The Washington herald., 1910-02-27
Br RupoLPH DIE zAPP.


difference. however, in the means adopt
ed by the various countries thus afflicted
TO bring about an Improvement and a re-
duction of prices.
The people of the United States have
been thoroughly aroused in the matter
and are adopting various measures which
in their opinion Will result in betterment.
While a large part believe that relief
may be brought about by abstaining
from the use OF meat and other high
priced food articles, others are of the
opinion that Congress should suspend all
duties Of food necessities imported into
the United states from foreign countries.
| Congress has been petitioned to look
into the matter and a commission has
been appointed to investigate While all
this is going on the people continue TO
pay high prices and suffer and the COM
bines continue to grow rich and wax fat
Other countries seem to be more success
full than the United States in handling
the difficulty.
Mexico has taken the bull by the horns
and forced lower prices. AS a result of
crop failures foods, commercial combi-
/
also suffered from steady advance in
food prices. until finally the people pro-
tested. The national Congress listened to
the people and needed its demands, re-
sulting in immediate relief.
The Mexican Congress passed law au-
thorizing President Diaz not only 10 ex-
empt beans and other necessities of life
/ from payment of duty, but also to pur-
chase corn, beans, and the like and to
offer them for sale to the people at not
above the cost price, and, If he considers
1t necessary, even at prices below cost.
This action of the Federal government
brought about the desired result and
was Immediately followed by the state
government OF Chihuahua, of which En-
rique c. Creel former Ambassador to this
country, is governor, and which has en-
tered the market TO save the people from
prices which they could not pay. Corn
and other food material was bought by
the government and sold to the people az
cost. relieving the situation at once. The
action of the Federal government was
followed by the various states of Mexico
and former reasonable food prices is the
result and the people are contented.
These, however. are not the only testi-
monials of the up to dateness OF Mexico
and her wish to become worthy sister
republic and ally of the United States
This year marks the centennial of the in
dependence of Mexico, and preparations
30 fittiRgly observe the event are being
made in every state and hamlet of the
republic. II seems that the Inauguration
of public Improvements of various classes
viii be the form taken to celebrate this
anniversary throughout Mexico. The i'm
provements proposed by the Mexican
Federal government and now in course
of construction are Of permanent char
acter. In introducing the measure in the
Mexican Congress, Finance Minister Ii
mantour said; "All these works will not
only contribute by their Inauguration to
lend solemnity and eclat TO the centen-
NAL, but will constitute a manifestation
OF high culture and solid progress. the
best homage which the present genera
ton can offer TO the fathers OF our ma
tiOnal independence"
Among the permanent centennial i'm
prOvements are: Completion OF munich
pal palace, monument to Jua-ez in Ala
media, general insane asylum, enlarge
ment and Improvement Of the Prepara-
tory School, completion of Normal Insti-
i tute for Women. improvements in Ma
tional Museum. completion of annex of
Department of FOmento in Gale de Bet
ilemitas, establishment Of peoples park
in Balbuena and further improvements
in Chapultepec Park. completion OF new
building of department. of foreign rela-
tons, commemorative album of the Di-
reccion General de Obras Publicas, ex-
position Of national flora and fauna,
| archaeological work at San Juan Teoti-
huacan, furniture for educational estab-
lishments, completion OF central seIsmo-
graphical station. and others too numer-
Gus 10 mention. Every state in the re-
public is following the example of the
federal government and is making per
manent public improvements. There will
also be fireworks, speechmaking. music,
and banquets, and other features of this
kind but they will not constitute the
main part of the programme, as they do
at similar celebrations in the United
States.
| The Mexican Congress has also decided
10 establish agricultural boards in every
state and territory Of the republic for the
development of its agricultural resources.
Mining has always been the traditional
/ industry of the country. Agriculture has
always been overlooked as a great factor
| in producing wealth for the republic on
account Of the rapidly with which for
tunes have been made. It is now the in
tention of the Mexican government to
make that country in the future an ex-
porting instead of an importing nation.
Mexico is rapidly forging to the front
in many ways. Among other things. 1t
is a recognized fact that Mexico City is
one of the best policed cities in the world.
Statistics show that the percentage of
negligible. for the men in charge OF the
local force of gendarmes seem to under
stand to a nicely the characteristics OF
the Mexican criminal classes. The gen.
darme is ever-present in Mexico City.
He is an inevitable part of the landscape.
as inseparable from IL as the big hats,
sandals, and carved church doors. At
night look down any street viii show
twinSiing lanterns stretching away in the
distance one on every street intersection.
Each lantern implies the presence of a
gendarme, who every fifteen minutes rem
ders the night hideous with his mournful
and uncanny whistle. Were it not for the
efficient police service the expert rateros
for which Mexico City also has been
noted would render life burden to resi-
dents and tourists; but it is rare indeed
that the alert police force does not ap-
prehend the thief and bring about the