Middletown transcript., 1911-02-18
WASHINGTON LETTER

WASHINGTON D. c., February 10, 1911.
WITH a scant three weeks of the Con
w gressioDal session remaining, not one
of the important measures before Con
gress when the session began has beer
disposed of. Reciprocity with Canads
marked new line of cleavage among the
Republicans and Democrats in Washing
ton. Early in the present week Sena
tors were hopeful that they might solve
the problem by letting the reciprocity
agreement severely alone, but later it was
brought sharply to their attention that
unless there shall be a vote on this reci.
procity agreement they will be called
back to Washington promptly after the
4th of March and compelled to remain
until there is an expression in the Senate
either for or against it. And now the
President is away from Washington max.
ing speeches mainly devoted to this reci.
proCity with Canada question and there is
strong impression that the country, ex-
cept in isolated spots, is in favor of the
agreement recently made between Us and
northern neighbor.
~
The fact that the English papers and
the leader of the opposition in the English
Parliament are opposed to the reciprocity
agreement between Canada and the United
States will doubtless have some influence
in favor of its approval by Congress in
this country. It will be many years, per-
haps centuries, before the United States
and British America become one country,
but the dividing line must sometime fade
just as the Mason aud Dixon line has fad.
ed. There are hundred reasons for the
commercial, social and political solidarity
Of North America. There is not one valid
reason in opposition. There is no posi-.
bility of the absorption of Canada by the
United States or the absorption of the
United States by Canada. Absorption is
not to be thought of, but commerce be-
tween the two countries ought t, be as
free and unrestricted as between Ohio and
Indiana.
~
There is no opposing vote in the Senate
to Senator Cullom's project authorizing a
Lincoln Memorial worthy of the great
President aud in keeping with high ideals
of architectural grandeur. The form OF
the memorial has not been decided upon.
It is left to the Judgment and taste of
commission who it is hoped will make q
wide and appropriate selection. There
have been suggestions of a boulevard i
connecting Washington and Gettysburg,
also project for a triumphal arch like
the Arch of Triumph in Paris or its pro-
toty pc in Rome. There is slao a project
to have the memorial occupy the center
OF the great plaza stretching from the Cap.
itol to the Union Station. The appropri.
alton for this monument is two millions,
but it is possible that this sum will be add
ed to before the memorial is completed.
*x#
The appropriation by the lower house
Of Congress for diplomatic residences in a
number of European and also in some
Asiatic capitals is new but needed
departure in our foreign diplomatic policy.
The amount for the building OF or pur-
chase Of consular ambassadorial or min.
isterial residences is not to exceed $780,
900, but this amount will go much farther
in building OF suitable residences for our
representatives in foreign countries than |
it would i'll any American city. Now /
having appropriately prepared for the |
'dging of our diplomatic representatives,
perhaps Congress can be persuaded to |
in an unirenzied way a proper |
uniform for our ministers, consuls and am
OassadOrs, something different from the /
svening dress worn by buffers and walters /
Ill over the world. Careful analysts know
dat there is just as much vanity and af-
ection aud ostenation in Quskerlike plain
ness as there is in gorgeous attire, and
Iince an overwhelming majority of the
world at home and abroad get their first
IMPRESSIONS from clothes, it is not i'm
proper that We give them through our
'ur foreign representatives a correct i'm.
preston OF the wealth and strength of the
United States. Our affected plainness is
lot less ostentatious than it is deceiving.
~
Fifty years ago the writer OF book
allied Beyond the Mississippi" expess.
d the popular feeling in behalf of the
xpress, companies when be told how the
Wells Fargo Express Co. carried two mil
on letters within q single year at the
ost OF 123c letter, which he said clearly
illustrates the superiority of private en-
srprise, and" he argued, "abolish the
ostof1ce department, leave this. like
ther carrying trade, to private compe-
ltion, and the mail service of the United
tates will be performed 80 per cent
heaper and 100 percent. better thanit is
oday." This is very much like the anti
arceis post argument We are having now.
8 I