River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-12-20
Letter From Frear

tuel and war supplies, results from
failure of the different railways to CO.
ordinate their lines and has brought
the situation to point where the
President is being urged on all sides
to take over federal operation of the
roads. Different factors enter into
the problem which at this writing
have not been determined. One of
these lies in the amount of money
necessary for the operation of the
roads which money would have to be
advanced by Congress. Employees
who have been demanding pay in
creases are quoted in favor of the pro-
posal but the railway managers are
not agreed on features of the plan.
Another angle of the situation arises
from Government freight which has
become a large part of railway traffic
and under present private control is
carried at a reduced cost compared
with other freight. Another plan that
might be adopted would consider the
allowance of reasonable profits with
which to meet outstanding obligations.
Harking back to the vigorous opposi-
ton shown by railway interests in
Wisconsin and other states about ten
or twelve years ago when effective
regulation was first attempted, it
seems a long step to take over the
control and operation of the roads.
Government ownership is not consid-
cred but congestion due to war condi-
tions may make it necessary to COM
pei close cooperation by some system
of control and operation.
Following the introduction Of res
olution in the House last week, Great
ing commission to report plan for
the adoption of national budget sys-
tenn, the writer, in an hours discus
sion in the House, endeavored to show
the necessity for a budget system of
financing the affairs of the United
States. Ours is practically the only
great government in the world con-
Quoted without legislative budget
system and this may account for the
extravagant and wasteful methods
employed in appropriating money
from the Public Treasury, which have
repeatedly been exposed in the past.
The general features of this system
common substantially to fifty coun-
tries, comprise the preparation of bud
get estimates by the Executive branch
of the government; the consideration
Of the budget as single and unified
bill by one committee and by the leg
ell 1a1i
sponsibility for the demands of the
budget and an Independent audit of
the executive accounts. Never in the
history of our country has there been
such a demand for public economy as
at present when staggering sums of
money are being appropriated with
which to win the war. The last Re-
publican Platform declared for bud
get system and both President Wilson
and Ex-President Taft endorse that
system. Congress has unanimously
supported the Presidents recommen-
dations for all appropriations and for
the declaration of war against Austria
but it is disposed to ignore his request
for single committee because such
action will abolish many chairman
ships so dear to the heart of legisla-
tors. Recommendation for a single
appropriation committee or budget
system should be installed without de-
lay and based on the estimates of Ex-
Senator Aldrich, it will save hundreds
of millions of dollars annually to the
Public Treasury. The country expects
that Congress stand by the President
on this proposition as on all others,
which were urged in his message.
General Boardman, in command of
the Wisconsin troops at Camp Near
thur, called here on official business
last week and returned the next day
to Waco, Texas. The general impress
sion exists that the Wisconsin troops
now in Texas will be moved to France
very quickly, although nothing is Civ
en- out on this subject. Several young
army officers, including Lieutenant FL
bert Webster, Harold Stevens and
Leslie D. Smith, all of ST.. Croix coun-
ty, also were callers Friday. Some of
these officers expect to be in France
soon. In this connection, Congress
man Miller of Washington addressed
the House Friday in relation TO a two
weeks visit he made to the European
trenches, in company with several
other Congressman. To use his ex-
preston, cit is no place for nervous
man." He spoke in the highest terms
Of the American troops now in France
and also stated that while the English,
French, and presumably the Germans
had a fairly definite knowledge of the
whereabouts and numbers of the Am
erican troops in Europe, that such
matters were kept confidential on this
side of the water. He expressed the
profoundest respect for the American
Red Cross and its work at the front
and also for the Y. NJ. c. A.-the
builder and helper of men-which is
helping, encouraging and adding eff
fciency to American armies. London
and Paris are dark at night except
L L..