The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-02-03
WASHINGTON NEWS

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Whether or not congress shall enact
legislation for increased national de-
tense is the all-absorbing topic in legis-
Ative circles. The consistent policy
Of the federal government for years has
been gradual increase of defensive
preparation corresponding to the growth
Of the country in population, wealth
and importance. The proposals pend
ing before congress, in the scheme for
increased national preparedness call
for extraordinary increases in our army
and navy and the supply of equipment
and ammunition. Thus far the pro-
posals have not seriously included plans
for deepening our internal waterways
or system Of intracostal canals to
permit the transport chips of war and
submarines from one port to another
should foreign foe bottle up our ports
Hearings on the administration army
inNhease bills. by the senate military
committee may be concluded this week,
and the bills presented to the senate
for consideration. Brig. Gen. Crozier,
chief Of ordance, told the committee
that the Euro pean war had shown the
necessity for providing machine guns
on scale never heretofore dreamed
Of. He instanced the report that 80
German soldiers with 40 machine guns
had kept whole French army at bay
for weeks.
A note of political discord was heard
in the assertion of Senator Lodge
whose views are usually patriotic upon
matters of foreign policy, before the
closing ban uet Of the National Sc
curity Leagte, which has met in Wash
ington. The Senator asserted that so
long as mi hbers of congress think
more votes fdn be obtained by making
approximations for roads, rivers, har-
sorA and pub bic buildings, than by max
ing Appropria atoms to strengthen the de-
lenses Of the country, just SO long will
they continue to make appropriations
for roads, rivers and harbors, and build.
ings.
President Wilson is urging the lead
~ in congress to hustle to get the
rostine appropriation bills and legisla-
tive measures pushed along so that there
may be time for the big work of the
sessicn-preparedne an early ad-
tournament possible. It has been the
&ope Of the President and democratic
leaders that congress will conclude the
important work mapped out for it and
adjourn early, owing to the political
phases of the summer and fall, but the
out look has been getting worse and
worse for early adjournment, with the
possibility of a snarl that may do the
Democratic party little credit in the
approaching campaign.
In the speeches he is to deliver on his
stunning tour beginning this week,
President Wilson will emphasize the
non partisan character of his national
defense program. He will ask support
from people of all parties for measures
he has suggested to congress, on the
grounds that these embody provision for
the least expensive army and navy de.
velpment that can be regarded as
adequate to the country's needs. Com
FnIff0ng in tho vyh
ident is to speak have been notified
Wat the gatherings must not be re-
garded as partisan, nor any hindrance
placed On the attendance of all parties
where the president speaks.
The keynote of the set Of speeches
which the president evolved out of the
deep study he gave the defense problem
during his two days isolation on the
yacht Mayflower the past week end is
that it bebooves the United States to
enter upon the new era now opening
adequately equipped to protect herself
against unfriendly designs of other ma
tiOnE, and further, to see to it that the
common interests of mankind are fully
maintained.
The state department considers that
grave and unjustifiable injury to Am
erican commerce may follow, should an
attempt be made to enforce those provi-
siOns affecting business in this country
of Great Britain 8 Grading with the
enemy" act, which prohibits persons
residing in Great Britain from trading
with any corporations or individuals en-.
gagged in supplying the Teutonic powers