Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-18
Washington, Sept. IS.

~ 900 revenue bill started out vigorously
but shifted after the first two days from
the vital question of revenue to politics
and a variety Of other subjects 1T is
curious thing about this great measure
that so little general interest was taken
in it. Sometimes there were not more
than fifty members on the floor and fire.
ouently the press galleries were tempo
rarily deserted. Chairman kitchin, who
opened the debate made the longest speech
that has been heard in the House since
the present rules were adopted. He used
I'D four hours on the first day in gen.
eral explanation Of the bill, but could not
finish. and on the second day took even
more time because of the Interruptions
and inquiries to which he was subjected.
The third day was divided between Mr..
Fordney, of Michigan, and Mr.. Moore, or
PENNSYLVANIA, Republicans, who spoke for
two and half hours each
Most Of the talking in general debate
was done by Republicans many of whom
deemed 1t advisable to explain why they
should follow the Democratic leader in
voting for so unprecedented bill. Many
other members Of both sides Of the House
took occasion to make speeches, which
were evidently intended to be read back
home before election.
Al times the debate was about as Wig
orous and partisan as it ever has been in
! nre.war days When the attack came on
| postmaster General Bureson for the kind
| Of postal service he is rendering, the Texas
| Der,ocrats and their allies rose Indignantly.
| bur,inr into the discussion epithets that
ri1, rau0lsGp1
! mentary.
The Presidents letters through Secretary
Tu,nulty to Chairman Hays, Of the Re-
| nublican National Committee, came in for
| a Ia rnba sting on the Republican side, partly
i, response to the refusal Of some Of the
Presidents Jealous partisan supporters to
| admit Republicans into the Administration
| ,o,.o,;st Damn. There was such q partisan
| tinse TO much of the discussion, especially
when the returns from Maine were an
| ,orrced as-to indicate that the fight for
the control of the next House is going to
| be worth while.
| Taken all together the occasion was one
| NJ the prayest importance to the people OF
| tho limited States. The newspapers car
ried very meager reports of what was said
and done and even the Congressional
| Record has not yet quite caught up to all
the speeches that We're made. In the old
days the press gallery would have been
crowded and men OF the type Of Murat
tIalstead, John Russell Young, Henry Wat
! terson. John NJ Carson, Amos j. Cum
mines, William Perrne and James Rankin
| Young would have filled the columns of
N. metropolitan papers with the proceed
| hAI1 81 1o
Civil War was less than $4,000, 100000 and
the achievement of Thaddeus Stevens and
his compatriots in raising that amount Of
money in four years time was held to
he far greater than that OF financing the
Sapoleonic wars. The Kitchin revenue
bill, the passage Of which is provoking so
little comment, not only doubles the cost
of the whole Civil War but provides
! enough money to keep the present war ex-
| nenses paid for the brief period of four
| months only, since our monthly expendi-
| lures are now rapidly rising to the
81 ooo, 900 900 mark.
YTHE Philadelphia drug trade is CON
| L cerncd over restrictions III the revenue
| bill affecting certain patent medicines. In
| fact the whole country is showing an in
| terest in this question. The antinarcotic
| provision really comes from the Treasury
| Department and was fathered by Mr..
| Rainey, of Illinois, who appears to have
| accompanied officials Of the Treasury De
| partment through Philadelphia and other
cities where opium and cocaine are sold in
small quantities, and who is loaded up with
information concerning dope nends and
those who peddle the stuff.
It is insisted by the officials that efforts
to thwart the improper use Of opates have
| been blocked by their use in certain patent
| medicines or special preparations which
are widely advertised. The patent medi-
| cine people, on the other hand, contend
that the remedial legislation proposed Is
in the interest Of physicians, since those
who are accustomed to obtaining relief for,
| coughs and colds, for instance, would be
obliged hereafter to obtain a prescription.
This whole subject has had the attention
| Of the Federal authorities in Philadelphia
and was reported upon a. short time ago
| by the Federal Grand Jury.
| The Illinois member contends that his
plan Of suppressing the illegal use Of mar
| cotics will get three or four millions of
| revenue. The opinion of the PhiladeI-
| phia United States District Attorney
| Francis Fisher Kane, has been invited as
to the efficiency of the proposed new law.
| The chairman OF Pennsylvania commit
tee that pointed out many Of the evils
| resulting from the use of narcotics was
Edward Box, who is now in Europe on
a mission connected with the great field
work of the Young Mems Christian Asso-
| citation.
| TNHE eX.Goyernors OF New Jersey are
l. not fully satisfied with the way things
are going in Washington and elsewhere.
Ex-Governor j. Franklin Fort is a little
\ mora radica /. in his yiews than ayC:ov.