The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-05-03
Political Notes.

Those who say our Government should
take possession Of the telegraph lines as
sert that in England such action has re-
suited 10 cheap rates to the public, while
the earnings Of the lines pay interest on
the capital invested A recent disclosure
in the British Parliament uneovers the fact
that telegraph managers have availed
themselves Of their connection with the
post-ofhce system to use large surplus
belonging to the post-ofice, and have even
disturbed some Of the saving bank deposits
to defray their current expenses, and that
last year the report was made to order by
transferring to the capital account $685.
900, which should have been charged to
current expenses Yet Parliament made
an additional "capital" appropriation of
81 100000. The department has already
exhausted this sum, and will have incurred
before the end of the financial year. it Is
stated, liability Of over eS00,000. If
this is the result Of Government control of
telegraphic lines in England, what may we
expect if the experiment is tried here ?
Many thousand dollars of the peoples
money are to be expended in printing a
series Of postage-stamps Of all denomina-
tions, of special designs, and bearing the
inscription, Executive for the exclusive
use of the President, in order that His
Excellency's correspondence may be dis
tinguished above the plebeian missives of
the common herd. These stamps, with
other separately distinctive ones for each
department of the Government, are to cost
nearly S2,00O,O00 for the coming year, or,
to be more exact, enough to cover the
mailing of62, 1876, 666 half-ounce packages.
All of which goes to show how far our
republican civilization is in advance ofthe
eflete barbarism of Great Britain, where
royal personages must fain content them
selves with licking and sticking the same
vulgar pattern of postage-stamp used by
the meanest subject.
KENT COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CoNvEN-
TIoS,-The Democratic Convention Of
Kent county, met at the courthouse in
Chestertown recently, to determine the
manner of making nominations for the fall
election. The convention decided, after
considerable discussion, by vote of IA to
IL, to adhere to the old district system Of
nominating candidates for Office. The
minority were in favor of running the can
didates throughout the county, the highest
for each Office to be the nominee. A res.
olution was adopted requiring the Domo-
cratic State Central Committee of Kent
county to issue call making the nomina.
tons not later than the first week in June
Secretary Belknap, who is in New
Orleans, will investigate the Louisiana
difficulties. He will consult with General
Emory, Governor Kellogg and members Of
the Custom House party" and even
representatives of the opposition govern.
ment who may offer their views for his
consideration. y On his judgment the
authorities at Washington will base theil
future action in the difficulty.
New Jersey is to have her Constitution
revised by special commission appointed
by the Governor. Governor Parker hai
nominated the fourteen gentlemen-twc
from each Congressional district--who ar,
to perform the labor The Commission il
equally divided politically, and contains
several prominent men. OF course, thei
work is to be submitted to vote of tn,
people.
William NJ. Butler, the recently eleetet
ootored Alderman in Annapolis, is candi
date for the next Legislature.