San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-08-13
NO. 81.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular corrsspesdsn,.
W1sutsarox huo 4 10


the New York Herald contained .
bitter attack by cable from London
on Stanleys Congo association. Sur
prise was expressed at the time, and
Stanley, who is in London, promptly
denied the charges made against the
association, and challenged investiga-
tion. And now Rear Admiral Eng
lish, Of the United States navy, comes
into the controversy with an elabor-
ate report to the navy department on
the Congo region, whittier he was
sent recently TO study the advisability
Of establishing commercial post at
the mouth of the river. Rear Admiral
English is emphatic in declaring
against the region as habitation for
white men, and his accounts sustain
in great measure the allegations Of
the Herald's correspondent. His
views, moreover, are confirmed by the
opinions OF commander Bridgman and
Mr. Tisdell, who have recently visited
the coast.
With but one or two exceptions the
American steamship companies have
refused to carry the foreign mails
after the 1st Of August at the rate Of
compensation rendered them blythe
postoffice department, SO that after
that date the service will be per-
formed almost entirely by foreign
companies. The postmaster-general
adhered to his decision not to distrib-
ute the 100000 subsidy among the
companies, but he offered them o rate
three times rs much as The ordinary
compensation, and three times as
much as foreign companies stood
ready to do the same work for I'm
der the circumstances, the American
companies might better have contin-
ued the service through the Summer
and autumn, and let congress- settle
any grievance they might have felt at
the action of the postoflice depart
ment.
Secretary Whitneyis candid enough
to admit that, for obvious reasons,
our navy officers know little about the
construction Of iron ships, and he de-
clares that the department will go
"modestly and deliberately" in it's
efforts to build up O modern navy.
Some other nations would be much
better of, pecuniarily and as naval
powers, if they had observed similar
policy. Millions upon millions have
been squandered by various countries
in costly experiments, and in spite OF
these expensive lessons it is true OF
other nations as OF this, that little is
fixed in modern naval architecture.
Forty years ago, the concerts at the
White House grounds were quite diff
ferent in many ways from what they
now are. They were then looked up
on as quito aristocratic. Senators
and cabinet ministers promenaded
with their wives, while the common
herd was supposed to be provided for
by those given by tne same band at
the capitol on Wednesdays.
In these days we hear q great deal
abont doing as they did in Jackson's
day The fact of the matter is, peo-
pie who talk that way don't think
much. II is now impossible to do as
they did in Jackson's day. There is
Ill the difference between that time
and now, that there is between riding
1 walking-siick as boy, and making
ssuccess Of riding bucling mule.
The entire popular vote cast IN 1924
according to the best records, wasless
shan 100000. In 1884 it was about
100000. In 1910, when Hurrison
vas elected, it was only q little over
J, 100000. But these figures express
,nly very small side Of the case.
rhe number Of employees has increased
n much greater ratio. It is now some
hing Simply enormous. The en-
,loyes Of the postofice department.
or instance, extend through all the
departments. The railway mail, the
.arrier system, and cheap postage
ave done it The number Of en-
,loyes 10 day is said 10 be five times
s great as when the republicrns took
he reins Of the government IN 1850
The time is certainly coming when
onething must be done 10 very much
elieve the heads ofdsp4rtnents One
mind cannot grasp the whole Of tins
,reAt system. There are as many Of
ics-seskers 10 day as there we're voters
4 Is24 L