Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-08

The report OF the Secretary OF the NAVY IS a
business Ike and very readable document, stating
the needs OF the navy without mercy and its de-
sires without false mOde5ty. The Secretary asks
lor seven and half million dollars extra this year
TO provide suitable shIps and pleads for the trans
leE OF al the narattne bureauX OF the Treasury TO
MS department as properly belonging to the sphere
OF the navy He Is equally frank In dealing with
the personnel OF the navy. urging material re-
auctions in the list and Increase OF salaries where
oficers are kept in sGba!terD rank beyond reason
abe length OF time He also protests against Con-
gresslonal good-nature 10 officers dismissed the
service for cause.
Mr. Chandler sttrs up the navy yards for their
susceptibility 70 politics. an evil upon which some
OF his political adversarieS are apt 70 insinuate
That he can speak with the authority OF personal
experience To guard against such corrupt political
shlp-bulidng, MIR. Chandler urges that all work Of
this sort be let out to private firms who employ or
dscharge their foremen and all their artisans ac-
cWdlng to their skill as mechanics, and without
caring for their political opinions or votes"
The prompt response TO the suggestion In last
Saturdays STAR fol action in Washington TO give
The hungry, shvering, ragged poor children OF the
City share in the enjoyrnents OF Christmas shows
IDat beneath the crust of modern cynIcisff and
utllitar1aniSn there Is vet immense fountain OF
tender human sympathy, ready TO fOw forth in
generous deeds in answer to any genuine appeal,
recital OF the work OF the Chlldrens Christmas
Club, OF Portland, Maine.
VIII not some kindly disposed member OF one or
the other House OF Congress take pity On the people
OF Washington and at introduce bill or resO-
luton or take such other action as may be necessa-
n by that body 10 legaiSe the OF the stand
ard OF time in the District OF Columbia? Until this
be done both standards certain to be recognized
mere. greatly to the confusion and sometimes to the
very serious Inconvenience and annoyance OF the
public The difference between the new and old
standard Is so slight that practical objection can
be urged TO the adoption Of the former, and there
are plenty Of potent In favor OF the change
D S-
The editor OF the Cumberland Tines is an appre-
ciative and observing parsonage, as this extract
taken from the columns or that paper clearly
shows:
THE WASHINGTON EVENING STAR has been
greatly enlarged, and Is now an eight-column
paper 1t Is the most successful and newSlest
evening paper In the south. and ii furnishes nine
tenthS of the grub for 1Our-ftns OF the ash
1ng1on correspondents. as well is for impecunu,ls
country journals, AMI they ali partake without CIV
Ing thanks"
The pirates of the Patuxent the Choptank and
Pocomoke, names In themselves calculated TO
appal the Constabulary, are again Oh the rampage,
and the forces OF the law are In hot conflict with
them The tongInen. it seems. have contriyed TO
=
OF swivel gun operated from a fertilization on the
beach which, after a few discharges, persuaded the
Illicit dredgers Ia leave. The corvette Hamilton,
one gun has been ordered to cruise In the infested
waters, and lis presence may restore order TO the
troubled shores OF AccOmac county.
II the story related b. nih1list prisoner OF afro
cities practiced conTctS or that class Is not ex-
aggerated, the civilized world should protest in the
name OF humanity and decency. The days of
mouldy dungeons and torture are passed Criminal
law, among civilized communities, proceeds on the
basis not OF ncting viIdictive vengeance on mis-
doors, but OF preserving society from disorder
The Senate may coquette with civil service reform
In Its clerical organization but the democrats in
the House do not propose to have any nonsense
about their officers Every republican and readuster
must go. That part Of the problem is simple
enough; II is difficult to decide on who shall
have the vacant places.