Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-04-24


but so far has not been able to report
measure.
The same old question of differences
still exists. The senate, and particu-
larly the men from the Western states,
have their own ideas as to WATERPROOF
er legislation, and they are very loath
to consent to measures which are sup
ported by the house which have gen.
orally had the backing of national adj,
ministrations That Is the reason why
there is no water-power legislation en-
acted.
True to its policy, the house consid-
cred the subject of postal salaries
more important than the big meas
ures of finance, war and commerce,
and in fact any other subject that has
come up during the session. The In
terest manifested in one bill alone.
that increases the salaries of post Of
fee employees outside Uf the city OF
Washington, aroused more intense In
terest than almost any other single bill
that has been before congress. 1t
certainly resulted in more lively de-
bates-"scraps' they might be called.
as they often developed into wordy
contests between members on the floor
wherein each tried to bawl the other
out and the man with the loudest voice
had the advantage. At such times the
presiding officer would nearly split his
gavel trying to maintain order, but
without success.
Perhaps the interest of all the MEM
| bers Of the house in the salary ques-
| ton can be explained by the fact that
| they know about salaries and wages,
while they are not so very well in-
| formed about high finance and similar
subjects. The real explanation, how
ever, is that nearly every member has
a constituent who is more or less In
| terested in the question of salaries OF
government employees.
1t is quite likely that many things
will be done on account Of the war,
and among them we may finally reach
point where price fixing will be
| adopted. Notwithstanding the dec
| lamations against it that have been
heard in both houses of congress, and
| the assertion that we have passed no
law authorizing anybody to fix prices
of commodities, it is a fact that there
has been a great deal Of price fixing
on many of the important articles OF
commerce in this country. And what
Is more, there will be a general price
| fixing If the so-called "profiteers" con-
| tinue to abuse the patience OF the gov
eminent by charging exorbitant prices
! for the necessaries of life.
There are a great many things which
the war may do before it Is ended, and
this much may be set down as certain:
Whatever is necessary to win the war,
! that will be done, whether 1t is NIX
ing prices of commodities, fixing wages
of labor, or doing anything else that
| is required to make a success OF the
greatest undertaking Of all time.
The United States senate has way
all it's own and no other legislative
body or business organization proceeds
in like manner or under similar
rules. The senate will start in earn
estly on one subject and debate it for
a little while in the morning. Then 1t
will shift to another and there Will be
talk on that. Perhaps very 1mpor-
tant bill will be brought up. Dozens
of senators will descant upon its I'M
portance, and after that bill has been
under vigorous discussion, oftentimes
with important amendments suggest
1 ed, it will be laid aside and another
measure taken up.
Sometimes senators complain of this
method Of doing business and the In
congruities of such methods of legls-
lation are pointed out. why not
| take I'D a measure and finish 1t and
then go on to something else| they
often ask. Probably from the time the
| senate has been in existence, certainly
for at least so years according to men
who have been around the body that
long, the senate has been proceeding
very much along the lines that are
now in vogue and the answer to all
the "why" questions has been the same
| as it is now; that is, Sucn Quesuons
are never answered.
The thirst for luxury and amuse-
ment which is said to be one of the
predominant traits of the American
people is one that could very well be
suppressed to a greater extent during
the war than it has been so far, If we
are to believe great many students
of public affairs. Senator Thomas OF
Colorado voiced the feelings of good
" number of his colleagues when he
| condemned the "tea fights" cabaretS,
hotel orchestras and "funkeys," the
glitter of Broadway, and all the other
devices of the devil" which were per-
missable in peace time. "Over us all"
asserted Thomas, stalks the specter
Of possible defeat. May 1t never come
If # does 1t will be due to our indifer-
ence to our duty and our failure to
meet world crisis fraught with terri
hle consequences to humanity and to