The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-02-12
Washington Letter.

It has been a little dell at the
capital this week, land will probably
be dull until the 22nd of February,
when the monument will be dedica-
ted, and then for two weeks until
the 4th of March, the city will be
as lively as crowds and great ex-
pectations can make it.
Congress has resolved not to do
much more than pass appropriation
bills. The executive departments
are moving along in a despairing
way with their routine work. The
sad eyed government clerk waits
with fear and trembling the day of
political judgment, hoping that
Cleveland may overlook all his sins
of omission and commission and
retain him in the trust that he has
so long abused. Democratic politi-
clans have gone in large numbers
to meet the president elect IN New
York. Republican politicians with
out leader or a cause are doing
nothing.
Mr.. Beecher was hero during the
week as lecturer and there is no
doubt that he was cut by his old
republican admirers. 1t is true
that the democrats helped to fill the
breach, but the democrats are not
numerous or rich yet. The hall
was not much more than half fall,
and for the first time in years the
great crater saw many vacant seats
before him. If he will come again
next year he will have a better
house;he is an entertaining lecturer,
and, as prophet, is superior to the
editor of the New York Sun.
Mr.. Cleveland has sent invita-
tions to large number OF promi-
nent democrats to meet him in New
York, thus far none have sent their
regrets. There was almost a quo.
rum Of congress in Now York on
Friday. A Virginia delegation has
gone to urge the appointment Of
Mr.. Barbour as postmaster general
Mr.. Barbour is well fitted for the
place, and his appointment would
mean utter extinction of the pesti-
lent little Malone.
The democratic statesmen who
have returned from New York seem
to be impressed with the honesty OF
purpose and good common sense OF
Mr.. Cleveland. It is observed also
that they have caught from Mr..
Cleveland the contagiOn of holding
their tongues. They persistently
refuse to disclose any private con-
vsrsations held between President
elect Cleveland and his party asso-
ciates. The republicans are lock-
ing and praying for factional fights
and political blunders in the new
administration. Many democratic
leaders have been to see Mr.. Cleve-
land in the last six weeks, and
they have all come away well pleas
ed with the coming president and
have determined to do all in their
power to make his administration
successful.
There is prospect of a still fur
Their reduction of postage, by in
u OASAh5 VIC "OiSh1 VI AioO SA2oo
matter that may be carried for two
cents from an ounce to two ounces.
The committee appointed by the
publishers of the west and north
west to urge upon congress the pro-
priety and justice of reducing the
postage On newspapers report pro-
gress which is encouraging. The
house committee on postoffices is in
favor of reducing the postage from
two cents a pound to one cent,
The present tax of postage on news
papers is a very heavy one, amount
ing to little less than two million
dollars per annum. The postage
was put on about ten years ago by
certain men in congress who took
this method of revenge for harsh
criticism received from the press.
One of them was Mr.. Hamlin of
Maine who thought that the large
city papers would be the chief suf-
ferers, but the result was that the
tax was felt most heavily by the
weekly papers. The large daily
papers avoided some of the expense
by employing express companies at
cheaper rates. 1t is thought uni
form postage of one cent per pound
will result in giving the government
all the business with only slight
decrease in the present revenue.