Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-05-06
WITH HATING OF SECOND
MEXICANWAR, WASHINGTON
is Much IN THE DUMPS

would be the best thing. are consoling
themselves il will nevertheless come.
Congress was rudely jolted. The legis-
%llative express had been shooting along
al friehtful speed. with prospects Of n
long run. Then a lurch and the siding.
Everything had been gearcd mp 10 the
new conditions. War inevitably means
considerable legislation NJ the Capitol.
II onght not 10 he 50. perhaps. but The
machinery for an armed conflict is far
from adequate and when wal j. in pros
pcct additional authority for Il hundred
things il required Of Congress. The army
however. has come off Splendidalv. Even
IL there has been mighty little action in
Mexico. the general diSpair over lean
annual appropriations has lifted. The
lawmakers had invaded the War De
partment with pruning knives. They
pared the annual appropriation bill
down To the very bone. 80 that deficien-
.cics were certain 10 he large.
But demands were made for army
preparedness. when the marines had
stepped ashore at Vera Cruz. There was
no possibility of resisting these requests
for money. voiced in official commune
cations showcrcd upon the House daily
for a fortnight. Millions more have nj
ready been voted for the army aud n
few millions more are in prospect. 50
that if there are no military operations
of not in Mexico. the armv establish.
mcnt should have q fat and prosperous
year from July |. 1871. 10 June q. 1915.
And incidentally certain schemes Of
patriotic advocates Of economy in pub
lie expenditures have gone to smash.
One thing after another has been com.
ing to make il next To impossible for
Democratic brethren 10 keep a%ppropria-
ations well down To the billion dollar
mark for this session Of Congress. Tho
war furry affords Il good excuse. Out
on the huStings. Democratic orators may
say. and with verify. that Mexican trou.
bles brought extraordinary necessities
which could not he ignored. Necessities
i'm Mexico will be a cloak to cover many
items in the swollen total Of federal ap-
preparations this year.
Some Congressional time has been
lost. The schedule was diSarrangcd.
Many things which were To have been
done were dropped on the moment. ms
soon a. Mr.. Wilson appeared before the
joint session and asked justification.
Not only did Senate and House fad
themselves diverted. but Committees of
both bodies were unable 10 keep up con
nectcdly with preparatory work on pres
cribcd measures. When there H. IN alarm
anywhere ~ the capitol. up 20 the win
dows in all the vicinity and heads ar..
stuck out. The legislative contingent IL
not under particular discipline. IL takes
time 10 get going hut no time 90 stop.
And Vet there was some compensation.
This was noticably 81 in that canal tolls
exemption repeal. The country had h.
come much "hct up" about il AMI tins
was being reflected in the attitude If
the Senate. When this second Mexican
war broke ont. Washington was think
ing 81 little else except the canal tolls
fight. by the time The resolution Iusti,
fying the President had passed ard The
mcdiatorS finally engaged attention in
Mexico and the United States. there
seemed very little excitement over can
al tolls either M Washington o. ou. III
the country.
In amy event. canal tolls have become
DECIDEDLY - question 81 secondary inter-
est ia Congress for the present. The Sen
ate 4 just getting around a. debate il.
The theme j. now sufficiently stale So
that only high class discussion Of ID
can command AN audience ia the senate.
The debate may actually hc sustained
for 4 fortnight or so but there j. danger
that the canal tolls bill will get into the
same category with federal grain inSpcc-
ton which was discussed for days and
days with only NJ pr three senators
upon the floor.
Washington has been i'll the conf
.dcncc Of 10 South American mcdiator>