The Delta independent., 1917-04-20
APPROPRIATION MEASURES MUST
HAVE ATTENTION OF CON-
GRESS WITHOUT DELAY.
MANY TO BE ACTED UPON
Scheme of National Defense Involved
In Proposed Observation-Disclosures
Correspondents Take Measures tc
Prevent Leaks-War Department
Changes.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

Washington.-Senato and repre-
sentatives are comforting with a view
to securing as quickly as possible the
passage of all appropriation bills
which failed of passage at the last ses-
sion. and such legislation as bears on
the international crisis.
II was not President Wilson's desire
TO call congress into extra session, pro-
vided of course, that the war issue did
not become acute He hoped that all
of the appropriation bills which the
house passed at the last session would
be acted upon by the senate so that
when March 4 dawned the country
would be prepared in a money way TO
carry 1t through another fiscal year.
Then came the sharp necessity of an
extra session. because of the looming
of the prospect of war. The admins
tration became somewhat reconciled
TO the failure of the appropriation
bills when IL discovered that an eN-
traordinary session was a necessity.
To Rush Appropriation Bills.
The big appropriation bills which
failed at the last session either already
have been or will at once be re-intro-
duced In the form in which they origi-
nally passed the house of representa-
tives nt the last session. Appropri-
ations for the national defense aggre-
eating half a billion dollars are car
ried In the army. the sundry civil, the
general deficiency and the military
academy bills. not one Of which passed
The senate at the last session.
As originally introduced the sums
appropriated by these measures were
as follows: Army, S279OOo,OOO: sun
dry civil. S13s. 100000; general de-
ticiency. SCI. 100000; military academy,
81 .3iS 600.
At the last session river and har
Dor bill carrying appropriations of 49,
100000. and public building bin car
rying $50 100000, failed of passage.
There seems to be no likelihood that
these two measures can be put through
congress at the present session.
II is understood. In fact senators and
representatives repeat IL as fact
daily. that the president has told the
lenders in congress that while he con-
tinues to hold Office as president he
will veto any hill which contains what
he considers unwarranted appropri-
ations for public buildings. Mr.. VIII
son nlso has let II he known that he
considers the omnibus public buildings
bill Which was passed by the house but
which the senate failed to sanction at
the last session. was indcfensible from
any point of view.
Tariff to Be Subject Of Debate.
Whether the present session of con-
gress is short or long, 1t will be marked
sharply by manifestation of interest
in the tariff. Neither war talk nor any
other kind of talk can keep the tariff
out OF debates in congress. II is al
why's live issue. When the nations
of the world settle down and cease
fighting. one OF the arguments is that
America will need high tariff wall
TO keep out an influx OF cheap manu-
fnctured material which will come in
from Europe to compete with Ameri-
can-made goods. There are, of course,
arguments quickly and sharply ad-
vanced In opposition TO this position.
Ii makes little difference which party
to the dispute is right. neither will ad-
that the tnriff, even when there is no
chance of passing n bill affecting 1t,
remains an ever-present subject for de-
bate In the two houses of the con-
gress of the United States.
important News Tipped of"
Some weeks ago there was con-
Quoted by n committee of the house
,,.Ixr
leak Investigation" 1t will be remem-
bcred that information concerning
President Wilson's so-called peace
note leaked out In advance of Its pub
lication. Information which was used
to advantage by certain stockholders.
II was found that two newspaper
men had tipped of" the news that
such note might be expected. Only
one of these newspaper men was en-
titled to admission 20 the press gal
lcries of congress. This one received
no money for his zip and he did what
he did through personal friendship
for friend. However. II was gener-
ally considered that he violated con-
fidence and one of the unwritten rules
governing the conduct of correspon-
dents in Washington.
Move to Stop Further Leaks"
AS II result of this Teak investiga-
ton" the standing committee of CORE
spondcnts us 1t was then constituted
met and adopted II resolution to the
effect that the entering into employ
ment by any correspondent for the
purpose of furnishing advance infor-
nation to stockbroking houses was
violation of the spirit of the rules of
the nrnsS pnllerInS This NnS ne fnr