The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1913-04-02
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
An Interesting Budget Of News from
.sae Seat Of Government.

Washington, D. G. March-(SpeciaD
Fifty millions ayear for Waterways, ,
the slogan Of the National Rivers and
Harbors Congress, will be realized fer
this year at least. Besides contract
authorizations of 6,795,SC0 the River
aud Harbor bill of 1913 made cash ap-
preparations amounting to 81 ,073, ,094;
the Sundry Civil bill for the fiscal year
ending June 60, 1911, which failed of
passage during the closing hours of
the 62nd Congress, but which will be
passed early in the extra session Of the
3d., will carry S1o,045,795 making
upwards of fifty-Jwo millions of dollars
available for rivers aud harbors--a tidy
sum to- be expended in the interest of
commerce.
In general review of the river and
harbor bill, the National Riyers and
Harbors Congress says:
''But this is the time, not for the
relaxation, but rather for the redoubl-
ing Of effort. Much has been accom-
plished but much remains to be done.
The waterway cause has enemies as
we'll as frieuds and our very successes
are bringing increased opposition, both
open and secret. The Congress of the
United States is responsive to public
opinion, and the work of the National
Rivers and Harbors Congress, which
is that Of creating an intelligent and
forceful public opinion regarding the
benefits Of improved waterways, must
be continued until great national
system of improved waterways has
become an accomplished fact"
While the new Democratic Admins
traticn proposes to be economical, it is
: well understood that economy is not
to be practiced at the expense of great
public interests. The Panama Canal
is to be completed and maintained
with proper garrison Of troops; river
and harbor works are to continue un-
der the present advantageous program i;
an adequate Navy will be provided and
efforts will be made to establish a
military policy which will improve
the present mobile Army of infantry
and field artillery. Owing to the de-
pletion of the infantry to garrison
Hawaii and the Canal Zone there is a
demand for all increase of that arm Of
the National defense.
The presen: day fashion in facial
adornment for men is reflected in the
Cabinet of President Wilson in a most
impressive manner. All are smooth
shaven with the exceptions of Attorney
General McReynolds and Secretary of
Commerce Redfeld. The former has
perfectly good black moustache,
while Mr.. Redfeld displays hirsute
adcrrmcnt not unlike the youth Of
Piccadilly sporteG in the days of Will
liam Makepeace Thackeray. When
the members group themselves about
the cabinet table the Secretary of
Commerce looms up, to use jaded
figure, like Mars at Perihelion.
Thirty-two States have ratified the
direct-election- of Senators Amend
ment to the Constitution, only four
more States being needed to make it
a part of the historic document.
Supporters of the amendment are
hopeful that it will be ratified this
spring, in which event it would put a
stop to the fruitlass balloting now
going on for two Senators in Illinois.
Should it's ratification come early, the
people of Illinois would be called upon
Immediately to express their choice at
the polls in order that the State may
have it's proper representation in the
upper branch of the national legisla-
ture.