Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1914-01-30

The Problems of Mexico.

related that Napoleon had an army Of
10000 mel; he marched them to the
top of the hill; but who marched them
back again. Naturally, 1T was Mr..
DOJley.' And just about in the same
Illogical manner the armies of the
United States have been moved to the
Mexican border, only TO be marched
back again" 1t has happened many,
many times since that eventful day
more than two years ago when Presi-
dent Taft made it clear that he was
getting ready to do something Army
posts have been deserted, and the sol
diers after a few weeks on the border
have been marched back again, and
then some more, These events speak
for the patience of the American peo-
pie.
In Congress discussion of Mexico is
almost tabooed, and even the critics of
the administered ion policy bride their
utterances. But now legislation af-
fecting the Mexican situation is c0ntin-
ually coming up. A short time ago
Senator Ashurst proposed a barb wire
fence along the Mexican border. One
has but to recall San Juan Hill to find
the reason. Now Senator Sheppard
has a bill for government highway
along the Rio Grande, and OF course
the object is to facilitate the movement
of troops. Still another measure be-
fore Congress provided for means to
increase the army to war basis. I'm
Gle Sam is gradually pulling at his
boot straps, but looks troubled, and
those at Washington who can best OBJ
serve how he chews at the straw be-
tween his teeth, know that he is hop
ing that he will escape the unpleasant
task OF intervening in Mexico.
simplifying Poato.ilce Burslaries.
When the postmaster's safe is robbed
and the mail is scattered helter-skelter
about the premises, the first thing to
be done is to notify the department.
which dispatches an inspector to the
scene and in the course of time the rob-
Der is likely caught. Sometimes this
process takes number of years. In
the meantime the postmaster and his
bondsmen are debited at Washington
for the few hundred or thousands of
dollars, that may have been stolen.
Heretofore it has taken special act
of Congress to remove the burden of re-
sponsibility for the loss from the post
master and his sureties. Finally it has
come to pass in this year of 1914 that
the senate of the United States has pro-
vided means by which the postofIice
department may reimburse the post
masters, and should the house concur
the period of worry as to what will be
done about it at Washington" will be
abbreviated.
Unanimous Consent Agreements.
Last fall the senate, in order to get
rid of the persistent issues of the San
Francisco water supply bill. known as
the "Hetch Hetchy" measure, and the
"Seamans Bill" gave unanimous con-
sent that they should be taken up at
specified time around the first of De-
cember. 1t was supposed that the cur
rency bill would be out of the way by
that time. AS it turned out the latter
bill was under full Roadway when the
two bills were reached; nevertheless
the unanimous consent agreements"
had to be carried out, and all else was
pushed on the siding for a time. The
worst of it all was that these "unani-
nous consent agreements" were Sc
cured when only a few tired senator's
were in their seats and it has been
stated that they did not realize what
was being put over on them. How
ever, this is not going to occur again,
since our august House of Lords" has
just passed an amendment to its rules
providing that hereafter no "unani-
nous consent" agreement can be had
unless there is a quorum present in
the senate at the time
The Literary Test For Immigrants.
One of the last acts of President
Taft was to veto the literary test pro-
vided for immigrants entering our
ports. Now the Democrats of the
house rules committee have passed fav-
orably upon the Burnett immigration
bill which provides a test of this kind
for foreigners coming TO America.
How 10 Grow Thin.
Since leaving the White House on
March former President Taft has re-
duced 50 pounds in weight. his recipe
being diet and exercise. Former Presi-
dent Roosevelt has been fighting for
years against TOO much fat and he fire.
uuently goes ont and chops down few
trees or builds several hay stacks when
he is at home in Oyster Bay. The
German Kaiser is also too fat, not
withstanding the fact that he has been
on the water wagon for several months.