River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1916-12-21
PEACE PROPOS-
AIS in EUROPE
Uncle Sam Always Ready to Aid In
Settling European Disputes
GOVT FLOUR MILL g BAKERY
Hon. James A. Frear's Interesting
Items From Washing
ton, D. c.

J0I LudC HdS COiuS " pOOiAC co0C1AoAO-
during the week relates to peace
proposals offered in Europe. The
United States in the attitude OF Off
ering to be mediator is regularly
snubbed by nations that are not
ready to consider negotiations, but
the problem is too great to permit
offense on our part over snubs.
whether intentional or otherwise,
and judging from prospects every
effort will be put forth by the Ad-
ministration to aid the warning ma
tons to an understanding, provid-
ing the time is opportune. Such ne
gotiations may not be actually start
ed for some time to come but when
they do come, this Government will
be in a position to help so that how
ever remote the present prospects OF
peace, one great neutral power is
ever ready to offer it's services.
An interesting side OF the case
comes to this country when rumor
of peace evaporates hundreds OF
millions of speculative value in grain
and stocks. That situation occurred
during the week and is an indication
of what will happen when peace is
brought about.
Representative Young, of North
Dakota, has introduced bill pro-
viding for the erection of govern
ment flour mill and bakery in Wash
ington to demonstrate the actual
cost of making bread. Over 10000
bills have been introduced during
the present Congress and not one in
fifty, apart froc small omnibus bill
items, ever get before Congress.
Generally they are buried in Com
mittee but the introduction of bills
and resolutions concerning the high
cost of living is all tending to ap-
prize the public of the long distance,
relatively, the consumer stands from
the producer. Middlemen and vari
Gus other sources of expense, often
double the actual cost of food sup
plies. These facts with Juggling of
values by spectators, storage houses
and other interests are causing peo-
pie to inquire just how far coopera-
tive municipal marketing will meet
the situation
A bill was also introduced last
week permitting Ex-Presidents to oc-
cupy seats in either House of Cong
ress with right of debate but not of
vote. The bill provided an annual
salary of $25, 900, or one third the
amount now received by the Presi-
dent. There is no likelihood of any
such bill passing Congress at this
session but it has been seriously urg-
ed for years that both Presidents
and ex- Presidents be given the priv
ilege of debate on the floors of Cong
ress.
The distribution of seeds again
confronts Congressman. Under the
present plan seeds are sent out by
the Agricultural Department but
Members have to address franks and
look after distribution at personal
cost sometimes upwards of a humid
red dollars or more a year. The to-
tai appropriation is 100000, which
covers the whole country and while
the present system involves some
waste, that appropriation is less
than ten per cent of the amount
given to the Upper Mississippi and
Missouri rivers alone in the last
river and harbor bill. That bill for
1916 reached $43,000,000, of which
possibly two-tnirds iswaste. Many
people write for seeds and others
consider it a waste of money. AL
though the entire amount does not
reach two per cent of the waste con-
tanned in either the river and harbor
or public building bills, it is doubt
full if the average person cares for
the seeds. If it encourages agricul-
ture and horticulture as claimed, it
is doingvaluable service but l should
be glad to get the opinion of constit-