Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-05
What Congress IS Doing.
Annual Controversy Between Little Navy
Men and Advocates of Strong Sea Force
War Revenue Bill Goes to Conference With
600 Amendments.


to draw the nations closer together.
Senator Kellogg's cable propaganda
has a number of supporters in Con-
gress and out.
* *
One might think. however, that gov
eminent control of telegraph lines is
4@A not re-
Complain at Capitol garded as
Of Telegraph Service. ed bless
ing, judging by the comments. pub
lie and private, heard on Capitol Hill.
Here is one Of the public expressions,
an extract from the debates in the
House last Thursday:
Mr.. Madden of Illinois up and says:
81 got a telegram this morning from
Chicago which was sent to me on the
31st day of December. Today is the
I'd of January. That was the 31st of
December, one at about $3.50 in the
morning and the other at 1890 after
noon, and I got them this morning
just before II o'clock. So / think we
had best commence to send our tele-
grams by mall"
Does the gentleman engage to say
that the Burleson telegraph cannot
catch up with the McAdoo railroads.
asked Mr.. Sloan.
Il cannot tell how they manage it,
but somehow or other since the gov
eminent took control Of the telegraph
lines it takes me on an average of
three days to get telegram from
Chicago" replied Mr.. Madden.
X x
More than 900 amendments to the
new war revenue bill are to be taken
up by the con-
600 Amendments ferees on that
~, measure. Some
to Revenue Bill. Of them register
between the House and Senate and
are irreconciliable of adjustment. re-
quiring either abandonment by one
side or yielding by the other. Chair
man Kitchin estimates that two
months will be required to reach
final agreement on the bill. In the
meantime the business world will be
in state of uncertainty and anxiety
as to what will be required of them.
The ordinary citizen knows pretty
well where he will "get off" He is
going to be taxed just about double
his income tax of the previous ear,
from present prospect. and he might
a oil IN HHrsf fny no
ment next June.
The suggestion will be made to the
conferees that it would help a great
deal IL they should make public their
agreements as fast - they are deter,
mind upon. SO chat business could
know where 1t stands. Objection has
sometimes been made to this on the
ground that the conferees are there
after subject to annoyance by APP
peals to change the agreement. 1t
will be urged that this objection can
be met with the statement that the
decisions are final. and that anyhow
the people of the country have a SUI,
perior fight. title and interest in the
proceedings, to be appraised Of the
fate that is to befal them when the
tax gatherer comes around next sum-
mer.
Speaking Of perennial topics of leg
islation, we have with us now another
yearly Wis
Waterways Bill itor to Con-
Comes Up Smiling. r ri,ss and md
harbors appropriation bill. He comes
in smiling. assured in advance Of
some pummeling by his adversaries-
most frequently gentlemen who have
no rivers and harbors in their dis
tricts "to speak of"-and also conf
dent that after being drubbed about
for awhile he will get safely through
the House and be fattened up by the
Senate.
The high cost Of the war has cut
this sessions appropriations for
waterway improvements to the bone.
notwithstanding the fact that there
is increased agitation for water COM
petition and for the betterment Of the
channels that win feed the harbors
whence Will uSpdIt tuc ou6sucAtSu
fleets of the new merchant marine.
The National Association for the
Improvement OF Waterways was
moribund during the period Of the
war, but its officers. who include men
in Congress, promise renewal Of ac-
tivities in the future.
France Not Bled White,
But Needs Allies Help