Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-02-10
OUR MAsnINGrON LETTER..
Canadian Afairs-Mr. Frye's Resolution
Tho Postal Telegraph the Chi
nese Rev Year viii he Observed
The Telephone Case.


From Our Regular Correspondent
The subject of the annexation OF Canada
by the United States has deem revived by
the resolution offered in the Senate by
Mr.. Frye, instructing the committee on
foreign relations to have prepared state
ment embracing the following points
| The various political organizations of the
| Dominion of Canada aud its several
provinces Gncluling New Fo1ndland) ,
he treaties with the United States in re
gard to the Dominion and its several
provinces the commercial status estab
Hshed the amount and value of the
| transit + te on goods not subject TO duty
the area and population of the Dominion
of Canada and its provinces the amount Of
their funded and floating debts their rev
enue their misunderstanding the mile
age, cost, share, capital, funded and floating
debts and the guarantee given to them of
| Great Britain or the Dominion Their
canals, showing the size of the locks, the
cost of the canals, the number of vessels
navigating them and the average number
of days that they are naVlgable the dates
| (for series Of years. of the opening and
closing of navigation on the ST Lawrence
river, and as to the subsidies paid to
There will not be much left to learn
about Canada if the senator's resolution
| is carried out 1t is claimed that the sole
| object of the resolution is to famillarize
the people of the United states with Can
ada and its resources. so that when the
time comes to talk annexation they will
| know what 1t is proposed to annex
Mr.. Frye says Of his resolution and his
reason for offering it; "The informa-
ton called for is exceedingly important
and valuable. The necessity for ii Is APP
parent, in view of the fact that serious
questions-commercial questions-are Ii
ahe to arise at any time between the
United States and Canada.
~
The feeling among congressman in fa-
vor of I government postal telegraph is
steadily growing and there would be eX-
cellent opportunity of passing some bill at
the present session, ii the friends Of tGa
measure would agree TO get mp one hill
that all of them could support, instead Of
Id,ViliuG their strength among number
Of bills IT, they are now doing. It Is the
old story, united we stand divided we
fall. ~
The postolice committee of the House
has agreed % report favorably bill that
will be energetcally fought 10y all the
publishers of paper covered novels, etc.
1t provides for the exclusion from second
class newspaper and periodical rates OF
postage, ali publications IN the nature OF
books, complete or in part, bound or uu-
bound, or III series, whether sold by sub
scription or otherwise.
~
The Chinese new year comes on the 18th
of February Your correspondent called
lIo l.tn "a +
tache of the Chinese legation this morning
to learn something about it. He said ;
1.-The first day of our new year comes on
a different day each year and this year
we have 10 months, that brings the New
Year day on the 18th inst, which will be
Sunday but as we have no Christian
Sabbath in China we need not put off the
celebration until Monday as you do in
this country in Ike event The Chinese
emperor will hold a reception-not like
your presidents reception-for the min
listers and gentlemen of his court These
ceremonies VIII begin before dawn and
continue through Saturday, the 18th, inst 4,
as the new year comes in by ii O'Clock
Saturday night. The holidays continue
from four to 10 days, finishing when all
the ceremonial calls have heen made. The
emperor holds audiences for his min
listers and high officials, and in every
province the chief holds audience for his
subordinates. Our ceremonies here Will
begin on Saturday, but will be private.
If we give reception it will be on Mon
day.
-
The action of the House committee on
postoflices and postroads in reporting ia
vorably bill requiring all land grant
railroads to construct and operate indie
pendent telegraph lines over their roads is
generally regarded among congressman
AZ a long step in the direction OF govern
ment telegraph system.
~
Roscoe Conkling and Robert &. lnger-
soil are arguing telephone case before
the commissioner of patents.
WASHINGTON, FEB. ,.
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