The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-11-22
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

w ASHlNGTON, NOV. 1o.-hI. wy
man, of the treasury department, in
his report, just completed, says expen-
ditures of the government are only two
thirds of receipts. This covers twelve
ending June 80, 1888. AS to
the condition of the country, he says
he believes it will suffer, if at all,
from too much prosperity. He boldly
demands reduction of taxes, and warns
the coming congress to reduce; other
wise the people will make it an issue,
and send men here who will tighten
the burthen. He shows that national |
banks will be soon affected by the |
rapid payment of the interest bearing |
debt. The sum of S209,683,OOO in 3per |
cent bonds or two thirds the entire |
loan were held by banks at the close |
of the fiscal year June 80, 1888. Indi- |
vidual holders of bonds numbered |
50,S50; but now there are 1854. The |
number of foreign holders of regis |
tered bonds is reduced from 1131 to |
495. These points from subordi-
mates report are given as views OF a
specialist, and because too often the |
chief of a department makes public |
the figures without giving the deduc-
tions of his underlings. 1t is note
worthy fact that the count of the
millions of dollars in the United
States treasury when Gilfillan retired
and Wyman took his place
balanced with the books to
within a few cents. The count
extended over long period and en-
gagged the services of vast force.
General Merritt, superintendent at
West Point, makes full report for
the past year and treats largely OF the
"hazing" INDUCED in by the students.
He minceS no words in saying the
reports of his predecessors that hazing
had been broken up were in error.
The practice, he saws, is not uncom-
mon, and is of vicious sort and al
WAYS has been; nor does the dignity
of West Pointer prevent him from
telling fib now and then, about the
little hazing episodes. Army circles
are much exercised over the bold
talk of General Merritt, and
the students will doubtless find
little comfort in the following vigor-
Gus finale of the superintendent re-
port. He says: "By repressive meas
ures the evil has been at times re-
stricted to its lowest limits, but has
never been eradicated. just the mo-
ment repression has ceased, the brutal
custom has sprung up with new
features of brutality. While do not
favor threats to repress disorders or
pledges from cadets as means OF
Graduating violations Of the regula-
lions, am certain that the best means
of maintaining discipline in any or
ganization is the certainty of sum-
mary punishment, just, but severe, in
all cases of Intentional offense. Ii
cadets wantanly violate the regula-
/ lions to anything which involves their
dismissal, they do so under one or
other of the convictions that they will
, not be detected or that some influence
will prevent their punishment. In
this matter OF hazing the authorities
, here will indulge in no half-hearted
measures to detect the offenders. In
the matter of punishments the eXpe
rience of the past should convince the
guilty that they may not expect mercy
from the war department. Under
: these circumstances / see no reason
! why the pernicious practice may moi
,, permanently be put an end to-"
l AS to the Mercer colony case moth
: ing new is known, except that 1t is il
, the hands of the court and decision
may be rendered at any time. The
chief clerk of the court Informed mt
I to-day that while he knew of nothing
to indicate the decision was ready, yet
he advised persons interested to be OF
D the look out for it.
f Importation of Chinese under
: guise of students, merchants
etc, is giving the treasury department
no little trouble. The celestials hav,
e certificates, according to law, tina
i they are not laborers; but 1t is fount
O that, after their arrival, they open VI
= laundry shops and go into service lik'
u any other laborers. Secretary Folge
: rules that, in cases where there il
t reason to suspect fraud, the collecto
O shall refuse to allow the Chinese tt
y land until they show full proof O.
u their genuine identity. In the mean
, time, such as desire to do so can hav'
r the correctness of the customs official
l. tested in the courts by a writ o
habeas corpus.
a city is making full an
g minute preparations to transmit tn
- new time over the country as agree
Il upon by the railroad officials at Chi
IS cago recently. The observatory a
II II m. next Sunday will send the tim
l. of the 18th meridian, minutes an
? IL seconds faster than Washington
= to Baltimore, Philadelphia, NtN
n York, Cincinnati, Savannah, Charles
ton and Chattanooga. From thos
points it will be distributed to othe
r points. The plan is simple. On mex
Sunday the beats of the observator
III clock will be sent over the wires froI
lie the face of the clock with which tn
to wires are connected, the face being S
j. changed as to give the time of th
18th meridian instead of the old tim
10 This will be done by simply movin
l. the minute hand 3 minutes and
l. seconds ahead. The pendulum {
Is the clock closes the circuit on th
10 wire at each beat, The wire runnin
- into the clock is connected with a
IL armatine in a table where six wire
D. converge. The beats of the pendl
10 lum are thus transmitted smut;
Ia neously to the six wires and the
begins the long journey which cover
Ae the immense area of country. Aust
X local time, under this management
K will be given either from New o
,v leans or st. Louis. By 1910 o'cloC
= on next Sunday all clocks of referent
IL will, be running OF the new time an
I'D all railroads will have the same
tn The speakership is the mo-
absorbing topic here now. RAJ
dali, being sick of govt is NJ
able to be here and Cox
er just fixed at Wizards, and Carlis
IN has been at the Riggs for a wee
ne Each of these gentlemen is credite
80 with saying he Is going to win. Phi
90 Thompson, of Kentucky, has made
he statement showing that Carlisle wi
lis have ITO votes and Randall eight
o. Cox Is credited with a complimental
. vote. Cox playfully resents this ca
~ culation and says he Is unaware no
To- newspapers can print table of vot
es made up in Washington, when on
Oh fifteen members are here. Carlisle
~ quiet, and apparently sanguine ov
W what his friends are doing. AS f
N, his own efforts, they are few. T
of says he is not worker and will n
at solicit. He is not boasting m;
"a and is credited with saying much
iu never utters. Randall is, as usui
ms cool and deep. His power is va!
as He is undoubtedly backed by t
its moneYed interests and the more d
ne Greet politicians-those who won
- keep the tariff out of congress tt
ny session. Every day new states are