Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-03-07

wanted TO find out AL about IL" and
10 come back 10 tell the lawmakers
what they should do TO help Europe.
Congress in all probability viii have
long vacation from March +, and
now IL is said that at least six con-
greSsional parties will start out 20 see
the world. but this time the members
viii cOnfine themselves 20 this side Of
the Atlantic and 10 a few places in the
Pacific. or course IL Is wicked 10 call
/ these expeditions "junkets." but there
are some fearless ones who are will
/ ing 10 say that a Wv Of these inves-
tigating and sightseeing parties are
promoted and carried through as much
for amusement as for constructive
business purposes.
Little criticism is heard Of one OF
the proposed journeys afield, or rather
asea. for the intent on Of certain MEM
bers in congress Interested in naval
affairs and OF officials Of the Navy de-
partment is 20 take a ship bound for
southern waters and 10 witness the
maneuvers of the .-tlantic and Pacific
I fleets in the Caribbean yea.
II is the intention Of another con-
greSSional investigating party 10 20 70
Hawaii. there 20 look over the great
naval base at Pearl harbOr and 60
/ learn Of the progress on the great army
Notifications which are intended TO
protect the entrance 10 the harbOr
from the sea. II is expected that this
party will drop back" from Hawaii
20 California 10 look over what is
known as the Alameda project. The
understanding is that the Mare island
base may be superseded eventually by
new base at Alameda. II this
project ultimately is carried 10 con-
clusion the improved naval base in san
Francisco Bay VIII represent a cost OF
S1jOOOO.OOO, and the claim is made
that 1t will be worth the money.
Will Study Reforestation.
A committee Of the United States
senate. il is understood, viii travel
considerable distances in the western
and southern country 10 look into mat
tiers relating 10 ref0restatiOn- There
always has been a feeling in congress
that some Of the forestry problems
could be settled If refOrestatiOn were
practiced in those places which. after
the first forests have been removed,
cannot be used readily for agricul-
tural purposes or for any purpose more
valuable than tree raising. Something
good, il is claimed. may come out OF
this proposed trip Of the senators.
There was a time years ago when
congressional parties went forth with
/ the members Of their families in tow.
Government ships always were avail
/ able If there was enough Of a business
tlnge 10 the travelling proposition
seemingly 10 justify Uncle sam in Civ
I ing the members o. the parties quar-
I tiers on one Of his transports. II Is
/ only fair 20 say that on these trips
the members paid for board for them
/ selves and families while on the YES
sells. but Of course their transportation
was free. and as Uncle sam charges
very moderate boarding house rates
on his transports the trips didn't cost
much.
y
have disappeared fro-l these railroad
and ship voyages. There was much
criticism in the past Of things that
were done. and as a result the plans
/ for the trips are now hedged about
with precautionary pecuniary arrange
ments. and congressman can start out
without fearing such heavy br0adsides
I OF criticism as were hurled az them in
the past.
Tafps Famous Journey.
Perhaps the most famous journey OF
congressman and others ever taken
was that which was known as the Taft
Philippine trip in the year 1904 OF
I Whereabouts. There were n great many
members Of congress who thought IL
was only right-and perhaps il was
that the lawmakers should know at
| first hand what was happening in the
! Philippines. SO with their families and
with a considerable number of friends
they started for the Orient under the
I leadership Of William Howard Taft,
who then was secretary Of war.
This party not only went 10 the
I Philippines, but 10 Japan, China and
I COrea. A government transport was
provided. but everybody paid his board
bin. There were Republicans and
/ Democrats in the party in about equal
numbers, and inasmuch as there
! seemed 10 be a general feeling that
/ congress ought to know something
definite about the East at that time.
there was not much adverse comment
from the press or tie people Of the
country on the plan OF the voyage.
OF course the great trip OF the COM
ing summer viii be that OF President
Harding TO Alaska. Everybody seems
20 think that this journey is absolutely
essential II any attempt is 10 be made
| legislatively and Enthusiastically 10
bring Alaska up to the proper produc-
ing point.