River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1922-01-26
Our Weekly Letter
From Washington
FROM JAS. A. FREAR. M. c.

The world moves in legislative
way when the House after several
years constant disclosures of waste
full and extravagant expenditures fin
ally adopted budget system and re-
moved the power of money appropria-
tions from a dozen distinct commit
tees to one central appropriating COM
mittee with which responsibility is
now fixed. The change by centrali-
cation and elimination of overlapping
committee powers and expenditures
makes saving of many millions OF
dollars in government expenditures
every year. In the work OF construc-
tive legislation the writer took active
part when his proposed budget plan
was first considered joke by many
committees that finally yielded their
prerogatives through foece of public
opinion. Last week the Senate pro-
posed to amend it's rules in like man
ner so as to fix responsibility in one
central appropriating committee. For
many years it has been customary to
carry questionable appropriations
over to the Senate and add them to
the bill passed by the House from
which the same items previously had
been stricken. If the Senate adopts
the budget system now in force in the
House this bad practice will be stop
ped for the same reason such expendl-
lures have been greatly reduced in
House bills. When it is remembered
that budget legislative reform in
expenditures has all been brought
about during the past eight years due
to constant fire on the old indefensi-
bic system of appropriation, it shows
that all things are possible. if right
in principle. The new budget bill is
effective but needs further improve
ment.
A meeting of agriculturists, farm
ers and others interested in the most
important industry known to man is
the unique spectacle to be witnessed
this week at the White House. Be-
tween two and three hundred repres-
entatives will attend, representing the
farming interests of the country.
President Harding has expressed a
desire to meet face to face those who
have definite proposals to offer and
he will confer on remedies with rea-
sonable assurance that any practic-
able and specific legislation that will
help general conditions will be passed
by Congress. Criticisms against the
agricultural bloc so-called in Con-
gress continues to come in from large
New York and other Eastern papers
but those familiar with "blocs" past
and present are not disturbed over
complaints from legislative blocs that
have been here in evidence for many
years. Whatever helps the farmer
generally speaking helps the country
and a stablizing of farm products
and farm prices is imperative in view
of the average annual farm income of
less than $500, as disclosed by the
Anderson committee.
Men of large wealth have boosted
before our committee that they are in
vesting in tax exempt securities in or
der to escape high surtaxes. A reso-
luton for constitutional amendment
to make the income on all securities
State and National, hereafter issued
subject to taxation, was before the
House last week and Secretary Mel
lon, DR.. Seligman, the ablest tax ex-
pert in the country and ex-Secretary
Leffingwell recognized authority on
finance all appeared in support of the
resolution. A witness before the COM
mittee last week in executive session
was asked to state frankly the exact
European financial and industrial
situation. In nut shell he said
Germany, Russia and Austria were
hopelessly bankrupt with money
printing presses going full blast and
no possibility of redemption. France
is also in bad way; its debt is rapidly
accommodating and prices are over
three times pre-war figures. England
and this country are in the best shape
of all but our foreign trade cannot
return until European nations are
placed on safe financial footing. | am
giving his judgment as stated to us.
Sherman's remark about war still
holds good.
Comparative wealth is not always
measured by dollars. Recently a gor-
geously dressed woman at an evening
function was pointed out literally
decorated with diamonds. A tiara
including the celebrated Hope diam
ond alone worth a fortune with arm