Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-03-01
MEN ANDTHIRGs AT WASHINGTON.

SATURDAY, MAR. 1st, 1890.
MEN ANDTHIRGS AT WASHINGTON.
The location of the Worlds Fair has
been settled in favor of Chicago after a
brief and spirited contest. New York
lost her opportunity by injecting politics
into the matter, and thus she misses the
greatest opportunity ever offered in
which to advertise herself among the ma
tions of the world. Washington really
never had any chance for the Fair, as
there were too many good reasons why
its location in this city was impracticable.
The railroad facilities are wholly made
quate to transport the visitors and ex-
hibits, whilst the hotel accommodations
are entirely too meager for such vast
crowd as would inevitably be present on
the occasion. In addition to this gener-
al feeling prevailed that Washington had
already received more than her share of
public favors, inasmuch as Congress is
annually voting from the public treasury
large sums OF money which are expended
in identifying her parks, extending her
streets and in the erection of public
buildings The result seems to be ac-
cepted with general satisfaction and the
whole country will unite in making the
Fair a success.
1t is seriously proposed in both houses
of Congress to pass law for the purpose
of Isdistricting the state of Ohio in or
der that the Republicans may not suffer
at the hands of the Democrats In Ohio at
the next Congressional election 1t is
to be hoped that there are enough sensi-
BILE Republicans in Congress to prevent
the success of this absurd scheme. 1t is
certainly not DESTROYS that the Democrats
should gerrymander Congressional dis
tricts. but the Republicans have been do
ing this very thing when opportunity
offered, and they should now manfully
stand up and take their own medicine.
The Finance Committee in the Senate
have decided upon an important matter
Of public policy, and one which ought to
give great satisfaction to the green back
ers, as it in a great measure approves
and vindicates the course of that politi-
cal party. This is nothing less than the
proposition to authorize the Secretary of
the Treasury to increase the purchase of
silver from two millions to four millions
of dollars per month, and to issue silver
certificates to that amount for general
circulation. 1t will be remembered that
Mr.. Cleveland prophesied that the coin
age of two millions Of silver per month
would drive gold out of the country, and
precipitate financial disaster. Time and
the logic of events have shown his views
to have been utterly fallacious. There is
a well-grounded belief that the amount
of money now in circulation is totally
inadequate to meet the business require
ments of the country, and one of the I'M
fortunate results thereof is the present
low price of agricultural products. Eng
lane has persistently exerted her endeav-
ors to depress the value of silver in order
that she might keep down the price of
grain, inasmuch as she is annually
large purchaser thereof, and consequent
ly interested in low prices. She has ex-
pended eight hundred millions of dollars
to build canals and railways in India in
order to get the wheat raised in that
country to market. The standard of
value in India is silver, and the more the
price of silver can be depressed the
cheaper England can buy her wheat.
Under the preeent rate of exchange it is
estimated that the American farmer
suffers to the extent of twenty nine
cents per bushel in wheat. Is it not
therefore sound policy to counteract
these efforts of English statesmen by
giving silver its proper place in the stand.
ard of value. Silver is the poor man 8
necessity and tobacco is the poor mans
luxury. The former should again be
placed on a relative par with gold and
the latter should be relieved of taxation.
The modification of the interstate COM
merce law is being seriously discussed in
Congress. Experience has shown that
this law produces great hardships not
only upon the railroads, but upon many
of the farmers in the western states who
are situated remote from the markets.
One prominent railroad president esti-
mates that the operations of this law in
ficts upon the railroads of the country
loss of fifty millions Of dollars each year,
and in discussing the matter he comes to
the conclusion that the federal govern,
ment should acquire ownership of the
railways. The proposition may startle
some conservative people but it will Ill
timately be found to be the only remedy
for many of the evils which now afflict
the business interests of the country.
The transportation of freight underlies
the very foundation of every class of
business, and that it should be fixed and
staple in character will not be denied by
any intelligent person. This end can
never be attained SO long as the railroad
system of the country is in the hands of
an army of men each having different
and selfish ends in view, and sooner or
necessary. The objection raised is one
OF political morals, and it seems practical
BILE to meet it by absolutely divorcing
railways from politics by incorporating
into the constitution provision etfectu
ally securing such result.
Mr.. Wanamaker seems determined to
confer boon upon the country by con-
ferring upon it a limited postal telegraph
system. He asks authority from Con-
gress to transmit Geographic messages
between all the great cities at rates
which are less than half those charg-
ed by private corporations. This move
ment cannot but fail to be immensely
popular among all classes and especially
among merchants and business men. The
use of the telegraph has recently become
necessary in all business establishments,
and if the rates are lowered to such
scale as proposed by the Postmaster Gen
eral the use of the telegraph would be
largely augmented and the convenience
of the public promoted in a correspond
ing degree, There is every reason to be-
lieve that Congress will sanction the
measure, and that before the close of the
present session we shall be able to tele
graph any distance not exceeding five
hundred miles and to the limit of twenty
words for a sum not exceeding ten cents.
This may prove Objectionable to the
private corporations who have SO long
maintained monopoly of the business,
but it will prove highly gratifying to the
public and will secure for Mr.. Wanna
maker their lasting gratitude.
G. w. z. BLACK.
Don't Feel Well