River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-02-08
WAR BREAK"
STIRS CONGRESS
"Pork" Discussions Raise
Sectional Issues
PEACE POLICY CRITICIZED
Congressman Frear's Weekly
Letter From Washington

ing a submarine blockade, the in
vestigation of Leak stock jobbing
information from the White House,
and debate on the revenue bill in the
House, Washington has been con-
stantly stirred up with rumors and
counter-rumors. At this writing
anything is likely to happen with our
foreign relations, the leak regarding
the presidents note is not likely to
develop anything tangible, and the
revenue bill is certain to levy addi-
tional federal taxes that will make
the people sit up and take notice.
When the writer began calling at
tention to waste in government ap-
preparations and pointed out that
waste was not only largely sectional
but that revenues to meet the bills
came largely from the north. some
critics in Congress and out, deprecat-
ed raising a sectional issue. In dis
cussing the revenue bill before the
Democratic caucus, Mr.. Kitchin of
North Carolina, Democratic leader
Of the House, said that the tax was
being levied north of the Mason and
Dixon line and it was proper that
this was the case because the pre-
paredness cry was largely from
northern sources. In reply, differ
ent speakers urged that with Texas
on the border line of our Mexican
troubles, it would seem that the
south is equally interested with the
north in the matter of preparedness.
From this issue the House took up
the discussion of representation by
the south in Congress Disfran-
chisement of negroes and represent
alton based on a nOn-vOting pOpula-
ton was criticized by Gardner, of
Massachusetts, to which Howard, of
Georgia, replied that any attempt to
disturb the south's representation
would be a signal for trouble. No
immediate trouble is apprehended
and methods of southern representa-
tiVeS are not inclined to cause the
north to forget that whatever may
have been the merits or dement's of
the force bill, the country is awaken
ing to an Objectionable situation
when the great revenue producing
part of the nation is obliged to dance
to the music of the spending portion
For several days the presidents
peace policy has been criticized by
senators led by Cummins of Iowa.
Now that peace prospects have gone
glimmering, due to the submarine
manifesto, those of a warlike dis
position will aim their guns at the
subs" and the Administration and
tell us just what we should do.
Newspapers are polling members in
order to get expressions on the lat
est phase of the European war stu
alton but the average member re-
fuses to give way to hysteria and is
waiting to get all the facts before
being quoted.
Admiral Dupont's statue has stood
in Dupont Circle Park for many
years. The Dupont family now asks
permission from Congress to remove
the old statue and substitute at fam
lily expense. a more modern, up-to
date, and artistic monument. To
use the words of Senator Norris,
statues can be changed in the vari-
Gus parks as often as styles in
statues change, and we are threaten
ed with an epidemic of changes be-
cause many statues scattered around |
the city represent men on horseback
in various poses and attitudes found |
only IN an artist S imagination.
The immigration bill which has
passed Congress three times and as
regularly met with Executivevetoes.
was again vetoed by President WI!
son. The bill provides an illiteracy
test and while not free from criti-
cism, it sought to put up the bar
against an influx of undesirable i'm
migrants after the war. Good ar
guments can be made on both sides !