River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1922-01-19
Our Weekly Letter
From Washington
By James A. Frear, nj. c.

Legislation is frequently brought
shout through other means than de-
bates in House and Senate. Many
measures are perfected in committee
SO as to pass the House or Senate
practically unopposed. A striking
evidence of committee work appears
In the funding bill covering $1,000
100000 of foreign debts which Prcsi-
dent Harding recently requested the
Senate to put through in substantially
the form as passed by the House. 1t
may be recalled that when the meas
ure was introduced several months
ago Secretary Mellon aided by the
Chairman of our committee asked fof
the immediate passage Of the bill as
prepared by the Treasury Depart
nlent. His bill as introduced would
] have left all power to the Secretary
and might have resulted eventually
IN the cancellation Of some or all OF
the foreign debts because OF strong
propaganda in Europe and n TINS
country to that end. | asked for hear
ings and Mr.. Mellon admitted that
several amendments to his bill might
protect the country from loss and
himself from criticism. Five Of these
amendments which | offered in COM
rnittee were accepted in modified
form after agreement by Secretary
Mellon and other high Administra
ton officials as to their terms. The
amendments substantially in the form
offered provide for a commissi in
stead of single official, prevent any
cancellation of debts or any exchange
of securities and provide limited time
for action and full publicity OF pro-
ceedings. The bill as amended passed
the House without change and Presl-
dent Harding now asks its passage by
the Senate without substantial change.
No higher endorsement of the amend
ments could be had and the fact that
they were first opposed by the Score
tary and provoked lively contests In
committee indicates that all legislat-
i've knowledge does not exist IN De-
partments, nor does all legislative
procedure come from public debates.
The soldiers compensation bill may
he financed by foreign debts owing to
this country if present plans are car
RED out. Estimated expenditures Tor
the fourfold plan reach less than 81
oe0,000,000 while foreign debts
amount to Sl1,000,000, Most OF
these debts ought to be paid IN 1uii
although portion have little value.
1t is proposed that this government
guarantee a sufficient amount OF the
British debt and the bonds could then
be sold with a good market at the out
SET. Protests vigorously and repeat
edlv against any consumption tax
have been made and while strong
Eastern interests are urging this tax
7 believe its passage will be prevent
ga unless tackled onto a bonus bill.
The soldiers bill will probably contain
a fourold proposal as in the former
House bill including vocational train
ing, insurance or limited cash pay
nlent by installments of that is pre-
ferred.
After three years of controversy
IN the primaries and elections, in
various courts including the United
States Supreme Court, supplemented
bv a Senatorial investigation lasting
several months, the Senate voted to
seat Senator Newberry after a series
of roll calls by vote of 4f in favor
and Ill against. The Senate has TWEEN
tv-four Republican majority but nine
Republicans Joined the solid Demo
cratic minority in opposition to New
berry. The result was in doubt until
the final vote. As previously stated
expenditures for Newberry in the
Michigan Senatorial primary reached
about 100000 but he declared he was
in the Naval service during the cam
paien stationed at New York and not
responsible for such expenditures.
a letter received from Missouri
college last week said among other
things "The material in your PhillI-
pine speech December 16, 1920 help
ed in winning the unanimous decision
in favor of immediate Independence of
the Philippine Islands in the debate
with the Kansas School of Law last
week" 1t is matter of history that
Presidents Mckinley, Taft, Roose-
Welt and Wilson all urged the utmost
freedom of government for the Phllli-
pines and Roosevelt in 1916 advised
their release at the earliest possible
moment" Congress in the Jones bill
passed in 1916, promised their indie
pendence as soon as stable govern
inent could be maintained. The meat
in the cocoanut seems to be in a re-
mark bade by Charles Edward Russell
the noted writer who said five reasons
now prevent independence, sugar
trust, tobacco trust. copra Cocoa
mutt trust, hemp trust and harvester
trust. all of which have large inter-
ests in the islands and do not pay any
tariff duties under existing law.
A recent Supreme CorTt DECISION
holds that a combination of hardwood
manufacturers exists III rcstraint OF
trade. Where nearly every product
is being subjected 70 agreements in
prices and the unorganized public that
furnishes the mass of consumers paw
the price, it is a matter Of concern
what the outcome will be when or
CARNATIONS control prices of bread
and bakery products. bric'- button
etc. and clothing. coal coke cotton
goods and everything else necessary
to existence. 1T is not matter for
Legislative or iudirial determination
alone brit preventing Of nowerf"'
drift in HUMAN natnre that denlande
the right to throttle competition in