River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-02-17
Our Weekly Letter
From Washington
ByJames A. Frear, M. G.
Written for Last Week

the New YORK Times gave q SoiuiHii
editorial toward recent speech made
by the writer in the House, in which
the editorial sought to show that a
turnover sales tax is blessing IN
disguise. The Times is probably the
most influential paper in New York
but some of the best known experts
in the country denounce the turnover
sales tax as unjust and unfair IN char
acter. Large funds are now furnish
ing propaganda for sales tax, COM
ING from those who nope to be reliev-
ed from present corporation taxes.
One firm is printing 100000 copies
of an article favoring the tax and
this is only one agency, whereas the
government printer charges 500 to
print FIVE thousand copies OF the
speech against the tax. Members
pay for printing their speeches and
where requests come from other mem
bers or people generally interested
it is the only means of complying
with the requests. The proposed
sales tax means shifting about one
billion dollars in taxes now collected
from corporation excess profits over
to the consumers Of the country und-
or a turnover sales tax.
By a vote of 2O5 to 100 the House
n L.
rejected the minority report OF the
old River and Harbor boosters Tor
500. 900, 900. An appropriation OF
$4,000, 900 was passed without any
record vote. Last year it was Sl2,-
600 900 which is far below the SOU
coo. 900 annual bills passed prior to
1914. The old time lobby which con-
tinues to meet annually has lost It's
influence over Congress. Promises
Of renewed navigation on the MISSES
ippi and other rivers are constantly
offered by. enthusiasts, but after
spending $50, 100000 Of the taxpay-
ers' money on the Mississippi river
alone not a single private boat Inc
runs between st. Paul and st. Louis
or down to New Orleans. The army
engineers gave Edward Goltra OF 81.
7 ,ouis lease to s3,86O,OO0 in govern
ment barges with which to haul ore
and coal from his smelling business.
No waterway freight business is car
ried on the river today and Congress
hereafter will ask to be shown before
throwing millions recklessly INTO
such projects. The channel OF that
and other rivers will probably contln-
ne to be maintained, although the
river is deserted. Notwithstanding it
was covered with many boats before
a single dollar was spent by the gov
eminent on its Improvement
The Congressional Club, composed
of wives of Senators and Members
occupies its own home building on
New Hampshire avenue, this city.
The Club holds social functions, lee
lures and receptions every session.
with the President, Speaker and 9TH
err officials including foreign diplo-
mats, among it's guests. Mrs. Len
root, wife of the Senator, was elected
president last week to hold office dur
ing the next administration. The club
represents several Hundred members.
In one day recently, about twenty
communications were received on that
TINT at Sparta, explained in the last
letter. Over one hundred letters are
at hand on the same subject. About
a dozen letters arrived the same day
asking for support or opposition TO
different bills introduced in the House
or Senate. These letters are only a
small part Of the correspondence re-
ceiyed by Congressman every day.
Members can only try to vote intelll-
gently and conscientiously on meas
ures that come before them. Letters
couched in the same language on the
same bill by writers who have not
heard the arguments for or against
the bills and frequently have never
read the bills, are not helpful to a
right decision.
Every year allotments are made to
Members of farmers bulletins but the
number is not sufficient to meet all
requests so they are often distribut-
ed every second year. The allotment
is sufficient so that if any consitiu-
ent writes for list it will be forward
ed and not to exceed one half-dozen
bulletins will be sent any family on
request. These cover every conceiv-
able subject from gardening. stock
raising, dairying, down to poisoning
rats, cooking and housekeeping gener-
ally. Over 300 miscellaneous buile-
tins are listed from which to choose
and these are had in limited num-
ber-for the asking.
ii x1