River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-05-30
Our Weekly Letter
From Washington
(By James A. Frear, NJ. CO.

A question has occurred between
Democratic Leader Kitchin in the
House and Senator Simmons IN the
Senate, and the Secretary Of the
Treasury on the other hand over
the passage of another tax bill at
this Session. Congress confidently
expected to adjourn early IN July,
but the Secretary early last week
urged the necessity for additional
tax legislation at the present Ses-
sion. Congressional Sessions e
practically continuous in Washing
ton, and since the advent of war,
Senators and Members feel obliged
to remain closely on duty because
f numerous committee meetings
and momentous questions constantly
arising. On the other hand, accord
ing to old Members Of the House,
never before have unjust and I'M
founded criticism Of Congress and
Individual Members been so general,
with the natural result that the
average Senator and Member de-
sires to meet all critics and his home
constituents where he will be assur-
ed Of fair hearing and can give
full account of his stewardship. This
is especially urged in the South,
where several vigorous Senatorial
campaigns are under way in Miss
issippi, Alabama, Georgia, 5 1t n
Carolina and other states. A repre-
sentative Of Mississippi said to me
last week that numerous contests
have been started in the primaries
in his state-they have no contests
in their elections-and that personal
bitterness unk known to Northern
States is aroused in their primaries.
While that may be time, m a n y
Northern Members do not care to
leave the home field to misrepre-
sentation of issues and records by
ambitious rivals or unfriendly in
terests, and they too hope for an
early adjournment. Mr.. Kitchin in
a public statement Saturday said
the present tax bill will produce an
annual revenue of four billion doll
ars, and if new bill is passed it
would be increased to over seven
billion dollars for next year.
Eighty per cent of this amount he
said would come from income tax
while large increase will occur in
excise taxes on luxuries, automobiles
and many other articles.
About one hundred measures have
been passed by this Congress in
carrying on the war, including bills
for men, money, munitions, ships
and material directly used for war
purposes, and laws increasing gov
eminent efficiency which includes
taking over railways and similar
legislation. A list of the most i'm
portant acts was recently inserted in
the Record, and so far as noted, /
have given support to every mea-
sure thus far passed. This is put
forward simply to verify the gener-
al statement heretofore named that
every administration measure for
the prosecution of the war has been
supported. The War Congress has
almost unanimously given the Presi-
dent every power desired together
with everything asked for war pur-
poses.
The War Department gave out an
unofficial report last week to the eff
feet that over seven hundred thou
sand American troops are now in
ciuSC CllIQ IIIdI LIlS uuIIlD0I Is 0A-
pected to reach over a million and a
half by the end of the year. All
sources have been drawn upon to
hurry troops abroad. This force is
being raised under the law passed
Immediately after the declaration of
war. Secretary Baker in letter to
Speaker Clark has also urged that
an act be passed by Congress raising
the maximum limit for voluntary
enlistment in the Army from forty
to fifty-five years, with the under
standing that all men over forty
years of age so enlisted would be
assigned to non-combatant service.
Letters received from constituents
complain because of delayed mails
which fail to bring letters from
those in service across the water.