The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-06

WASHINGTON. April 5.-While
the State Department is wondering
where It Ia to get the money to pay
duty on the shipment Of arms and
ammunition by this government to
ITS citizens In Mexico. the Zapatists
guerilla army In rapidly approaching
Mexico City. and the peril OF every
American there is becoming more
grave.
II is almost certain that the ad-
ministration's determination to Nceoe
to the Madero demand for duty on
the arms needed to protect American
citizens will not be acceded TO by
Congress. This will add further
complication to an affair that has
been attended with a long succession
OF delays from Its inception. The root
Of the trouble Ia the ia cess OF
the administration to proceed In
matter that belonged to Congress
without asking the advice OF Con-
gress or any OF its leading members.
No word came today OF the ex-
pected arrival of the shipment TO Vera
Cruz Apparently no preparations
have been made TO insure the delivery
OF the arms or to guard them In tran
ri. eFars are expressed In some
quarters that the shipment may be
seized or diverted and that the rifles
may never reach their destination.
Meanwhile the State Department.
IN whose name the arms were sent.
has discovered that without authors
ration OF Congress 1t can get no money
to pay the duty which tne admins
trauon seemed adjectiy willing TO do
: the instant the Madero government
demanded It,
The temper Of Congress In the
Mexican matter Is not submissive. 1t
does not believe In taxing Its ciu-
xens menaced in foreign country
FOR weapons with which to defend
their own lives and property. There
IL no fund from which to pay the
duty on the arms and ammunition.
and II can be paid only by special
appropriation creating one Had
Congress been consulted In the first
place. there IL reason to believe that
the present crisis would never have
been reached. The money could
have been provided with which to
purchase the arms, which would have
saved the necessity of taking them
from government arsenais. Further
more, 4 demand for duty on the part
of tho Mexican government would
have met with prompt refusal. and
. refusal by Congress would have
persuaded Madero to allow the ship
msnts to come In duty free.
Madero was forced to consent to
the aEming Of American and other
alien citizens in Mexico because he
was powerless to protect them him.
eolf. His demand for duty was an
gfterthouEht In explaining its will
tngness to yisl dto such an unheard-
OF request-the like OF which was
probably never before made by one
nation to another-the State Depart
mont says that the cost can
s. added to the price OF the guns,
and that this will be but "a few dol.
lars.s Guns now cost about 500 In
NAxico /. and cartridges n is. ~. cents
Apiece. Tho .'few dollars" premium
that Americans will be forced to pay
for the means OF guarding their lives
Will be grIevous burden.
Up to date Madero has sent no an
swer to the State Departments re-
uuest that he give safe conduct to
the shipment nor has he abated his
demand for duty.
1t u said that there 10 no law
which authorizes the whole transac-
ton. and that the proper thing to
FOR the President to advise Congress
that these arms were badly needed by
3 thousand or more American citi-
5ons In Mexico City. Conyress then
would have taken the initiative and
provided not only the arms and the
lax4s necessary. but what was af'
more importance. would have secured
their delivery into the hands OF the
American citisens ct Mexico City even
e It required military guard to
escort them.