River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1920-03-18
Our Weekly Letter
From Washington
By James A. Frear, M. C.

was a remark made to me by men,
Der of the Ways and Means Commit
tee after hearing last week at
which Congressman Lampert of Wis
consin presented statement of what
Wisconsin had done for the soldiers
| of the late war. Ills statement offer
ed in behalf of the delegation contain
ed facts possibly familiar to Wiscon-
sin people. 1t was stated Wiscon-
sins law providing a payment of $40
per month or an educational alterna-
tive for soldiers, sailors and nurses
was submitted to the people of our
state last September. The people
cast 1867 votes for the proposition
and 57,324 against, or nearly three
| to one. The total soldiers, sailors and
| nurses eligible under the law are
10000 from which 90,749 applica-
tons for the $40 payment have been
received. 1920 applications have
been filed for the educational privil-
eye that is estimated to cost the state
100000 per month and 1871 appli-
cations have been received for free
correspondence instruction at the
University of Wisconsin.
Wisconsin furnished 1921 soldiers
alone for the war and the total vol
unteers in all branches according to
letter received from General Holway
reached 1851. About $4,000 others
presented themselves before the date
of the draft. Congressman Lampert
states further that the bill offered to
Congress would give the 100000
service about $1,2O0,0O0, 1000. The ma
Wy had 548,919 who served on an av-
erage of Is months or $246,113, $50.
Marines 65,666 serving an average of
IL months with total of 23,639, 760
or a round total including the nurses,
of about a billion and half dollars
at $50 month actual service. Among
a. score of witnesses previously heard
this was the first definite estimate
presented to the committee. Con-
gresham Lampert had given five
sons in the war and lost one in France.
= u #
One witness before the Committee
last week, ridiculed the proposals and
protested vigorously against any bill
of any kind. Curious to know his
reasons / asked his business connect
ions, ETC., and he testified he is a
banker at Z Wall street, New York
City. He admitting making large
profits out of the war and paid in
come taxes reaching 72 per cent and
did not deny he is one of the 1000 or
more new millionaires produced by
the war He refused to state his in
come, but was insistent that the boy
receiving $50 per month during the
war had received an experience worth
$1,000 and all he was entitled to be-
cause of the wonderful opportunities
offered by the war; That same day
bright young Irish sergeant who
had been in three battles was before
our committee. When | asked him
if the experience was worth $1,000 he
said, if so, then coolies must have
been worth fifty cents apiece.
One hundred ninety-two thousand
officers and men are provided for in
the Army reorganization bill that has
been before the House during the past
week. AS originally proposed, the
bill was to contain about 100000, but
but the contention of minority mem
bers it that the general staff of the
army has pushed the number up to
| the figure first named. 1t was at
first proposed by the War Department
| to maintain an army of about 100000
men but the present figure is COM
| promise with the possibility of in
| creasing the army to several times
it's present size due to the flexible
character Of the new organization.
Seventeen thousand eight hundred
twenty officers are provided for in the
bill, of whom 1920 are in the infant
ry, 3,100 in the artillery, 1,514 in the
air service and the balance distribut-
ed in other branches of service, in
/ Guiding 3,64O in the Medical Depart
ment and corps. The bill will con-
tinue during this week and many
amendments have been offered but
few placed in the bill.
r
Baltimore never does things in a
small way, and this even applies to
its burglaries. Twelve masked men
overpovered two watchmen at the
Mount Vernon Distilling Co.'S plant
last week and made off with so bar
rels of whisky valued at $4,000. -Four
automobile trucks were employed in
| bandlinc. tho whisky and so far as