The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-04-21
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspor dent.l

From our Regular Correspor dent.l
WASHINGTON. d. c., April IA, 1888.
] Ours is the most self adjusting gov-
lernment in the world. 1t little mat
tiers whether the President is in the
executive chair in the white house,
on special tram plunging into the
sunny south land, or camping out
amid the alligators and everglades of
Florida, the wheels of government
go on Just the same, and no one in
quires after his health or how soon
his dignified figure can be interview
ed here at the capital. Nobody ex-
periences any Inconvenience because
of his absence, save the Office seekers,
whose board bills do not stop because
of his peripatetic wanderings. 1t is
a wicked set back to the hopes of these
patriots to have the President I'M
mindful of the sacrifice they are max
ing for their county while waiting
here during his uncertain wanderings.
Travelling for health and pleasure has
its little difficulties even down in
Florida. Secretary Chandler. we
hear, tried his skill at turning hand
spring oyer the tailbo of a cart.
and landed on all tours. His first
effort was voted decided success.
The telegraph has not yet notified
the public whether the President has
practiced any in grand and lofty
tumbling. One thing is certain un-
less he has an accident policy and is
insured against fieas. gnats. and other
industrious midgets, he will have a
mixed experience f fishing, scratch
ing, and other iDfelicities.
A high compliment has been paid
to the national capital in the adop-
\ ton of it's public school system by
1the government of Nlcarauga. Sig
nor Rodregnez was sent from that
country in 1881, charged with the
special duty of studying our public
school system. He was thoroughly
educated, spoke English fiuently, and
had been the superintendent of
schools in his own country for num-
Der of years. During his prolonged
visit he spent many weeks in this
city, visiting the public schools daily,
examining with minutest detail the
methods ofinstruction in every grade,
the primary, the normal, and the
high school. Superintendent Wilson,
who kindly furnished every facility
to this distinguished visitor, has just
received letter asking how many
teachers they would require in nor
NAL school of $50 scholars. whether
male or female, what salaries should
be paid, and what material, scientific
and other, should be provided. An
approval of our system of schools
from such sourse bespeaks the rapid
advance which has been made in the
education of our youth since the close
of the war.
The conflict between the District
Commissioners and the Washington
gas Light Company is spreading be-
fore the country mass of facts that
will startle the consumers of gas in
every city in the land. If there are
any mysteries that counfound the
wisdom of the wise they can be
found in the workings of the lit
tie machine with strange eabal-
istic figures, signs, and indexes. that
has been dignified as a meter or reg.
lister of gas. Set one of these Pandora
boxes in hall or cellar and thence
forward, by tricks that no fellow can
find out, the consumer finds that gas
companies love darkness better than
light, because 1t takes less coal to
make it and pays better interest on
the investment. There is no use of
the poor consumer fretting and fun
ing at Bridget for burning wastfully
the gas in the kitchen, for the regu-
lator that regulates the mysterious
meter is operated at the gas works,
and there things are secret and safe.
"Positively no admitance" is posted
everywhere. From sworn statements
made before a committee in Con-
gress the figures taken cannot fail to
interest gas consumers in other cities. |
The Washington Gas Company was
chartered in 1858 and began business
with a capital of 100000, Consum-
ers pay S1.75 per thousand if bills are
promptly met and $500 If day late.
The company's law is memorable.
Every dollar invested in the organiza-
ton OF this company has increased in