The Washington times., 1920-09-15
MEXICO SEEKING
LOAN Of BILLION
New Regime Would Borrow
Huge Sum and Give Oil as
Security.
Continued from First Page.)


especially IL a new political tempest
should arise and blow out of office
the administration which effected the
deal.
Mexico needs money badly. This
pressing need is evident everywhere
The railroads are wrecks and II Is a
nightmare to ride on them. There
Is poverty and beggary everywhere.
There are evidences Of careless and
lavish use of public funds on every
hand. In country that needs
asylums for the blind and crippled
children, who beg in the streets. and
homes for the aged. who sit against
walls and wait for charity, much
money has been spent on tawdry, use
less, costly things.
The great marble opera house here.
which has stood unused for years. is
an example OF Mexican wastefulness.
1t is said that the foundations were
not properly put in and that one end
of the structure has sunk. This
means that the opera house may
never be used. Reports vary as to
it's cost. Some persons here say that
s7,000.000 was spent in erecting the
building. Others say that the cost
was $4,000, 900.
The steel skeleton Of a large public
building which has rusted for years
catches the eye as one leaves the
railroad station. Rust has so dam
aged this structuu that is Is feared
that it cannot be completed. but must
be torn down. This building, how
ever, is not an indication OF waste
fulness. 1t Is a monument to the rev.
olution, or rather revolutions. 1t was
under construction when the trouble
began. Work stopped at once.
MAY "DUCK"> CLAIMS.
II Mexico gets $1,000. 900 900 from
America there is no intention Of pay
ing in full the $500, 900 900 or more
damage claims Of Americans on nle
in Washington. II 1t can be avoided.
Some Government officials believe
that these claims can be shaved down
to about $7b.00O,000 To do this they
will have to have commission ap-
pointed to investigate all claims made
by persons who suffered loss during
the years OF turmoil. They assert
that many Of the claims made are
Ave and ten times greater than the
actual loss.
There is another plan to satisfy the
sent a heavy bill. This Is to give
the railroads better freight and pas
senger rates and valuable concessions.
In return, tho railroads will be ex-
pected to withdraw their bill or re-
duce 1t to almost nothing.
Tho government satisfied the street
railways of the capital In this man
ner. When the lines were returned to
tho owners. the companies wanted
heavy compensation. Under existing
franchises the railways can charge a
fare Of 8 cents, while under govern
ment control a 10-cent fare was
charged.
PERMITTED HIGH FARE.
Tho government permitted the rail-
ways to continue the 10-cent fare and
granted other privileges. This settle
ment was satisfactory to the com
panies, but they knew that tho ma
tional treasury was empty. II may
not be 20 easy to effect a settlement
II Mexico has 81 900 0O0, 900 OF Amerl-
can gold In It's treasury.
Mexico now understands chat the
financial help can como only from the
United states. Some of the Mexicans
begin to realize that the United States
Ia this country's best friend among
nations, but this belief is not uni
versaL There are still Mexicans,
many OF them, who retain a fierce
hatred for the Americans, due to
enemy propaganda This propaganda
has been SO artful and persistent that
II has poisoned the minds OF even
somo who we're disposed to be friendly
to the United States.