River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-05-31
Washington Letter
(By James A. Frear, NJ. CO.

predicted, only few amendments
were accepted apart from Lenroot's
motion to increase taxes 25 per cent
on incomes over $4,000 per year. The
bill provides for graduated tax on
incomes of $1,000 and $1,000 for
single and married men respectively.
On incomes reaching over 100000 the
tax reaches over so per cent, but the
total tax paid on incomes of that
amount does not reach nearly that
proportion because Of the lower grad
uated rate on the different parts Of
the income. It was stated that in
many respects the bill was fashioned
on the old revenue bill adopted during
the Spanish-American War, except
ing that no stamp tax is placed upon
demand checks or drafts but the tax
Of two cents per hundred dollars re-
mains on promissory notes. Possibly
a couple of hundred amendments were
offered but less than a dozen were
agreed to and in these cases the com
mittee accepted them without opposi-
ton. The senate is expected to Of
fer some material changes although
Kitchin stated in closing that the
President was in favor Of the general
provisions Of the revenue bill.
The House has concurred in Senate
amendments to the bill introduced by
Congressman Esch, which passed the
House a few days ago under his lead
ership. 1t gives to the Interstate
Commerce Commission plenary power
to control car service on railways. In
the original discussion Of the bill it
appeared that the present congestion
Of traffic and resulting high prices
of food stuffs was largely occasioned
by lack Of control by one line of its
cars used by some other line. The
Commission is empowered to remedy
such conditions.
The first of a series of agricultural
bills designed to affect the food stu
alton passed the House Saturday.
While the bill, No. 4188, was termed
q survey bill to ascertain the demand
for food, supplies, consumption, COST
ETC., it gives the Secretary Of Agri-
culture, power to buy seeds and re-
sell to individuals and to do many
things that have heretofore been con-
sidered matters exclusively under in
dividual control. The measure APP
propriated over $18,O00000 of which
one item of $6,50O,OOO relates to seeds,
eradication Of insects, and plant dis
eases. and conservation of plant pro-
ducts. Another item appropriates
S3,5O0,O 900 for a survey to include pre-
vention of waste of food in storage
and in transit, and to direct the mark
citing Of perishable products.
4 river and harbor bill covering
over S30,00O,000 in actual expendit-
ures will probably be reached this
week, according to demands for recog-
milton made on the floor. For the
first time in history seven members OF
the committee have joined in q Wig
orous minority report protesting
AGAINST the passage of the bill. Ordin-
arily there would be no question in its
defeat at this time but under the
guise of preparedness, many waste
full projects are being urged in the
bill. It is significant that while ne
minority report OF opposition was
manifested against any bill prior to
the first protest by the writer -four
years ago, that majority of the bills
since that time have been defeated OF
modified and the strongest minority
on record is opposing the present bill
4 constituent asks if it is true, ac-
cording to q press item, that Con
gressmen from our state have voted
against all preparedness measures
and il so, who is included. 1t is use
less at this time to correct false re-
ports however extravagant their char
acter, and the writer holds no brief
for other members who in time will
answer their constituents for specific
votes on all questions and as to THEN
high purposes and patriotism. Speak
ing generally, I believe every bill fol
the support or the increase of the
army, navy, and the public defense
offered in the House during recent
years, together with every appropri-
alton for war purposes, including the
tax bill just passed by the House
have all had the support and vote OF
every member of the Wisconsin dele
cation. Of the rs votes against the
revenue bill, none were from Wis
consin. Misrepresentation and mis-
understandings come in times like
these but the people are not long mis-
led by such palpably false statements
as the one in question.
Agricultural development is an i'm
portant factor in reducing the high
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