The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-06-03
WASHINGTON.
Legislative and Cen
eral Topics from
the Capital.
Iav rs 1910

May rs, 1910.
The lower House of Congress was this
week the scene of an ugly episode brought
about by an effort Of the Republicans
under the leadership of Mr. Tawney, to
secure a deficiency appropriation for
President Tafts travelling expenses.
Some Southern Democrats opposed the
appropriation, when Mr.. Tawney came
back at them with the taunt that they had
invited the President to their States,
accepted his hospitality, ridden on his
special train, eaten, drank and smoked,
and now grudged small appropriation.
Mr.. Tawney made some slurring remarks
about vaunted Southern hospitality" to
which number of Southern members
replied with great heat. That the episode
is deplored at the White House is shown
by a letter today from the President to
MIR. Tawney, which he has made public.
Inc President concludes his letter to Mr..
Iawney with the words: In all my expe-
rience-and | have enjoyed the hospitality
OF many sections and countries in the
world-1 never had a more cordial, gener-
GUS, open and lavish welcome than had
IN the Southern cities during my trip, and
the slightest hint that puts me in the atti-
tude of critic of that hospitality gives
me great pain"
The Governor of the State of Louisiana,
the mayor of New Orleans and number
of mayors of other Southern cities, accom-
panied by the legislature of Louisiana,
have been in Washington during the
week, urging the merits of New Orleans
as site for the International Exposition
in 1915. This delegation has received
much official and social attention in its
junket to Washington. They have been
welcomed both at the Capitol and the
White House and have had an excursion
to Mt. Vernon. They have been heard
by the House and Senate Committees on
Industrial Expositions. AT the conclu-
sion OF the hearing, the House chairman
said he had been informed that Washing
ton City also wished to be heard and
asked if there were any advocates of
Washington in the audience. There ap-
peared to be TO one present at that time
to speak for the Capitol of the United
States, but Senator Gallinger on the same
day introduced in the Senate resolution
authorizing the holding of the Exposition.
in the National Capitol. His resolution
was identical with that of Representative
NiOOlC Ill lliC IIOuSC. recommending
Washington as the proper locale for the
celebration of this national and inter.
national, long-looked-for event. There
will be no decision during the present
session of Congress, but it is probable
that the matter will be taken up early on
the assembling of Congress next Decem-
Der.
Your readers will doubtless remember
the desire expressed by the President of
the United States in number of his pub
lie addresses for such changes in criminal
law as will more directly bring offenders
to justice and more effectually secure
their punishment in the interest of repres-
sing crime. The average American citi-
zen does not fully realize the relative
status of his country in the criminal
annals of the world An eminent author
ity on the subject of crimlnology has
recently written that 'homicidal crime
has increased $50 per cent. in the United
States since 1850, thereby the ratio of con-
vlctlons is less than 10 per cent The
ratio of convictions in Germany is o5 per
cent. Bar Russia, homicidal crime in the
United States exceeds the total of that of
any ten civilized nations 1t is estimated
that $4,000 in the United States whom
the law does not touch, choose and pur.
sue careers. The national debt is $o64,-
ooo,ooo; the national cost of crime is
$I,373, ooo,ooo" 1t is common for us to
hear from the pulpit and from the plat
form that ignorance is the cause of crime.
1t is incontestable that the American
people pay more money for education
than any other two countries in the world.
Judged by this test, we are the most saw
age people in Christendom.
There was considerable interest shown
this week in the lower House of Congress
over provision in the Sundry Civil Bill,
appropriating for the support of soldiers
homes. Mr.. Keliher, Of Massachusetts,
Bartholt of Missouri, and Stafford, of
Wisconsin, tried very hard to have the
canteen restored at these soldiers homes.
Congress. however, refused to readmit
the canteen. Mr. Sims, of Tennessee,
made fervid speech against the canteen
in the homes and in the army, and was
cheered by members of the Sunday
School Convention in the House galleries.