The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-04-24
Washington Whisperings.

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busy the past week smashing all kinds
of precedents, until the seasoned legis-
lator, who never had SO many thrills be-
fore, is sitting up and wondering what
next is going to happen in conservative
Washington. That President Wilson has
no particular regard for tradition was
exemplifed when he read his mes
sage on the tariff to the joint as
sembly of the House and Senate and won
a new position in the esteem of the
American people.
Many of the members of the 63rd Con-
gress looked upon the innovation with
mingled feelings of doubt and criticism,
but whereas they went to the Capitol to
scott and possibly to jeer they returned
with nothing but praise and commenda-
ton for the dignity of the occasion and
the high minded way in which the new
departure was staged. Not satisfied
with shocking the cave jewellers on Tues
day, on Wednesday the President broke
another precedent by going to the Sem
ate wing of the capitol and occupying
the Presidents room for a heart-to-heart
talk with the majority members of the
upper branch with view to harmonizing
existing differences on the tariff to the
end that the bill may be put on the
statute books as quickly as possible.
And the visit was so productive that Mr..
Wilson says he is going again very soon
and he will also read other messages to
Congress when he regards them of ex-
ceptional interest. We sure are pro-
crossing.
What method is to be pursued to pre-
vent floods in the middle West such as
have devastated that territory and are
now threatening vast areas in the lower
Mississippi, is one of the serious ques-
tions that faces President Wilson. He
considers it one of the greatest problems
confronting the administration and it
would not be surprising if he should
order his Secretary of War to direct the
engineers of the department to prepare
detailed report on the question for the
regular session of Congress which meets
in December next.
The biggest problem outside of some
comprehensive plan of flood prevention,
will be to finance the undertaking. Presi-
dent Wilson has been told by the Con-
gressional leaders that the necessity for
strict economy in government was never
so great as now.
Mr.. Fitzgerald, the chairman of the
appropriations committee, told the Pres-
dent early in the week that if only few
of the bills already introduced in the
House affecting the flood situation were
enacted into law they would exhaust not
alone every dollar in the national treas
ury but also all revenues that are in
sight.
One plan which has been brought to
the attention of the President, and which
will receive serious consideration, is to
have general scheme of improvement
planned which would absolutely take
care of all future floods in the MISSISSIPPI
pi, Missouri, Ohio and their tributaries,
and then to finance it with general is-
sue of what would be known as ''lood
bonds"
Part of the financing of the improve
ment under this plan would be met by
the States benefited, and the remainder
by the Government. In connection with
this plan is to be considered the advisa-
bility of bringing to this work Col. Geo.
E. Goethals and his entire Panama Canal
construction force. This organization,
the greatest of it's kind that the world
ever saw, is to be idle very soon. 1t has
been suggested that it be sent to A laska |
to develop the resources of that country,
where mighty obstacles are to be en-
countered.
But the flood situation may change
that plan. The Lower Mississippi I'M
Association has been working
to have the canal workers sent to care
for the Mississippi, and it is possible
that the force will be utilized to place
the rivers of the Middle West in such
that further disastrous floods
will be impossible.
Preparations are being rapidly con-
Guided for what gives promise of being
the greatest reunion of Civil War Veter-
ans ever held in this country, and which
is to be held on the historic field of Get
tysburg, June 29th to July 9Th, inclusive.
Accommodations will be provided for 49,
900 persons. 1t is announced that tent
capable of holding from 10000 to Is, 900
persons will be erected on the battle field
and that therein will take place the ex-
ercises to be held eliminating in great
peace jubilee on July 4th, when the chief
orator of the occasion will be President !
w oodrow Wilson, Chief Justice White to
preside over the exercises.
The camp will cover 280 acres and will
be maintained only for veterans of the
Civil War. The cost of the anniversary