River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-01-27
Our Weekly Letter
From Washington
ByJames A. Frear, M. c.

and discussion of several amendments
to the reported bill fixing member
ships of the House at 483 Members,
I an amendment was adopted retaining
the House size for the ensuing ten
years at 435 Members, its present
number Every ten years after TAX
ing census an apportionment Is re-
quired throughout the country based
of the last reported population. Self
interest of states and of communities
ordinarily brings vigorous efforts to
keep the delegation intact by increas-
ing the membership but under the
limit of 435. Twelve states that have
not kept pace with the growth of pop
ulation will lose to other states which
have increased more than the aver
age Among the states losing one or
more Members are Missouri, Iowa, In
diana, Kansas and Nebraska, while
states like California, New York and
others that have grown rapidly will
receive additional representation. Wis
consin has maintained an exact aver
age growth and will retain its eleven
members, each representing approx
mately 100000 people. The effort to
fix 483 as the number came from the
fact that on that basis no state would
lose. Arguments that the present
House has an unwieldy membership
and the proposed increase would cost
$1,00O,000 annually without giving
increased efficiency were decisive of
the result. The entire Wisconsin del
egation voted to retain the present
number of 435 which was carried 267
to rs. The Senate will pass the bill as
determined by the House.
The War Expenditures Investigating
Committee of fifteen, asked che sub
committee of which the writer is the
chairman, to take testimony of sew
eral army officers in New York last
week, which was done and the COM
mittee finished in time to return and
vote on the superintendent bill. Pros
ecutions are not ordinarily had after
those Investigations, and sometimes
those who do not know the facts find
fault with Investigations. 1t should
be understood we act for the House
without personal choice but in the last
named cases that related to expendi-
lures asd settlements reaching several
millions of dollars, l feel confident
publicity given by the committee to
proceedings governing settlements
and questionable methods pursued will
be of value. Army officers as class
have been given great business re-
sponsibilities recently and frequently
not occasionally-theyh have lament
ably failed to handle government ex-
penditures economically or carefully.
The expenditure of over one billion
dollars for aircraft and the notorious
failure resulting in time of war is on
ly an index of other waste. Army Of
ficers are able and educated by the
government to fight but when it comes
to handling public funds or negotiat-
ing government contracts, our records
show that in many cases they have Nv
terly failed to meet the situation-to
put it mildly. Investigations giving
publicity to their methods serve to
make them more careful and business
like in conducting government mat
tiers.
Hearings before the Ways & Means
Committee one day last week brot
small army of tobacco dealers, from
growers, wholesalers and reatilers to
consumers. The air was blue with
Ricos, Philippines and few heavy
smoke blown from Key Vests, Porto
American brands that were supposed
to include Wisconsin's home grown
product. 1t developed during the dis
cussion that raise Of one4ffth OF
cent tax on cigar or 50 per thousand
would cause the retail dealer to add
one cent to the selling price or five
times the tax, which would be paid
by the consumer. During discussion
of the sugar scale the next day, Tim
berlake, member of the committee
said he raised 40 Bushels of wheat per
acre on tract in Colorado, his home,
and after one crop of sugar beets the
land produced 81 bushels of wheat the
following year. The writer interject-
ed that as the average annual yield
in the country was only IA to 10 BUSH
els, Colorado's record was remarkable,
whereupon Chairman Fordney said
he had doubts and remembered lit
tie Michigan girl who when about to
leave for Colorado knelt down and
prayed Good bye, Lord, L am going
to Colorado"
1t has been a matter of common
knowledge that Representatives.
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