Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-02-03

| licans at the capital would have expressed
similar opinions in regard to Mr.. CLEVELAND
who had been loud in his profession OF all
sorts of reforms and who had not then
been in Office long enough ior the people
| to discover what n skilltul word -juggler
he was
This letter may prove a boomerang in
stead of benefit, if Senator ingalls, should
see fit to make public his present opinion
of Cleveland and his methods, particular
| ly if he should relate some of the things
that have come directly under his own
personal knowledge for instance, the
case of the late H. j. Ramsdell, who was
register of wills for this district.
Cleveland sent for Senator ingalls,, who,
it will be remembered, is chairman
of the Senate committee on the District of
Columbia, and in a general talk on Dis
| trict affairs assured him in the strongest
possible language that he was perfectly
satisfied with the manner in which Rams
dell had conducted his office and that he
| intended to keep him there. Senator In
gals informed Mr.. Ramsdell, who was a
personal friend, of this conversation and
the latter gentleman, who was in poor
| health, prepared to take short vacation.
| Before he had returned Cleveland had re-
moved him from Office for no cause what
ever, except that the position was wanted
for the democrat who made the negotia-
tions which put Cleveland in possession
of an elegant summer residence in the
| suburbs of this city. When Senator In
gals learned of this action on the part of
| Cleveland you may be very sure that the
opinions expressed differed very widely
| from those written in March, 50.
The Old adage, sin time of peace pre-
pare for war; occurred to your CORE
spOndent as he stood to-day in room at
the navy department ana gaZed at box
about six feet long by foot square, ap
parently less than 100 pounds in weight,
| ig4h al u ~ l II
well know army and navy officers. The
box contained a Maxim automatic gun.
! 1t IS Tapid-tirinQ, SmAIiCSllDer weapon,
operating solely by the action of the re
coil it is provided with water jacket
around the barrel to prevent overheating.
1t is claimed by the inventor that the gun
will fire 700 shots Il minute. The action Is
started 10y the operator, who sits on a
saddle on the rear leg OF the tripod, pres
sing spring in the hreech, when the
firing begins The feed is from belts
holding about hundred rounds each,
which are contained in a box fitting
under the middle part o. the gun
Sighting is done by means of pair OF
handles at the breech, and the lightness
OF the gun enables the operator to easily
sweep the entire horizon. 1t is needless
to say that the inventor of this gur
wants to sell it to the government. TC
say that thing Is on exhibition in this
city is equivalent to saying that its owner
is trying to sell 1t to Uncle Sam.
| understand that very favorable i'm
preston has been made Oh the officers OF
the ordnance
The Senate committee on elections have
fixed Friday, February Ii, as the date fol
the hearing of argument as to the title o.
Senator Turpie of Indiana. Ii is not at al
probable that the senator will be disturb
ed, although some gross lrregularltle,
have been shown to have taken place il
| his election.
Mr.. Plumb has offered resolution in
the Senate to instruct the postofflce com
mittee to enquire into the causes of the
| inefficient mail service, particularly in
the South and West. He presented letters
and newspapers showing the demoralized
condition of the service in Kansas, and
gave as. his opinion-whch isgenerally con
CURED in by observant people-that the
trouble was caused by the stupid attempts
of the postmaster general to make show
ing OF economy in the conduct OF the
service. The condition of the ser
vice has got to be unbearable
ly or it will be bad for the democratic ad
ministration. The people are willing tc
pay for good service and if there are moi
employees enough let others be employed
Give us goou aud prompt mail service
no matter what it costs and the people
will not object,
have appointed Messrs. Sawyer, Chact
and Salisbury sub committee on posta
telegraph bills and Messrs. Reagan, vii
son and Quay sub committee to consider
questions relating to the pay of fourth
class postmasteIs ana to the pay auC
hours of letter .rrerS.
A bill was introduced in the House to
to day to erect in this city an equestrian
statue of General Custer, the gallant cav
alryman, who was killed by the Indians.
The select committee of tseven author
lied by the resolution OF the senate, &c
whom shall be referred the Paclilc rail-
road report, and the presidents message
theron, have not been appointed. and vii
not be for some days. 1t will consist OF foul
republicans.a land three democrats, and ne
member of the judiciary is TO be placec
on this select committee. The committee
would have been appointed before this
but the democrats asked for delay in or
der to give them time to select the dem
ocratic members of the committee.
The treasury department has overruled
the action of the collector OF customs al
Burlington, VT, III assessing duty at the
rate of one cent per pound on ceTtall
fresh fish caught in an arm OF Lake
Champlain imported into his district IL
barrels and tnen sent TO Boston and New
York for market. The collector claimed
that while none of the importatlons exceed
ed 1000 pounds they were sufficiently large
. 10 raise COuDl Ol tnelI Deluk lntehoe'
: for immediate consumption. The depart
ment held, however, that the quantlt.
was too small to justify any doubt on th
subject. The collector was therefore IN
structed to readjust the entries and to re
fund the duties eXacted.
Speaker Carlisle and h ) wife were car
ried from Baltimore to Fortress Monro
by the United States revenue cutie
"EWiug" on Sunday. Who placed thi
government vessel at Mr.. Carlisle's dis
pcsal and by what authority was it done
are questions that should be asked thl
great reform administration.
The postotlice committee of the Senat
have reported against reducing letter post
age to one cent at this time.
The Blair Bill-A Bitter Wrangle Expect
ed over the hauderson Pension Bill
nrinLinr HahI1s of Soma WRsh-