River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-07-04
Our Weekly Letter
From Washington
(By James A. Frear, NJ. Co.

IN I2cC unQer pTCSGIlIlSS loloIAFC SOA1-
ditions it is probable that this sltua-
ton which has been growing IN re-
cent years will continue for all time.
The average working member rare
w finds time to return home more
than few days during the year.
but on the contrary would be barred
from any laboring union through
working overtime. Important bills
covering many pages frequently are
rushed through with only brief dis
cussion because Of the great appro-
priation bills and other penelng war
bills. To get fair understanding
of such measures requires study,
while departmental work, answer
ing inquiries from constituents on
different subjects r m pensions,
food and fuel and soldiers here and
abroad has also increased. A large
number of letters are received by
every member daily on prohibition
legislation, zone postal system and
other questions all of which are OF
which are Of Importance. Regard
ing the two matters, | will say in
passing that the Ways and Means
committee which meets during the
coming recess is trying to devise
some plan of reducing the $7O,OOO,-
900 postal loss to the Government
caused by present low rates on Sec
ond class matter and at the same
time, if possible, to prevent inJus-
tice to many valuable publications
that will be injured by the law in
present form. With brief recess
planned at an early day the commit
tee amendments to the pending Ag-
ricultural Bill which contains dry
provision.
During the present session pro-
posed prohibitory amendment has
been passed, submitting the ques-
ton to the people of the country
and several important dry mea-
sures were also passed relating to
the territories, soldiers, spirituous
liquors and authority given t h e
President to declare 'bone dry
war measure if he so determines. 1t
is not possible to acknowledge the
mass of correspondence received
on the subject but many petitions
have been filed with the II o u S e
Committee for i IS information.
More temperance legislation h a S
been enacted during h i 5 sessions
than in all prior sessions put to-
gether.
This brief statement of legislative
matters is offered in explaining that
as soon as the important appropri-
alton measures and necessary war
bills can be passed, Congress will adj
journ for several weeks, leaving the
Ways and Means and other Com
mittees here, working on the new
Revenue bill and other important
matters that require public hear
ings. The average Member will take
time to clear up accumulated mat
tiers before leaving and the writer
has been compelled to miss trip
with Congressman Reavis of Ne
braska who leaves for France today
and has promised me to see our Wis
consin boys there and Gener
Boardman, carrying m a ges to
them and ascertaining their needs.
| would have gone with h m n d
realize r m my own knowledge
and efforts on soldiers pay, insur-
ance care of dependents and other
matters with which l have been ac-
lively interested, that t h ey are
more than ever the nations wards.
Questions of 100 per cent Ameri-
canism" that | do not care to dis
cuss here compel me toreturn home,
in justice to myself and family, in
Guiding the boy in France, who was
referred to at an Eau Claire meet
ing, but it is significant that among
scores of members of the House
who voted against war, eavis,
whom have mentioned and many
other northern members and prac-
tically all those from the South
have no opposition in the primaries
or the coming election. 1t is not
proper to say what | would like to
say here, but | expect to do so else