Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-01-21
WASHINGTON. ID. C.?-
THERE'S NO SUCH CITY

DO YOU know there isn't such city
as Washington ID. c. Wen, whether
YOU know Il or not. there isn't. It's
strange. but true. In 1878 Congress.
which Cumisly and painfully tries to
act as a town council for Washington,
abolished the city Of Washington. and
the county, and designated II all mere
~ the District Of Columbia. BY that
name our seat Of government is Off
cially known. and the city OF Washing
ton doesn't legally exist.
Prepare for more shocks. Walk on
the grass OF the little parks and you
have TO answer To the War Depart
mentl Stranger still thanthis. If you
can beat tho cop or the soldier to the
property Of a foreign embassy you
can put your thumb to your nose and
twtddle your fingers in the salute
courteous 10 them all. for you are on
foreign soil and not one Of them can
touch you. Only voluminous diploma
tic correspondence through the Secre-
tary OF State will effect your arrest.
and even then you are safe unless the
foreign government iswilling for you
to be taken.
Practically OF course. II such n thing
occurred. most OF the red tape would
DE waived and some sixteenth under
secretary. assisted by the chauffeur
and the official bouncer OF the embassy
would give YOU the buns rush into the
hands Of tho waiting cop. but that is
the way 1t would have to be done Off
cially
Not only Is property Of the foreign
government considered foreign soil. but
the persons OF the embassy, clear down
through the list OF employees, are sacred
and no Washington policeman can lay
finger on them wherever they may
BE- or whatever they may do. One OF
them may commit murder under the
nosse OF the traffic cop on the corner
and polite note from the policeman
20 his captain would be tho only i'm
mediate result The captain would |
then forward II TO the commissioners
who would in turn report 10 the |
Socreatry Of State. who would write |
10 the ambassador OF the embassy In
question. In the course OF time the
cuiprit might be removed TO his own
country Tor trial in a local court. but
MS immunity from diciplIne by the
American bureau OF justice is absolute
washington is a wonderful city In
more ways than one. and the whole
process by which diplomatic deal
'nss with the representatives of for
Ign governments is handled IS not the
o',st OF them
Washington. as everyone knows.
Tos laid out by General Washington
md Major LEnfant. "A famous French
architect and they were possessed Of
determination iquite general them
hat the time must never come when
he populace could rise up and over
hrow the government. They there
ore designed n city which would be
'aSy 70 defend. First they laid out
iroad streets about one hundred yards
part running north and south and
asst and west. Then they laid out
ven broader avenues running dag
'naiiy from corner TO corner of each
district Where these avenues. subse-
uently named for states OF the Union
ntersected each other circles or
quares were laid out The little areas
hus created we're turned over to the
rny for military reasons. and so was
be system laid out that artillery in
ae ten little parks thus made would
ssoluteiy control the city. No m.
sing could overthrow the govern.
lent because the government control.
q sractic@Ily all the approaches.
Long ago the military character oil
1ia control psssed away, bat the war;
epartanent stil administers these
arSs ard naaintaines bureau oil
AXIS u nlalntain and police them.
rs = Tower from their rsorrsous
us. tier. ard a soldier win deafl
~ YEA. not A policeman, and you
81 have 70 answer 70 The kovsrrraent
the safted States i,seEf Tor your
rense