Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-05-09
NATIONAL NOTES.


Our Diplomatic servfce-Fostal Tolo4
grsphy-Bounsy Lands.
WAsHNeron, April 30.-The President
sent to the House Of Representatives long
from the Secretary OF State
with regard-to the proposed reduction IN the
amount of appropriation by the consular
and diplomatic bin and changes proposed I'm
the consular and diplomatic service Of the
United States. II consists mainly In sug-
gestions as to the duties and needs Of Of
6cers of the Omitted States, abroad, ana the
necessity of maintaining the two services.
consular and diplomatic distinct. and upon
an effective basis. Frelinghuyson considers
it inexpedient to require representatives OF
the United States abroad to exercise at the
same time both consular and diplomats
functions, partly because 1t Is looked upon
by many foreign Governments with. disfayor
as manifesting want for proper respect for
them by the Government of tie United
States, and partly because the dIties OF con-
suls differ widely from those Of diplomatic
officers, and each class of duties requires
the undivided time and attention
of q single person The Secre-
tary expresses the opinion that the
officials of the service are now undsrpaid,
and says with national and necessary poycy
forbidding European political intervention
on this continent, with system Of goveEms
ment regarded by many other countries
with disfsvor and q production greater
than we can consdme which must seek o.
foreign market 1t is vitality important to-
sustain sufficient and well compensated dip
lomatic and consular service. This public
service is now seriously hampered by lack
Of funds although the former branch costs
very much less than that Of any other
power, while the latter Is self-sustaining. The
primary duty Of the Government is to pro
tect its citizens wherever they may be. To
this duty the question Of money should bo
subordinate and the cost of q single part or
even the entire service Of this country does
not merfi> serious consideration when COM
pared with the jealous protection Of the
rights of LfneTican citizens abroad, which
they have a right to expect and demand.
DELIRTUM rREMfsNs AMONG OFFICERS.
The announcement o. few days ago .hafa
prominent naval officer had been sent to tho
Government Hospital for tAe Insane with
an attack of delirium tremens, has provoked
an inquiry which will end in another army
scandal. 1t is ascertained that owing to
prevalent intemperanco among officers here
a special ward is set aside for their treat
ment. The hospital officers are very reti'
cent on the subject. They admit, however,
that no less than five officers have recently
been locked up for the purpose OF giving,
them O chance to recover from their ex-
cesses. During the year good many have
been confined temporarily, having in most
cases been sent there by their own relatives
or friends, though in a few instances they
have presented themselves of their own &C
cord. The facts In these cases arenOt made
matter Of record for the sake of the officers
themselves, and the wisdom of this is
pointed out by showing that the result has
In most instances been brought about by a
cure. There are said to be four or five OH
GERS, however, who have been confined time
after time An official investigation is now
threatened, and If Il is rigidly carried out IL
will in all probability result in some dis
honorable dismissals from both the military
and naval 3ervices.
POSTAL TEIEGRAPHY.
The subcommittee of the House Commit
tee on Post-roads having under considera-
ton the Postal Telegraph bill considered
the bill providing for the contract SYSTEM
The bill Oh that subject was taken as basis
Of a lengthy discussion which took place
respecting the maximum uniform limit at
which the contract should be made. Some
members of the committee contend the uni
form rate should be fixed at twenty-five
cents for twenty words, while others held
twenty too low to induce competent cor
poration to compete Cor the contract and
maintained that the maximum rate should
be at least twenty-five cents. The opinion
is expressed that the full committee will
adopt the latter figure. The bill was not
perfected when the subcommittee adjcUrned
and definite action was postponed.
BOUNTY LANDS.
The subcommittee of the House Com.
mittee on Public Lands decided 10 favorably
report to the full committee Representative
Townshends bill granting bounty lands to
soldiers of the late war. The bill provides
that every person who served In the late
war not less than fourteen days and was
honorably discharged shall be entitled to
eighty acres of public land; those who
served not loss than one year TO one hun
dred and twenty acres. and those who served
not less than two years to one hundred and
sixty acres. In the event of death of such
person during the service or after honorable
discharge the patent shall issue to the sur
viving wife, child or children, II there be
any, and If none, to the father, and If no
father to the mother.