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Show BIG FIGURES. ! The war credits bill, authorizing $11,-538,945,460 $11,-538,945,460 in bonds and certificates, passed the house witnout a dissenting voice. The Republicans were not able to amend the measure in any material way and Secretary McAdoo's power will not be curtailed. Moore of Pennsylvania Penn-sylvania attempted to insert a provision pro-vision for the appointment of a war expenditures committee, but it was thrown out on a point of order. Many of the house Republicans are opposed to what Representative Kahn of California Cali-fornia called a "snooping" committee, commit-tee, and it seems a waste of time to keep bringing it up. A significant feature of the debate was a declaration by Champ Clark, speaker of the house, that he would rather raise the tariff rates than issue so many bonds. The Missourian declared de-clared himself for a fifty-fifty proposition propo-sition on the . taxation and bond question. ques-tion. As to the tariff, it may be. said that while the issue will be dead during dur-ing the war, it will come to life again upon the return of peace, and it is probable many of the Democrats in addition ad-dition to Champ Clark will favor increased in-creased rates. But there is little interest in-terest in the old-time protection and free-trade dispute, and the speaker's reference to it was merely incidental, although consumption taxes are still a possibility, and the "poor man's breakfast break-fast table" may be loaded with more taxes. Wo will know all about this part of the programme when the war revenue measure now before the senate gets through congress. It will pass the senate Monday, but it will take some days for an agreement with the house. In addition to these two big financial measures, the general deficiency de-ficiency bill has been reported in tt 'house. Appropriations and authoriza- I tions of $4. S10, 000,000 are asked, and it is expected the bill will be passed . within the next two weeks. These fig- j ures would be appalling did we not I know that the war game is unlimited so far as the expenditure of money is concerned, and that the longest purse will be the chief factor in the winning of the victory. Congress takes this view of the matter, and is inclined to be extremely liberal in supplying the war and navy departments with the cash needed. There is some dispute as to how the money is to be raised, but that does not prevent the appropriation appro-priation bills from passing. About this time next year, if the war lasts, we shall begin to feel like tightening up, but it is doubtful if we will be able to do so. |