River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1916-04-20
RIVER and HARBOR
BILL IS PASSED

By vote of 210 to 143 the River
and Harbor bill was put over after
two weeks discussion. Two impor
tant amendments were inserted over
the Committees opposition. One
limiting dredgers profits to Is per
cent more than Government plant
rates, was strongly supported by
Lenroot and passed by 40 majority.
1t will save considerable money to
the Government if retained in the
bill that gets through the Senate,
Another amendment was proposed
by Esch and relates to testing an i'm
proved river craft for developing
commerce. This was opposed'by the
Committee but went through and
stays with the bill. On the final vote
against the bill every Member from
Wisconsin, excepting two, one re-
publican and one democrat. were
against the bill. Almost as good as
victory because the beginning Of
the end scenes in sight.
When the first bill was opposed
three years ago, I was alone and did
not have dozen rise to oppose its
final passage. That bill was killed
in the Senate. Last year we mus
tered about 80 votes against the 1915
bill, but this year Members of the
Committee pied hard for the bill.
What seemed a hopeless task at the
start is now a fight Of large proper
tons and the best part is the loyal
support given by Wisconsin Mem
bers to the fight.
Another important contest at the
other end of the Capitol occurred
last week. 1t will be remembered
that the Muscle Shoals water power
$18, 100000 project was stricken out
of the last river and harbor bill in
1915, after hard fight. This year
it could not get into that bill but as
| have before written it was smoked
out of the Hay Army bill carrying
$24, 100000 for the nitrate plant.
Underwood tried to get it into the
Chamberlain Army bill on the
Senate side but the drubbing it re-
ceived on the House side both this
year and last, beat it again. AL
though it maintained a strong lobby
at Washington with 100000, 900
bond issue depending upon the pass.
age of the bill. it is buried for two
years more.
The writer received good words in
both fights and some of these came
from the other end of the Capitol
where the same information was
turned over to Senators Kenyon and
Norris, who bore the brunt of the
successful fight waged there.
For weeks two problems have con.
fronted President Wilson-the Mexi.
can man hunt and the submarine
issue. Just how serious the latter
may be only the President really
knows but the daily press headlines
have scare heads first on one side
and then on the other of the ques
ton. In news way the war il
Europe and Mexico has proven {
God send tc sensational papers.
A novel proceeding occupied the
attention of the judiciary COMMITTEES
for several weeks. District Attor
ney Marshall of New York Cit.
caused the arrest of Congressman
Buchanan of Chicago, growing on
of charges connected with shipment
of munitions. Buchanan presented
impeachment charges against Mar
shall before the House because O.
actual as we'll as technical contemp
shown the Committee. The matte,
is pending.
Another important proceeding be
fore the Supreme Court was de
cided last week. Briefly it deter
mines that under the Wisconsin in
heritance tax law, securities in Wis
consin belonging to a non-residen
decedent, are subject to the pro
visions of that law.