Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-12-12
Or iuronI vnfrr ,'robl,u.-.

0nr iufonI NHfrr I'roiI.iaS.
The movement for the construction
of permanent IHe.s along The lower
Nts-ssi.l river for flood protection,
is responsible for }riH-ior 1000 d..-
ea.s % ME national en- ttal TO attend
tie rn.r. and 1fb.r a.lsea,.ou.
The movement also Includes a pro,
po.@ for avn inland ve.cr way ~Ya.
ua Atlantic coast. There is All en-
thlsia-tic demand that Urela Sam
loosen UP Lis purse STRINGS and src'd
more money on this project than hero.
tofote.
The policy Of the government in past
years has suffered somewhat through
indircction in the expenditure of large
sums, which were formerly secured
throueh manipulation Of consras 7mon
in the passage of appropriation bills
However, the policy has been stiffened,
so that matters do not res entirely in
the discretion of Congress, and the
representative men of the lower Mis-
sissippi, who have been eXerting their
influence in Washington by emphasiz-
ing the importance of more vigorous
action on the part of Congress and the
war department, believe they have
made Roadway, and they hope to Sc
cure their levees and thus prevent re-
currence of the destruction visited up
on them in the years past.
Government Ownership of Railroads.
| Not many years ago government
ownership of railroads was looked up
on as rank socialism in this country
and yet the president Of the United
States recommends the building Of
such a road in Alaska. That the plan
does not appeal merely to the men,
bers of the presidents own party is in
dicated by the fact that Senator Ken
yon OF Iowa has been taking an i'm
portant lead in furthering this legis-
lation, and has been outspoken in its
behalf Members Of Congress declare
that for the government to own and
control railroads in Alaska is not an
Utopian idea and they declare that it
is going to be one of the duties of the
present Congress to provide for such
means of opening that great country.
Western Members Swing Hetch Hetchy.
| In the consideration of the Hetch
Hetchy proposition. the question of
conservation or the ''despoiling" of
beautiful scenic effect fell into the
background in the final debate, which
was taken in charge largely by West
ern members. The California men,
bers were not agreed as to the meas
ure. Senators Myers and Walsh Of
Montana, Thomas of Colorado, Jones
and Poindexter of Washington, Shep-
pard of Texas and Smoot of Utah had
a great deal to say regarding what
Congress should do in reference to
this matter, and were largely respon-
sible for the passage of the bill late
last week.
The Forests of Minnesota.
While it may be theg eneral SUPPOSE
ton that the timber has all been re-
moved from the Middle Western Sec
ton of the country, yet this idea is dis
sipated by statement from the forest
service to the effect that the largest
remaining virgin forest of white pine
4, Found II, Minnesota iS furt n or,
stated that Minnesota remains rich in
its timber wealth, as there are still
great forests of Norway, jack pine,
spruce, tamarack and balsam fir. For
a great many years the government
has been busily supervising lumber op-
erations on Indian reservations in
Northern Minnesota and the remain
ing forests are largely Indian timber.
Personality in Public Life.
If Rip Van Wrinkle should come to
Washington and acquaint himself with
political conditions of the present day
he would doubtless be struck by the
absence of personal feeling between
political combatants as compared with
! other days. When Senator LaFollette
came to Washington with his Wiscon-
sin ideas, he was treated as an outcast
by the members of the great body to
which he had been elected. In the
house of representatives, Representa-
tive Norris of Nebraska and other Gin
surgents" were getting the same kind
of dose.
How different it is today when men
like Senator Hitchcock, who is entire
rency question, is treated Just as
though nothing had happened" by his
Follow. Don, ncratS u,haraac lnSS tha n