River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-01-18
Congressman Frear's
Weekly Letter
LEGISLATION for Employees Urged Is
Many-Sided Question
sUFFRAGlsTs PICKET CAPITOL
Congressman Lenroot Possible Choice
In SpeakershiE OF Next Session

Inc pOSCOlllCO app Opl l1CIOI1 Oi'A
covering an enormous amount OF
money has been under consideration
most OF the past week. The De
-partment does not pay it's own cost
of maintenance through the revenue
received and has become one of the
most important departments of gov
eminent. Members generally have
been deluged with equests personal
" and collectively asking that com
pensation Of employees throughout
the country be raised to meet the
high cost of living. Different classes
of employees strenuonsly urge their
claims and present extended argu-
ments in support while many other
features of the bill require consider
alton and generally speaking it is
carefully examined and discussed be-
fore becoming law. The question OF
eventually taking over telephones,
telegraph and railway systems pre-
sents to Congress the constant prop
uganda for additional compensation,
leaves Of absence, shorter hours OF
service, and vast variety of ques-
tons which would be submitted by
every separate department. Exact
Justice can never be done by all and
those who are legislating are only
acting as agents for those who pay
the bills SO that while Congress de-
sires to do full justice in every mat
ter, during these days of direct taxes
and heavy burdens, it requires much
study and consideration to deter
mine what may seem to be a simple
proposition viewed from only one
side of the case.
All the hardships of war are being
sustained by small army of mill
tant suffragists who have begun
picketing the walks leading up to
the White House in an effort to COM
pei President Wilson to urge the suf-
frage amendment upon his party col
leagues. A group Of young suffra-
gists stood post by relays for sew
eral days undaunted by the smiles
and gibes of unfeeling passers by.
They surrendered to the masculine
Jack Frost the other day and stood
huddled behind the White House
posts trying to avoid biting wind.
Employees at the Executive mansion
offered to let them in to get thawed
out but the suffragists were proof
against temptation or temporizing
with the foe. They refused to ac-
cept the hospitality of the servants
but on the following day when the
wind whistled down Pennsylvania
avenue it found a clear field, in fact,
they were driven out of the trenches
at the first fire of frost. They have
resumed their walk now that the
weather is warmer, and they report,
according to the press. that the pres
ident smiles on them when he passes
through the gate.
Congressman Lenroot has b9en
suggested in the papers quite fire.
quently as possible choice for the
Speakership next session. | am be-
traying no confidence in saying Len
root is doing no talking on the sub
ject. First it is doubtful question
between Republicans and Democrats
as to who controls the House and
next it may be difficult to find any
one who will be able to unite all fac
tons successfully. The other even
ing | met one of the most ultra-con-
servatives of the conservative Re-
publican members from New Eng
land who surprised me by saying he
had formed prejudice against Len
root and progressives generally some
years ago but that he had come to
believe he was wrong in his preju-
dices and he spoke in high terms of
Wisconsin Eleventh District Mem
Der. On most of the important leg
islative moves in the House, Lenroot
has taken leading part, because of
his Membership on the powerful
Rules Committee but it may be add
ed he does not depend upon the Com
mittee for his standing in the House
because his spurs were won by hard
work and ability, good combina-