The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1891-07-23
THE FUNERAL REFORM,
NO MORE SCANDAL IN BURYING
WASHINGTON OFFICIALS.
The Recent Experiments Made by the
Government to Produce Rain Has
Proven Satisfactory-Severa North
CarOlinians in Washington.

The Recent Experiments Made by the
Government to Produce Rain Has
Proven Satisfactory-Several North
Carolinians in Washington.
Especial Correspondence to THE SENTINEL
WASHINGTON, July, 1S.-Secretary
of the Treasury yesterday issued a
warrant for $26,217 in favor of the
Governor of North Carolina on ac-
count of the direct tax act. This
represents the amount withheld
through an error of calculation, and
swells the total amount refunded to
the State to $4O4 ,O54.
The recent experiments made by
the Government to produce rain,
by the process recently outlined in
this column have been proved sue
cessful. 1t is claimed that scientists
can now arrest q season of drOuth,
and save the growing crops. In the
face of this important discovery, it
looks like the Farmers Alliance
management alone, and go to work
This is an Important point gained.
and it would seem that it would
cou t for ,,ore than having a lot of
anna eur-po olitico-farmersh holding the
rcin. of Government. 1t is not safe
for an, one calling to havea monop-
olv wi holding Office. A diversity in
prn.,'s ions in this matter is an i'm
POI t;,ni as a diversity in crops on
the,fnrm.
The Senate Committee on Rules,
whici. is now in session at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel il New York city, has
agreed to ItPOrt to that body an
amendm mcnt to the rules which will
undoubtedly bring about a reform
in Senatorial funerals. That the fun
erals of public officials have very fire.
quently been productive of scandal is
a fact too we'll esta blished, butit has
been difficult matter for the Senate
committee to prescribe a proper
style of burial for persons who die
while holding seats in that august
body. The members of the Senate
committee have not yet agreed on
all of the details of the proposed fun
ereal reform, but they have decided
to report in favor of reducing the
and will recommend that the number
of members detailed to accompany
the remains of deceased statesmen be
reduced to the minimum. If this rule
is strictly adhered to the reform will
be assured, and the Congressional
funeral will be shown of it's wholesale
excursion features. 1t is true that
there are very few instances in which
the relatives of deceased members
desire the regulation Congressional
funeral. 1t is generally forced upon
them by those persons who are self
ishly interested in observing a much
abused custom. There are but few
reasons for the average Congression-
al funeral, and many good reasons
why it should not be SO. The Senate
committee is moving in the right
direction. l have on previous occa-
sions given an itemized account of
these funeral junkets. The cost of
them ranges from $25, 900 to $780,
600. Among the most ridiculous ex-
penditures are those of cases of the
most expensive champagne for the
cortege to drink, en- route to the
home of the deceased, several dozen
pairs of mourning gloves for the
whole retinue, special coaches, guam
titles of bay rum, lunches of the most
elaborate description, the services of
a special barber, ETC., etc. Your read
ers may doubt the truth of this as
sertion l would not blame them if
they concluded I was trying to outdo
Baron Munchausen at his own spe-
cialty, but the items and the figures
n 80 ~, vnoorl ~ Iff1o M r,vh1ot
| have had access to at the Capitol.
Once quoted many ofthese items in
| the Statesville Landmark and know
ing Joe Caldwell's cautious sense of
| Justice as well as his fearless candor l
| sent the PROOFS IN BLACK AND WHITE
TO HIM for fear he would think was
trying to make up sensation with
| out sufficient basis of facts. I think
that young man was as much as
| tonished as / was when the utterly
absurd and criminally extravagant
figures were placed before him bear
| ing the imprimatur of an official
affidavit from the Sergeant-at-Arms
| Of the Senate, who was forced to
account for the hundreds and thou
sands of dollars spent. l wish the
| Farmers Alliance politicians would
/ expend some of their extra zeal on
i un-earthing some of this sort of cor
ruption. If they will get hold of that
little pamphlet and publish the items
broadcast they viii set the people
to thinking. They will learn the ever
lasting gratitude of the masses, and
save the taxpayers great deal ol
money. They will however, have to
| mt tho h1o mo uhoro ~ holonro viz
on the shoulders of the republican
party for that party has been in the
saddle here since the "days of recon
struction" excepting for q space o
four years when Grover Cleveland's
democratic administration left the
biggest surplus in the Treasury the
i Nation ever had before or since.
There was a rumor to day that Sec
retary Blaine would not return te
Washington on schedule time Ths
report here is that the President re
4 Gently received letter from Mrs
Blaine saying that Mr.. Blaine il
slowly improving, but that he will
hardly be able to return to Wash
ington for several months. The ru
NOR has it that the President, whit
has made up his mind that Mr.. Blain
J will not be here. for some time, ha
. decided to make trip to Bar Har
Dor soon.
A civil service examination will b
held on. July 81, commencing at
a. M, to fill a vacancy in the divis
ion of entomology Of the Department