The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-01-12
Some Republicans Hope They WON'T
Control Next House, So Party May
Avoid Blame for the Necessary Tax
Measures.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.


likewise is due to the war, which has
cut off good deal Of our commerce
and thereby has prevented Us from
leyying normal amount Of customs
duties.
It Is believed today that there viii
be treasury deficit Of 100000 900
for the fiscal year which will end in
1918. The president, it IS said, is OBJ
posed to the sale Of bonds to meet this
deficit, or. in other words, as friends
OF the administration put it. he is OPP
posed to mourning one Indebtedness
in order to get rid Of another. So the
question comes, how shall the addition
al revenue needed be raised? Con-
gress will have TO answer this ques-
ton
Still After Il. C. Of /.
The administration still is consider
Ing the subject Of additional Iegfsla-
ton which possibly may solve the high
cost Of living problem. There are a
half dozen bills now pending in con
gress, the author Of each one being
certain that he has struck the real
cure for the evil. Grand jury investi-
| cations which have been going on in
various cities with a view TO deterrnfn-
4 ing whether there is anything criminal
in connection with the high cost Of liv-
/ ing matter have not been successful
thus far in getting really sharp re-
suits.
1t is said in Washington that the
administration is skepucal as to
whether or not legislation can bring
down the price Of this thing or that
thing. II is also said that perhaps a
majority Of the members Of congress,
Democrats and Republicans alike. feel
the same way. 1t may be that there
viii be no legislation at all on this
subject this year.
There has been manifest one curious
result following the publication OF the
seemingly accurate figures concerning
| the amount of the deficit which is
| facing the United States treasury.
! There are Republicans in Washington
who are bold enough to say thar they
hope that their party does not con-
troll the next house OF representatives.
| The political complexion of the next
house is stfll in doubt and it proba-
bly, Will not be known for many weeks
vet which party win succeed in eff
fecting its organization
Willing to Avoid the Blame.
1t seems likely that many Of the
revenue-raising measures may have to
90 over 70 the next congress and a
few of the Republicans are saying that
for the party's sake il might be better
TO let the Democrats share the blame
OF any additional taxation thar may be
necessary. OF course If the next house
should be Republican that party will
be under the necessity Of passing rev
enue legislation and if it fell hard on
the people the blame for it would fall
on Republican heads.
The Democrats are anxious to have
a majority in the next house, and nat
urally so. Without a majority they
cannot put through ali the legislation
which they wish. They say. too. thar
the country understands thoroughly
the necessity which has forced a def
cit in the treasury and that the people |
will not blame congress for taking the |
proper means to keep the balance in
the treasury's box even.
Electoral College Meetings.
On January S. 1917. one week
from New fears day. the cleo
toral college IN each state will meet
to cast IFS ballot for president and
vice president of the United States.
f0f -
how the electors in each state win |
vote. They were chosen by 8 majority |
Of the voters OF the state 70 vote IN |
one way. and that is the way in which |
they are In honor bound to cast their
ballots. On the second Wednesday ia /
February. which this year falls on ST.
Valentines day, the house OF repressn-
tatiyeS and the senate Of the United /
States will meet TO look on the count- /
ing of the ballots cast by the electors
In the various states OF the Union.
President Wilson and Vice President
Marshall therefore in February viii re-
ceive rs valentines the sure informa-
ton that they are 10 continue in Office
for four years from the fourth Of
March next
After the electors in each state have
met on January and cast their votes
il is their duty TO make three copies
of the number of ballots cast. annexing
to each certified list OF the electors
furnished them by the secretary of
state. The three certificates must be
sealed up and an additional certificate
placed upon each so as TO show that
its contents show the results of the
election.