Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-04-26
CARTOONS FROM THE CAPITAL.
In Which are Served up Promiscously President
Free schools, and Gas Companies.
Special Correspondence.

WASHINGTON, d. c., April 19.-1SS3.
Ours is the most self adjusting govern
ment in the world. 1t little matters
whether the President is in the executive
| chair in the white house. on q special
train 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 inquiries after the health or how
soon his dignifIed figure can be inter-
viewed here at his capital. Nobody
experiences any Inconvenience because
of his absence, save the Office seekers,
whose board bills do not stop because
of his peripatetic wanderings. 1t is
wicked set back to the hopes of these
patriots to have the President unmind-
full of the sacrifice they are making for
their country while waiting here during
his uncertain wanderings.
TRAVELLING FOR HEALTH,
and pleasure has its little difficulties even
down in Florida. Secretary Chandler, we
heartried his skill atturninga handspring
over the tailboard of cart, and landed
on all fours. His first effort was voted
a decided success. The telegraph has
not yet notified the public whether the
President has practiced any in ground
and lofty tumbling.
A high compliment has been paid to
the national capital in the adoption of
its public school system by the govern
ment of Nicarauga. Signor RODRIGUEZ
was sent from that country in 1881,
charged with the special duty of study
ing our public school system. He was
thoroughly educated, spoke English
fluently and had been the superintendent
of schools in his own country for q
number of years, During his prolonged
visit he spent many weeks in this city.
VISITING TIE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
daily examining with minutest detail the
methods of instruction 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
will require in a normal school of $50
scholars, whether male or female, what
salaries should be paid, and what ma
terial, scientific and other, should be
provided An approval of our system
of schools from such a scource bespeaks
the rapid advance which he's 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 a mass of facts that
will startle the consumers of gas in
every city in the land If there are any
mysteries that confound the wisdom Of
the wise they can be found in the work
| ings of the little machine with strange
! cabalistic figures, signs and indexes,
that has been digniied as meter or
register of gas. Set one of these Pan
dora 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 it takes less coal to make it
and pays letter interest on the invest
ment There is no use of the poor con-
sumner fretting and Tuning at Bridget
for burning wastfully the gas in the
kitchen, for the regulator that regu-
lates the mysterious meter is operated
at the gas works, and there things are
secret and safe. positively no admit
lance is posted everywhere. From
sworn statements made before a com
mittee in Congress the figures eannot
: fail to interest gas consumers in othel
cities. The Washington Gas Compan,
was chartered in 1858 and began bust
ness with capital of 100000. Con
sumers pay S1.75 per thousand if bill
| are promptly met and $500 if a dal
late. The company's law is inexor
able, Every dollar invested in the or
ganization of this company has increas
ed in thirty years $50 per cent
NO STOCK DIVIDENDS
have ever been issued: nothing bu
cash would satisfy the ambition Of thi
hloated monopoly. In 1869. S200.00'
! was paid in cash as dividends! in 1870
9 100000; in 1871, $4,000; in 1872
: $4,000 in 1873, s2oo. 600; in 1874
; $3.50, 600; in 1875, $4,000, in 1876
| $3.50, 600; in 1877, $685. in 1878
6 $4,000 So that the $500. 600 invest
i ed in 1913, in 1873 had grown TO 81.
2 142, 500. Ii should be born in min,
: that these aceumulations are over anc