The spectator., 1918-12-10
MEMBERS REALIZE THAT HEAVY TAXATION IS NOT POPULAR
 IN PEACE TIMES.
WILL CUT DOWN EXPENSES
General Opinion Is That the Country's Ablest Statesmen Should Comprise It's Peace Commission-Rush Work Necessary on Legislation.
By ARTHUR w. DUNN.


 word these days. After spending money very extravagantly congress has begun to realize that 1t is time to curtail expenses wherever possible. Members of both senate and house are aware that the heavy taxation Is go- ing to be unpopular when the war is >ver. It looks as if members of both raf(1ss would vie in talking economy, even k thsy b not vote for 1t.
 Of course the Ams11ean people, who have come to the front md bought four different issues of liberty bonds plaint, are satisfied with the results thus far. To win the war was easily worth what 1t cost. The war was much more costly to the United States because of the lack of preparation and the necessity of using the utmost speed in order to accomplish results. Even If lot of money wns wasted-and In this particular 1t means that every thing cost great deal more than the real necessity demanded-this was caused by the speeding-up process. and when all Is said and done every body will agree that 1t was better to spend the money lavishly at the time and get quick results than to have the results delayed and allow the war to go on for another year.
 But now that Germany has surren- dered the men in congress responsible for appropriations feel that the time has arrived to put the brakes on. and they have begun to talk economy.
 There has been vast deal of specu- lation as to who will constitute the peace commission on the part of the United States. Many names have been suggested. The consensus of opinion is that the ablest statesmen mission. Such has always been the practice heretofore. At all times when the United States negotiated with for eign governments on such momentous questions as settling affairs after wars. the biggest men of the nation
  ,ers. or at least the most prominent men in the affairs of foreign relations and diplomacy have generally been se- lected.
 There was no reason for the senate or house being without quorum aft CT the election. save the disinclination of members to attend. Of course the leaders could have brought quorum of either senate or house together if they had been so disposed. but tho leaders really believed congress was entitled to vacation of some kind, and consequently they took no meas. ures to compel members to be present. The lack of quorum prevented the transaction of a lot of business, such as the passing of many bills upon the calendar which are deemed impot ttant. Much of this legislation will have to be rushed through with scant consid. cration during Ii c short session of congress.
 
 appropriate money up into the billions for carrying on the war, but he still thinks million dollars is a lot of money. In letter which Senator Myers of Montana read to the senate, Secretary Lane of the interior depart ment stated that "a million or two dollars. If appropriated now, will put this work well under way" referring to his plan for furnishing land to sol diers.
 Tt Is case of throwing around millions" objected Senat:r Penrose. "It does not much matter whether they get one million or two million. In Mir. Lanes opinion"
 Congressman will have reason all Is over. Since this country took T hand in 1t. and especially since Amer lean troops began to do actual fight ing. never m opportunity has been missed for some member or another to reel off what might be called q "star- Spangled" speech. Congress admircs and approves Q good patriotic speech as much as the next one, when there ss thought and reason behind 1t. but 1t got to be tiresome hearing the same things over and over.
 Tn official circles. particularly In con gress, there Is quite strong feeling that 1t would have been much better for the allies If there had been no revolution in Ger many. or at least not such revolution as to completely overturn the govern ment and place 1t in the hands of a crowd similar to that which has ere ated the terror in Russia, if that should result. There are great many men in this country who would have liked to deal with the men In Germany who were responsible for the war, made khap, orrant thu Snyara fortnS of tha