National Republican., 1883-02-26

was almost her frSt venture. she Is under
three years contract TO the Madison Square
management.
ON THE AVENUE.
Small Talk About Men ana Measures.
,a"T Tell me about tho match monopoly, the
one in whose welfare Senator Bayard takes
such lively interest" said the Avenue man,
addressing his remark to wide awake sena-
tor. at is an organization known as the
Diamond Match company" he replied, and,
If am correctly informed. IL has an absolute
control Of tho business. l do not understand
that it manufactures many matches, but
rather that it contracts to take the entire
product. 1t is enabled TO control the produc-
tion so as to keep it down to reasonable limit,
and its agents will sell to nobody who will
notagree to handle its goods exclusively. The
revenue derived from the tax on matches
amounts to about $3,500O00 year. and tho
government allows q 10 per cont. discount on
100000 blocks of stamps. The match
monopoly buys its stamps that way, thus clear
ing s350,000 year on n capital offs 100000
Il handsome interest these times, especially
when the S3,5O0,000 is only imaginary. You
see the government sells its stamps on sixty
days time, and, as the match company sells
its products on thirty days time, it really
not only does not require cent of capital,
but has the use of hundreds of thousands of
dollars. In point of fact it banks on the
United States treasury The money it
makes in the manner | haye described Is u
gift There is no risk in it whatever. This
10 per cent. is handsome thing in itself, and
is an insurance against competition in a
small way. The profits from the handling of
the matches manufactured are enormous, and
the monopoly has a strong hold on congress.
Just what It is do not know. Its headquar-
tcrs are at Wilmington, Del, aud gentleman
by the name of Swift is its ruling spirit. These
people cleared $6C0, 900 between the two ses-
sions of the forty congress-less than
four months.
80
Gen. John w. Foster, the new minister to
Spain, has served his country in the diplo-
matte service for nearly nine years, seven
years of that time as minister to Mexico
Nearly two years were spent in Russia, and
when he surrendered tho mission at st. Peters
burg, which he did without invitation, he an
l
permanently. "When came home" he says
81 never expected to re-entor the diplomatic
service but this call appeared to me to be SC
urgent that l do not feel at liberty to de.
cline it. The office is unsought by me-
aud the first intimation j had of the Presi.
| dents purpose to send in my name was last
/ Wednesday. Until met the President had
not the faintest idea what he wanted of me
and l was greatly surprised when he told me
what it was did not give him an answer
however, until Saturday, and my name was
sent to the senate Immediately. feel the
nomination, coming in the way it did, to be 8
great compliment, and although my accept
anco involves a considerable pecuniary sacf
flee could not decline"
The President is anxious to have the Cuban
claims adjudicated, and Minister Fosters
peculiar fitness for the discharge Of the very
important duties in connection with this mat
ter is said to be the main reason Of his selec
ton. Dwight 4. Reed secretary of the lega
tion, and charge d'ahaires at Madrid will re
main undisturbed. Minister Foster will no
sail for Madrid until about the first of May
Indiana now has three ministers abroad.
a@a
Senator Beck is one Of the ripest scholars il
congress. 1t is possible that he is not sup
in so many of the modern languages as Rep
resentative Hit, Of Illinois, who is an accom-
plished linguist, but it is play for the sturd.
Kentuckian to translate the ancient classic
from the original Greek and Latin into English
and then for rest translate English int
Greek His biographer does not state whethe
he can read Sanscrit backward, but he leave
it to be inferred that he could have given tn
gentlemen who cut hieroglyphics into tn
pyramids points and discount him in dis
cussion ON derivation Of words, and roots AM
signs.
ssa
Mr.. Hit has seminary in Mount Morri
Ill., that is dearer to him than the apple O
his eye. For fifteen or eighteen years h
annually dumped from $1,000 to $4,000 int
the enterprise, and he has lived to see hi
fondest hopes realized, The bread he cas-
upon the waters had a string to it, and it ha
come back to him with an increased majority
IIo has broad acres around and about Noun
Morris as we'll.
Senator Sherman is of opinion that tn
Hawaiian treaty VIII not DO reached by IN
senate this session, A failure Of the senate {
move in this matter this spring will give Nj
Spreckels time to organize a campaign suit
able to the next congress.
sss
The talk of a fight against the confirmatio
of Mr.. Dorman B. Eaton does not appear
have stimulated the wrath Of the gentleme
J who have the votes, None Of the senator
who have been represented as being all tor
up over the nomination of Mr.. Eaton kne
much about it until they read full accounts
their rage in two or three newspapers.
20
"The Mississippi river will be considerabl
} stirred up by the three reports" remarked
, western man yesterday; and he added, "tl
, outlet system, for which it was said the mi
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