The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-05-21

BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, May 21.-[Speclal T.
Discussion of the war revenue measure
has brought home TO a great many In
terests that the United States is en-,
gagged in n giant undertaking. While
the action of President Wilson and
congress In declaring a state Of war
was received with loud acclaim ana
approval. it was not until the war rev
enue bin came before that
the business interests and the people
as a whole realized what the war
meant in dollars ana cents.
Wars in this DAY are not conducted
on an economical lasis. The war has
already cost the nations engaged heay
lis. and the United States has gone
into the cost problem at the beginning
N IA manner VIII IL shows that the
people must pay aud pay heavily for
the part which this government will
take ia the great contest.
Much Constitutional Talk.
The war legislation has furnished an
opportunity for "A great deal OF consti-
tutional talk. particularly in the sen
ate II the house eXpediency has gov
erued rather than arguments as TO the
powers of congress TO enact certain
laws.
The espionage bin in the senate fur
nisbed a theme Of much constitutional
discussion There are many profound
lawyers i'm the senate. aud they cannot
allow points involving the rights and
PRIVILEGES Of the people under the con
stitution TO So mehallenged even in
these critical times.
Horrib.s Examples.
a great deal of The discussion OF the
revenue bin was devoted to the proyi-
sion which largely increases the post
age rates upon second class matter or
publications. Ii was observed that the
men who defended the extraordinary
Increase generally took a half dozen
different publications of the country
and held them up as horrible exam
piles" OF what they called abuses. The
same publications and in many cases
the same ISSUES Of such publications
have been used I'm both house and sen
ate when propositions were under ON
sideration to increase the second class
rates. 1t has been rather difficult to
convince legislators that the whole pub
fishing industry Of the country should
not be gagged by a few isolated cases
and made 10 fay extraordinary war
taxes on that account.
Power Means Responsibility.
The most powerful committees of
both senate and house are those which
deal with revenue. This has been the
case from the beginning of the govern
ment. As a consequence most mem
bers OF the house seek places on the
ways and means committee, and sen
ators strive TO get IN the finance com
mittee.
But a great deal of responsibility
goes with the power which these com
mitteeS WELD. Probably at no other
time In the history of the government
has there been such great responsible
ity laid upon the members of these two
committees as in the preparation of
the bill designed 10 raise $1,S00,000.0O 900
additional revenue TO carry on the war.
A part of this responsibility consists
in meeting the criticism which has fol
lowed the action of the committees In
imposing the taxes.
Congestion In the Departments.
Most of the departments of the gov
eminent have been much crowded for
o on account of the expanding bust
ness of the government. This is ac-
c|entuated during wartimes when a
great deal of additional help Is neces-
sary and ne room available where men
can work. Every bureau of the war
and navy department is now crowded
10 such an extent that the officials and
clerks interfere with one another and
good results cannot be obtained.
For many years there has beer a de
mand for additional public buildings in
Washington, but one delay has followed
another and at the present time the
congestion is deplorable. And what
makes IL more difficult is the fact that
additional accommodations cannot be
secured Immediately, and this over
crowded condition will last for several
months before relief can possibly be
obtained.
Eliminating the Laugh.
One of the worst features of the wal