The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-01-20
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Jan. IA, 1881.

WASHINGTON, Jan. Ia, 1881.
The debate in the Senate on the
question of franking privilege has
ELECTED the singular fact, ~ stated. by
Mr.. Edmunds, that the only public
servants unsafe to be trusted with
franking official matter, arc the men
who make the laws. This permits ev-
cry man, woman and child in the
Postoffice Department to determine
what is. =" official business" aud so In
every other Department of the Gov
ernment, and yet Senator may not
enjoy the privilege, as the law now
stands. 1t is more than likely that
the existing laws will be repealed, and
return made to the old order of things,
under which our legislators sent all
kinds of matter through the mails,
though it is possible the repeating act
may contain a clause prohibiting some
impecunioe Solon from sending his
clothes home to be washed and patch
ed, as was done in ante-bellum times.
Gen. Logan is warmly advocating
his bill to restore Gen. Grant to his
old rank Of General and then retiring
him on the corresponding pay. 1t
seems that the Senate will pass it, but
inasmuch as the House Military Com
mittee have, by a vote of to 3 killed
a similar measure there is no proba-
bility of its becoming law during
this Congress. Mr. Blaine is strongly
in favor of it, and has so put himself
on record in the N. Y. Tribune, yet
his advocacy will not avail, for it can
not be carried through the House.
A Mr.. Sparks, from Boston, is urg-
ing upon Congress his scheme for
lighting the Capitol and grounds by
electricity, and meets with favorable
reception from tho House Committee,
controlling the Capitol. Though the
hold Of our Gas Company is as strong
here as elsewhere, and it has all the
requisite sleight-of-hand for disposing
Of competitors, which all cities flnd to
their sorrow it possesses yet we believe
it possible for an electric light compa-
ny to succeed here II persistent and
SokaClOuS iNCt IIIat tafS 5ecih
may cost the Government one
half less than gas is not the issue, for
economy does not enter into this
question at all. How to defeat the Gas
Company's Vaccinations is the only
rub.
We lately inspected the New York
Postoffice building and was delighted
with the working of the electric light
in it, and we sincerely trust that the
same undoubted improvement may be
itol. 1t is queer how soon legisla-
tors interest in a change for tho better
may cease when some moneysd mon-
opoly enters the lists against it. A
bill has just been introduced into the
House which looks to an organization
in favor Of cheap telegraphy as against
the exactions of the recent consolida-
tion Of telegraph companies, but we
fancy it will sleep the sleep of death,
under the manipulations of the COM
mittees by the existing monopoly.
We have in mind an honorable Sena-
tor who will not act or permit action
upon = certain measure which has been
referred to him. Yet his motives can
not be impugned, though he is the
paid attorney for the railroad which
this particular bill antagonizes. Still
it would seem better If these Infamous
monopolies could not secure such
staunch advocates among our legisla-
tors. The nation is under deep obli-
cations to Senator Thurman for the
eafnest fight he made against the
Union Pacific Railroad. This bill,
which under hisable advocacy became
a law, and saves the nation millions of
dollars annually, will stand as mon
to mark the first step taken by
Congress against powerful and un-
monopoly.