Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1915-03-26
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
Events of Interest from the
Seat OF Government,
BY j. Il. JONES,
Republican Publicity.

former Senator Bourne of Oregon.
declares that it has organized itself
Tor the purpose of taking the case of
the Republican party before the
country in the hopes that it may con-
vert voters to help it win the cleo
ton in 1915. 1t is claimed that
many rich Republicans are support
ing the movement, and since the reg
ularly organized committees are very
much handicapped in their activities
because they are compelled to make
statements of their expenditures, it
may follow that Brother Jonathan
Bourne and his band of political
pirates will in time overshadow the
work of the accredited representa-
tives of the G. o. P.
FitZgerald's Sting.
Representative Fitzgerald of New
York holds the important position of
chairman of the appropriations COM
mittee in the House of Representa-
tives. Because he is a Tammanyite
things have been made uncomfort-
able for him in a number of in
stances. Fitzgerald, like a true and
patriotic Irishman, has been inclined
to fight back on occasions, but he
saved his real wrath until the last
day Of the past session, when he pre-
vented the appropriation from being
made for the new Federal Trade
Commission. The board will get
few thousand dollars extra on the
first Of July, but it starts out on its
work greatly hampered for want of
funds. The trade commission is
favorite of the president, and Fitz-
gerald is "chuckling up his sleeve"
because he has tied up this work for
many months to come. The new
has organized. but 1t can
not engage in any extensive work.
All Doors Closed to the White House.
President Wilson has practically
become hermit these days, since he
has denied himself to all visitors.
For three weeks he will give his en-
tire attention to study of intricate
problems connected with the Euro.
pean war. This is the first time in
the memory of the oldest Washing
tonian when the president has en-
tirely excluded the public. OF course
this Is the first time there has been
so big a war and as the United States
has been involved in many ways, the
president has determined that he will
take personal charge Of the situa-
ton.
Squeal of the Express Companies.
Representatives of the American.
Adams, Southern and Wells Fargo
express companies have told the In
terstate commerce commission at
Washington that the low rates OF
fare prescribed by the commission
have been disastrous" The COM
panies set out that in 10 months
under the new rates there has been a
deflcit Of $2.76O,s04. 1t took Uncle
Sam q long time to teach the pluto
cratic express companies their les
son-and perhaps the learning Of 1t
has been rather hard.
Death of Colonel Crook.
A faithful old attache in the White
House has died and the president Of
the United States who. on account of
important affairs has secluded HIM
self from the public. found time to
attend the funeral. Colonel William
H. Crook served with Lincoln and
all of the other presidents down to
the. present day. He undoubtedly
had a more intimate knowledge OF
the affairs OF the presidents and
their families during the past fifty
years than any other living Amer
lean.
The Spy Industry.
Since the outbreak of the Euro
pean war there have been no end OF
activities Of spies of foreign powers
in the United States and, as Wash
ington is the headquarters of the ma
ton, the principal attention OF these
foreign agents has been directed to-
ward the seat of government. Wash
ington has been described as the
clearing house of conspiracies OF the
world" The United States govern
ment has ignored the spies, but has
concerned itself regarding the safety
of representatives Of foreign coun-
tries, since there has been a feeling
that some overt act might be COM
mitted that would embarrass our po-
sition as the greatest neutral in the
world.
Freedom of the Press.
The editor of the New York Times
protested to a special investigating
committee of the senate against
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