The Monticellonian., 1918-03-15

wages are suffering the pinch caused by war prices.
 It is said information has been received in Washington tpossibly by the grapevine route) that when the big spring offensive begins upon the western battlefront in Europe the Germans will concentrate their attack on that sector defended by American troops. The reason for this. it is ex- plained, Is that if the Germans can make a success and crush the Ameri- can army 1t will be very dishearten- Ing to the allies, cause trouble be- tween the Americans on one side and the French and British on the other, and also have moral effect in Amer lea adverse to continuing the war.
 While this story may have had some foundation and may haye been a part of the German plan. military experts point out that even if the Germans should make a success of the plan, they would establish themselves in wedge and be subject to the severe bembardment of the allies on both sides of the wedge. Congressman Tilson of Connecticut. who Is regard ed as the best informed man in con gress on military affairs, says that the Germans would nuke Il greater mis- take by pushing Il wedge into the al- lied lines than did the British at Cam bfai. He does not think 1t possible for either the Germans or the allies to break through the different lines and maintain wedge-shaped terralns without great loss; first, because of the severe bombardment to which the l advanced position would be exposed on all sides: second, because of the difficulty in bringing up supplies over territory that had been torn up so badly as all territory Is near the front lines.
 Once In n while the senate talks about hurrying things through; vari- ous senators speak of the necessity of haste In the consideration Of various measures; and yet 1t is observed that the delays are just about the same as in former times when there was no real hurry-up necessary. 4 senator began speech on one of the impor- tant bills recently and he urged imme- diate action and pointed out the neces- sity of speed. Then he talked nearly all the afternoon with not more than q half dozen senators listening to him. But that Is one of the ways of the senate.
 Work Better in Uniform.
 According to Miss Mabel Boardman. | sbn e. slx. the national Red Cross, and who now takes an important part in marshallng the uniformed women Of Washington who belong to that organization when there is anything going on. women work better in uniforms and under officers with military titles than they do In their ordinary garb and under officers with civilian titles.
 Perhaps this Is due to the fact that so many women see so many men in uniform at the present time. Men in uniform are conspicuous by their num- Der, particularly on the streets of east ern cities and at any point near the big camps. Women also like to get into uniforms and they probably share the glamor of military life which is apparent in this country at the present time.
 Red-Tape Idea Rebuked.
 It was demonstrated in the house re- gently that this is no time for split ting hairs. A big appropriation bill was under consideration and 1t con- tained provision of many millions of dollars for building quarters in the District of Columbia for the employees needed to carry on the war. Congress- man Clark of Florida. who is chairman of the committee on public buildings and grounds. and Is jealous of the pre- negatives and rights of his committee, interposed q point of order and the housing appropriation had to go out of the bill. Clark could not stand the pressure and criticism which his act oecasioned. and before the bill passed he was compelled to calm down and allow the provision to stand. although 1t had not been considered by his com mittee. ], Too Hasty in Changing Positions.
 Two members of the house of repre- sentatives sacrificed important com mittee places to become ehairmen of newly created committees. Both were
 under the impression that the newly created committees were going to as- sume an importance which has not been realized. Congressman Shackle- ford of Missouri left the ways and
 means committee to become chairman of the committee on roads. Congress has passed q road bill. but road leg islation has been shunted since the war began. and 1t may be Il long time l before 1t is taken up again. At the . time Shackleford was appointed chair man of the roads committee he occu- pied place between Oscar Under wood and Claude Kitchin on the ways and means committee. If he had not , left this most important committee. he
 would have become it's chairman, mak- ] ing him the leader of the house and , the most influential member of that body.
 , Congressman Humphreys of Missis- l sippi left the rivers and harbors com mittee in order to be chairman of the
 newly created committee on flood con- , trol. This committee, however, is not , very important during war times , Congressman Smith of Michigan