Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1914-08-21
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
Events Of Interest from the Seat
Of Government.
BY J. E. JONES.
BY J. E. JONES,

ferent European countries ought to
refresh their memories regarding
their own war of "watchful waiting
time" Very recently the United
States was ablaze with enthusiasm
for war and the government held it
off with difficulty. On a former &C.
casion President Mckinley stood as a
check to this same war spirit and on
ly let loose the guns of battle when
our justification to take up arms
against the enemy had been fully es-
tablished. Americans who are won
dering whether Europe has gone
crazy should recall their own excit-
ed mental condition when the ques-
ton of war or peace confronted the
United States.
Our Army and Navy.
Contracts have been assigned for
three new dreadnaughts for the
United States navy. These new in
struments of warfare will be Al feet
longer and of $500 tons greater dis
placement than any now in the Unit
ed States service. 1t may be that be-
fore Europe gets through the ques-
ton of what country has the greatest
navy will be settled, as our chances
for first place are very good. About
the same time that the contracts were
let for the new dreadnaughts, Major
General Leonard Wood submitted his
annual report to the secretary of war.
1t shows that the actual strength of
the army is 4,S06 officers and $4,000
enlisted men scattered over the
world. The general declares that to
maintain this force in the United
States for even small expedition in
police work of the department it is
,vitally important that the regular ar
my be substantially increased.
The Reclamation Fund.
A fund of about sSO.00O,00O has
been accumulated through the sale
of public lands which under the old
law is in the hands of the interior de-
partment for expenditure in recla-
nation projects without congression-
al limitations. Congress recently be-
came somewhat jealous Of this meth
cd of expenditure and the house pro-
vided that all expenditures in future
should be limited to appropriations
made from the reclamation funds by
congress. Representatives from pub
lie lands states have vigorously OPP
posed such change, but the power
full Democratic leader Underwood
with his Southern Democrats, are
having their own way.
Naval Lines % South America.
The probabilities are that the
United States will carry out the plan
suggested by the secretary of the
navy and establish naval lines to car
ry mails. passengers, and freight to
South America. Several weeks ago
Senator Weeks introduced q bill to
this effect and it has recently passed
the senate.
Western Roads After More Coin.
Increases in freight rates on all the
railways west of the Mississippi river
are being prepared for submission to
the interstate commerce commission.
Managers of the Western lines, &C.
cording to the best information in
official circles, are prepared to con-
tend that they need more revenue to
meet the increasing expenses Of oper-
alton and to point out that their
lines are in even greater need of re-
lief than the Eastern lines because
of necessarily longer hauls and less
density Of population.
The Republican Chairman.
AS the fall elections grow nearer,
it is evident that there is to be
spirited contest in every part of the
United States where there is
lighting chance" to turn the for
tunes of battle one way or the other.
Naturally the South is undisputed
Democratic territory, and although
the Democrats have big majority in
congress at the present time, the
members of that party who are man.
aging political affairs have rather
marveled at the strategic skill dis
played by the new chairman of the
Republican congressional committee.
1t has developed that the minority
members of the house had definite
idea Of what they were doing when
they chose Congressman Frank P.
Woods of Iowa to conduct their cam
paign. Mr.. Woods is quiet politi-
cal worker and now that the cam
paign is on the Democrats are awak-
ening to the fact that while they sup
posed nothing was being done Chair
man Woods has been building bon