The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-04-22
WASHINGTON.
Legislative and Cen
eral Topics from
the Capital.

April 10, 1910.
An episode of the week of no very
great importance, but withal having some
significance, was the address of the Presi-
dent to the leaders OF the National
Woman's Suffrage Association in this
city. The President did not squarelv
take issue with the propaganda, but ex.
pressed some doubt as to the ultimate
results OF the enirancfisement Of the sex.
These doubts were perhaps justified from
his long study and observation of male
suffrage and from his knowledge that the
man best qualified TO vote most frequently
had his vote cancelled by the worst quail
tied voter He knows. as does every
statesman. that suffrage is at best a make
shit and that until combined psvcho.
meter and phrenometer shall be invented
which will accurately take stock of the
mind and morals of the voter and a law
be passed that will enable every mans
vote to weigh according to his stock Of
sense and soul, popular suffrage cannot
be more than a blund ring, clumsy in
strument for the attainment of wisdom
and purity in government. 1t is the mis-
take OF few hundred or perhaps a few
thousand good women TO imagine that
they have III suffrage panacea for the
cure OF bad government They have not
thought enough or gone deep enough his
torlcally or phllosophically into the sub
iect. Well, Mr. Taft tried to tell them
something of this kind, although he would
Lot have dared to have spoken out as
plainly as your humble correspondent.
aud htc trANtla nA,rn 4 80.
Kisses and cat calls, almost under the
caves OF the White House, from the ladies'
in the audience, who showed that they
were no more polite than men and even
less reverential. Whatever may be said
against the President, he is a man and
gentleman. If these ladies had called on
DIR. Samuel Johnson, they would doubt
less have been received with the Fiddle
de de, my dears' in which he replied to
a deputation of ladies who congratulated
him on the publication of Rasselas. To-
day it is said the responsible members of
the National Woman's Suffrage League
are trying TO throw the responsibility for
the impollteneSS upon unatt ttlched female
hoodlums in the audience.
The work for the establishment of
Washington memorial i'll the shape of a
great forum or hall TO be used by visiting
delegations and congresses from all parts
OF the United States and the world is pro-
ceeding successfully. The structure is to
be known as the George Washington
Memorial Building. Tentative plans for
the building, which will contain an i'm
mense auditorium seating not less than
five thousand people and a number of
smaller halls to be used by scientific and
literary and patriotic societies. have been
submitted. Ii is also proposed that future
inaugural balls shall be held in this
memorial building.
Indications point to the adoption by
Congress Of the two battIeship program.
Senator Hale, of Maine. a strenuous op
ponent big ships, it is thought will not
oppose them this year, and the sentiment
tor these colossal ships is strong in the
House of Representatives There was
much talk in the early part of the session
about an empty treasury and that it was
ncedtul to be economical There has
recently been little talk OF this kind. The
revenues OF the government are rapidly
increasing under the present tariff.
There was much talk in the early part
of the session about an extensive water
ways program. Senator Burton, of Ohio
than whom no one better understands
the island navigation situation, has filed
minority report on the Rivers and Har
bors Bill 1t will be remembered that
Senator Burton was for many years head
of the Rivers and Harbors Committee of
the lower House. He there acquired
more thorough knowledge at first hand
of the rivers and harbors schemes in the
United States than any other man. What
he knows about waterways in this country
and Europe he has gained by profound
investigation or at first hand. In short
he is an authority and probably better
entitled to be heard than any man in the
United States In his minority report he
denounces squarely what he calls "drib-
bling policy, in appropriations for harbor
and river purposes. He is opposed to
the system making lot of small piece
meal appropriations instead of those suffi-
GENTLY large for the completion OF the
work. But the most notable feature OF
his minority report relates to the conflict
between water and railroad transporta-
ton. For years it has been the policy Of
the railroads to reduce rates on certain
classes of freight for the purpose Of driv.
ing river steamboat navigation out Of
business. Mr. Burton desires to have the
Interstate Commerce Commission fix
minimum rates on railroads when neces
sary to protect water transportation.