The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1914-05-01
At NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Paragraphs on Important Gov
eTnment Affairs.
HOW CONGRESS APPROVED
Mexico. Congressional Salaries.
NO Adjournment Yet.
The Tribune Bureau.
BY J. r. JONES

AUG AIIUouc 0uIS0us
BY J. =. JONES
Washington, d. C.-Whlle coun.
try was impatlently waiting for the
senate OF the United States to pass a
resolution upholding the action of
the president In using armed force 10
Mexico, that great body was deliber-
ately choosing a pathway to he
travelled which would leave the record
Of congress absolutely plain. The
president had admonished congress
that IL must under no circumstances
commit the American government to
"war" upon Mexico. The action Of
the United States was to be directed.
according TO the president, against
the Huerta pronounced Wherta)
faction, which Washington has re-
fused TO recognize as government.
The president told congress 10 his
speech: II come to ask your approval"
And before that approval was OBJ.
tained Vera Cruz was in the hands of
the American navy. The admins.
tration forces stood 6rm for the
, resolution that came from the COM
mittee, and which, 1t was charged,
twas written on a White House
typewriter" This resolution "justi-
fled" the president, because of the
refusal OF HMerta to salute the Stars
and Stripes, and for two or three
minor instances OF official insult by
Huerta. On this platform the
democrats stood pat. The republi-
cans 10 their resolutions-t princl-
pal one Of which was that introduced
by Senator Lodge, recited the general
ly chaotic conditions of Mexico. and
held that these conditions should
form the basis of our action against
H1erta. Many asserted that the
Instances cited by the president did
not furnish good reason for the use
Of armed force. and several senators
took the ground that the apology In
the form offered by General Huerta,
was all that the United States should
demand. There was 90 thought, or
charge. 10 that chamber, that the
senators were quibbling, and when
the minority resolutions were all de.
feated. the republicans had made
their poiot plain that 1t was only the
method Of approval for which they
fought, aud the senate at 1926 In the
morning sustsined the president
absolutely-only thirteen members
voting against the resolution offered
'bysthe administration.
Ninety-seven congressman voted to
reduce their own salaries from 81. 500
to $4,000 few days ago-but there
were 205 10 opposition, and had there
been any real danger Of this PROPOSE
tion going through, about ninety of
the ninety.seven would have found a
speedy method of changing their
votes. The representatives as a rule
are very much impressed with their
own greatness, and their confidential
opinion is that they are "working"
altogether too cheap. A few years
ago legislators throughout the coun.
try started Ia to advocate cutting on t
railroad passes, direct primaries,
restricted campaign contributions,
and lot of other things they never
wanted. But the public took up the
suggestions, and SO thoroughly ap-
proved, that the public servants had
to carry tie propositions through 10
order to save their Jobs. But the
lesson does not seem to have sunk
home, and the congressman who are
still trying to jolly the voters with
the notion that they are genuine re-
formers, will wake up some day to
the fact that the country thoroughly
approves the idea OF cut in their
salaries then they are going to
be very very sorry. Some of the
members will get SO mad that they
will conclude "they can't afford It,"
and will 20 back home aud practice
law, and II they are lucky many of
them Will get about half Of that six
y