The daily Alaskan., 1917-01-16

Passing Legislation Against Liquor
 Traffic Because It Pays $25o,ooo,ooo Into National Treasury Every Year.
 By ARTHUR w. DUNN.
 Washington, Dec. 26.-[Speciall-If anything could check the onward march of prohibition it would be the state of the nations finances. Even if it were possible to pass nation wide prohibition laws at the present time and enforce them it is doubtful wheth- CT the financial condition of the gov ernment might not cause men in con- trol to hesitate about taking such a step.
 The condition of the federal finances, according to Chairman Fitzgerald of the house appropriation committee, Is :. such as might prevent any legislation which will cut off the revenue, al- though 1t has no effect whatever upon the demand of congress for additional appropriations, nor has 1t in any way stopped the onward sweep of extrav- agance tn government expenditures.
 The two hundred and fifty millions received from liquor taxes and licenses can i'll be spared from the government revenues at the present time. Never an Obstacle.
 The zealous pTohibitionist never al- lows the governments finances and needs to be an obstacle in the way of pushing his propaganda and promptly replies that the revenues can be ob- tained in some other way, More than that, the prohibitionists are going right ahead and will pass all the prohibi- tion legislation they can. All the time they have claimed that the government should not be ill partnership with the liquor interests that the government should not help keep the saloons going on account of receiving money from | the traffic.
 Would Sc Useful.
 Commenting upon the recent utter ances of former Secretary Garrison, several men in congress think he would | be extremely useful to tue country If he occupied some important public po- sition. His warning against having the United States becoming entangled in world peace propositions has awak- ened great deal or interest, especial ly as the people behind the movement to have this country assume the larger burdens which would follow a world peace compact are becoming more and more earnest at every session of con- gress.
 For Civil War Officers.
 The persistence with which Senator Townsend fights for his bill to create retired list of civil war volunteer 1 officers Is characteristic of this Michi- gan senator. But there is serious op- position to the measure. Just now an element has arisen which may defeat | 1t, the enlisted men of the civil war. They do not see why these officers should be so highly favored, as they were for the most part the favorites of opportunity when chosen by their com mands at the time the volunteer army was organized. Several senators inti- mate that they will fight this bill to l finish.
 Poindexter Now a Regular.
 Senator Poindexter of Washington was the one man after 1912 who fgur- ed as a Progressive with big ?. He was not even considered as an aux Hilary Republican until the fight on the ship purchase bill two years ago. But he has now gone into the Republican camp with all his baggage and occu- pies tent close up or among the com manding officers. He went so far as to vote for Senator Gallinger for presi- dent pro tem. That is the extreme test. About seven Republicans who are progressive with a small p would not vote for the New Hampshire senator.
 Clerks to Members.
 The allowance of S1,5GO or a larger l amount to members of the house for ! clerk hire Is the cause of many refec- tions upon members. It is alleged that they do not pay any such amount for clerk hire and that a large part of the sum goes to increase their own sala- ries. These allegations are made on the HOor of the house, and, while re- sented in some quarters, the resent ment is not strong enough to compel a record of the expenditures or to have the salaries paid directly to the clerks ! instead of the members. Got Together.
 Speaker Clark wanted the house to work right through the holiday period. Fitzgerald of the appropriations com mittee approved the plan, but Leader Kitchin put in a resolution for the reg ular holiday recess.
 How did it happen?" l inquired of Fitzgerald.
 "Oh," replied the New Yorker, "Kttchin and the president found themselves in agreement for the first time, and 1t was thought best to let them put it into effect" Hazing New Senators.