The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-05-09
WILSON'S ORDERS
ODEYED BY HOUSE
Presidents Personal Popularity
Forced Passage Of Draft.
GREAT HOLD ON CONGRESS
Public Rises In Indignation When
congressman Refuse to Vote In Ac-
cordanoe With the Administrators
Desires - May Make Postoffice De-
partment a Producer Of Revenue.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

SVeiS way "dNG FVSNOiItGe De~
partment a Producer of Revenue.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, May 9.-GSpeciall-
How II was possible to get a majority
Of the house of representatives. to
abandon the volunteer system for the
army and vote a CONSUMPTION plan
would forever remain a mystery If 1t
were not patent on its face. President
Wilson can get anything he wants In
congress. A few weeks before the
vote there was no doubt q majority
favored the volunteer system.
A Democrat who has had long sery.
ice in the house. who has disagreed
with the president frequently. but sup
ported his measures. a v that the
wonderful hold Wilson has on the peo-
pie Is responsible for his power I'm
congress. let "A man oppose the pres
ident. as Stone and La Toilette did Oh
the armed neutrality bin. and see what
hapHNi0s Ah0lG - - 3AN IdA8th duOuA
failure to stand by the president. The
people rise up in great Indignation
when congress does not do what the
president wants.
Postoffice Revenues.
Ii has been a part OF the plan OF the
ways and means committee. which has
in preparation the bin to raise a large
sum for support of the government
during the war. to change materially
conditions in the postotiice department.
Heretofore this department has never
been looked upon as a revenue produc-
ing branch Of the government. If the
pOstoiiice department paid its way.
collected enough revenue to make 1t
self sustaining. that was all that was
expected. There have been deficits at
times. which have been made up by
appropriations from other funds in the
treasury.
Making the Postoffice Produce.
In times of war all conditions change.
and it il now proposed that the post
NNANA N1EHA AhkIAh bN hAdht a tiAiit
producer by increasing the postage of
various classes of matter. One cent il
to be added TO each parcel OF first class
or letter postage. including postal cards
and circulars. BY far the most inter
esting feature Of the proposed postal
increases Is that relating to the rate
on second class mail, and 1t is one of
the most difficult problems which has
been presented.
Congress must take into considera-
ton the possible destruction of many
publications If the rates are material
ly increased. also whether a large I'm.
crease of rates would not go beyond n
revenue producing standpoint.
Increase of Postal Expenditures.
Speaker Champ Clark called atten.
ton the other day to the fact that
when he first came TO congress the
postofice appropriation bin amounted
to less than SGo,0O0.OO0. and now it is
over $300.000.O00.
The speaker said hat among the in
creases were S47. 100000 for rural free
delivery; also that many cities and
towns have had carrier service estab-
lished, which has also increased the
expenditures. Another item of expense
was the 'postoiice on wheels" as he
termed 1t, which has kept pace with
the business development Of the coun-
try TO such an extent that mail is han
died. routed and made ready for dis
tribution while in transit.
All this has been In the interest of
the growing business of the country
and the demand Of all cities and sec
lions for the rapid delivery of mail.
Naturally this applies more particular
ly to first class mail-letters, postal
cards. circulars. which relate largely
to business transactions.
On the Lookout For Spies.
Congressman Rogers of Massachu
sets and Congressman Platt OF New
York recently had an experience
which shows that the people In rural
are ON the lockout for spies.
These members OF the house like to
take long walks. tramps of many
miles. On a recent occasion they went
TO Manassas. Va, and walked over the
civil war battle6elds of that
They decided to take a long
hike to a railway which would bring
them to Washington, but on the way
they found they had m~isjudged the
and were obliged TO seek re-
freshments at one Of the little stores
at a crossroads. Here they RECALLED
themselves with crackers, cheese and
sardines.
The storekeeper showed considerable
interest In them. asking quite a mum
Der of questions, and they frankly told
him who they were and what they
were doing. This did not satisfy the
merchant. for the next day the
congressman received letters saying
that two peculiar looking men had
been im%personating them. and the be
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