president,
but most of them are awaiting re-
turns from the election to be held in
Maine today before expressing
themselves. AS the fight is along
national lines in this first state
where the voters will be given an
opportunity to express themselves,
the result of that election will give
some indication of the sentiment.
The issues may be clouded because
OF the personal popularity Of some
of the candidates, but we look for a
rather decisive result.
Concerning the activities of the
past session, MIR. Johnson said:
agree with President WIson
that very remarkable session of
congress has just been closed, but l
believe it to have been remarkable
principally for the immense appro-
priations which were made. The
sum total of these appropriations is
nearly $4,000, 100000 certainly a
remarkable increase over former
figures.
To secure the correct figures,
there must, of course, he deducted
$500, 600, 900, which was appropri-
ated for the army and navy, for ma
tional defense, and for West Point
and Annapolis, but this still leaves
marked increase over any pre-
vious appropriations. and re-
markable increase over the apprn-
priations made by any Republican
congress.
To-pay the bill, the Democrats
will be forced to raise about $780,
600, 900 of extra revenue. To do
this, they have increased the war
revenue bill, have issued $5O,OOO,- :
600 in bonds to start the ship pur
chase bill, have authorized the is-
suance of 1OO,OOO,OOO more in
bonds to pay the war bill in Mexi-
CO, have increased the sugar duties
to the extent of $4,000, 600, and
will be compelled to take about
$3O,OOO, 900 from treasury su:.
plus which is, as yet, non existent.
1T is, of course, conceded by
everyone who has anv knowleGlpe
of the situation, regardless of his
political affiliations, that the So
called strike legislation just enact
ed in no way settled the issues in.
volved, and this whole question
will come up again at the begin
ming of the next session.
In my opinion. the law is un-
constitutional because it discrimi-
mates between different classes of
railway men, and If the raise ap.
plies to men in one department, it
must apply to every man in every
department.
Il voted for the Clark amend
ment, which would make it apply
to every man, and when this
amendment was defeated. I re-
fused to support the measure.
PERSONALLY, 1 think the cause
of union-labor has been seriously
injured by the passage of this
law, bacause if congress assumes
the right to dictate to labor the
amount of wages it shall receive, ii
has assumed the power to deal
with labor as it would with wheat,
corn, or any other commodity and
-vv;11 osc,,,,,o tho ,>o,,o,. %o ...e~.o,