Show V I 1 our washington I 1 I 1 chat weekly si s i i 1 j 1 t 4 1 1 1 1 H n 44 By Robert B edson POPULAR VOTE OIN oi amendments i since the the passage ot of the woman suffrage tut amendment to the confal conati tut iori the plea is again coming co mingto fo line the fore tn both bobb senate and house advocating a change in the method ot at amending the cons constitution of the united states bills have deuced in both houses which provide elhat Y f that amendments to the grand old document shall be ratified by a popular vote of the people in each state instead of as at present by the vote yot of state slate legislatures it Is pointed out as it is now that a state having a total population ot of less than that ot of many ot of the large cities in large h states have an equal voice in ina im g posing a law upon thousands ot of people who may not be in favor ot of it j with a popular vote every section and community would have an equal bay bat it Is believed by those who are fathering the bills that they will receive early and valuable consideration and will have popular support from most every quarter much the same as did the election ot of unit i ed states senators by popular vote over the old way of electing them by the voices of the state legislature 0 0 9 THE SOLDIER VOTE to what extent will the soldier vote control the nation in years to come is a topic ot of conversation in the halls of congress and spout washington will the soldier vote fight shy ot of both the democratic and republican parties and set up a policy all its own it is claimed that the ground work tor for such a policy Is taking form throughout the country in the organization ot of different local posts and association and with the idea of holding aloof from both political parties but on the other hand the republicans and democrats with an eye to the future are not unmindful of the opportunity port unity to bring about an organization something along the lines of the grand army of 0 the republic largely tor for election purposes scouts from both parties are looking around realizing that there Is soon to be built up in the united states one of the post powerful voting machines ever formed and which will play an important part in shaping government affairs tor for years to come As an example of what such an organization might be able to do in a political way it is pointed out that the grand army of the republic virtually dominated the country politically tor for fifty years after the civil war 0 0 0 bugs and other destructive pests of the farmers must vacate their hunting grounds it if the plans of 0 the government to eradicate them are successful four hundred thousand dollars is needed for the destruction of wolves coyotes mountain lions prairie dogs ground squirrels and gophers the sweet potato weevil is to take a back seat at a cost of the european corn borer is to meet his doom at an expense to the people of halt half a million dollars while a general expense is provided to deal further with the cattle tick the cotton boll weevil the wheat worm the mosquito and other pests of the farmer which have made his work a burden and have dug down deep into his pocketbook 0 Q V all states are to have their battle flags returned to them according to recent instructions issued by the war department each national guard and national army organization tion that has been de mobilized will receive its individual colors the flags will be forwarded to the army recruiting officer nearest the capital of the state in which they are to be deposited tor for delivery to the state officials 0 0 0 washington city is facing a serious water famine that Is receiving the attention of government experts during the colder months the supply inuring has hag been adequate but with the increased consumption in summer and with the greatly increased population of the city cita measures have been taken to restrict the use of water while at the same game time plans are under way to increase the supply some ninety millions of gallons a day at a cost of the supply Is drawn from the potomac river 16 miles above the city and la is brought to the filtration plant in the city through a conduit built shortly after the civil war the capital city has never before been in such a plight due to the lack of water |