Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-04-24

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 OF the city or
Washington. aroused more intense In
terest than almost any other single bill
that has been before congress. II
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 men,
bers % the house in the salary ques-
ton can bs 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
q constituent who is more or less In
terested In the question OF salaries or
government employees.
It is quite likely that many things
viii be done on account OF the war.
and among them we may finally reach
point where price fixing VIII 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, 1t is a fact that there
has been great deal Of price fixing
on many of the important articles OF
commerce in this country. And what
is more, there will be general price
fixing II 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
tie war may do before 1t Is ended, and
this much may be set down as certain:
Whatever Is necessary to win the war,
that win be done. whether It Is fix
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 a way
ali its own and no other legislative
body or business organization proceeds
In a Ike manner or under similar
rules. The senate will start In earn
estly on one subject and debate 1t for
little while In the ,Eornlng. Then IL
with shift to another and there win be
talk on that. Perhaps a very impor-
tant bill will be brought up. Dozens
OF senator's will deS.ant upon its Inn
portance. and after that bin has been
under vigorous discussion, Oftentimes
with important amendments suggest
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 legis-
lation are pointed oct. why not
take up a measure AMI finish 1t and
then go on to something else2" 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. such questions
are never answered.
The thirst for luxury snd amuse-