Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1891-03-19
WASHING TON LETTER..
WASHINGTON. Mon. 18. 1S91

the postal service Of the government
through the Inauguration of the free.de-
livery system In all the cities and larger
towns of the country are now so much
regarded as matters of course that it is
difficult to conceive how the old system
could have been sufficient for these
communities twenty years ago. Not
only has the new system thoroughly
adapted itself to the convenience of the
people, but 1t has also promoted dis
patch in correspondence and greatly in
creased its volume. In this way the
method of free delivery has added TO
the general revenue of the postofice de-
partment, The logical inference from
The success which has attended its ope-
ration within its present range points
clearly to its wider extension if not to
general adoption. The question is n in
which Postmaster General Wanamaker
takes a deep interest. Upon his recon.
mendation congress has appropriated
$4,000 to enable him to obtain infor
nation that may justify him in propos.
ing a much larger scheme than that now
In operation, With the view of ascer.
tanning how far the desired extension of
the system is practicable, it is proposed to
expend the congressional appropriation
which has been referred to by making
1ree'delivery experiments in twenty five
different localities, widely scattered over
the country, and embracing all kinds of
conditions and circumstances. When n
sufficient period oftime for making these
experiments has been allowed, full re.
ports will be made to the department
containing definite information, which
VIII serve to guide the action of the
postmaster general in regard to his
matter. There can be little doubt that
the result of these experiments will be
the extension of the free.delivery system
TO thousands of American citizens where
1t is not furnished now, and the end will
be That the postal service of the United
States will ultimately deliver the let
teis OF all the people at their doors, and
at a cost OF which they will scarcely be
conscious.
With the election of Palmer as United
States senator from illinois once more
arises the question as 10 the political
condition of the body which has for its
supreme official Vice President Morton.
Republicans now place their majority
at ten; doing so because they believe that
Kyle, of South Dakota, and PETER, of
Kansas, will fill the political vacancies
caused by the departure of Moody and
ingalls,. The other Alliance Senator,
MI Troy, OF South Carolina, will un-
aouOtedly vote with the democrats on
all political matters. Two vacancies
have yet TO be filled but there can &c no
douh as 10 the result The successor
TO Senator Wilson, of Maryland, will,
or course, be a democrat, and it is
equally certain thai he who succeeds the
late Senator Hearst, OF California, will be
a republican. Governor jackson will
appoint the Maryland sen tor and III
California Legislature (now in session
and overwhelmingly republican, will
take care of some good republican
leader. Unless there should be olheI
changes before December next there
will be forty-nine republicans and thirty
nine democrats in the senate when II
again assemblies for business. 1t has
been intimated that XVI lie and Peter
woald joi lrby and he democracy a.
critical periods, but That would till
leave the republicans with "a majority OF
six.
1t is being generally accepted that the
presidents political eyes and are sharply
watching the horizon and taking in
everything akin to "a sign Of the times
that may ha a bearing on his future.
The publication a few days ago of "a
long news letter sigued by a close friend
of the president is one of the most con-
vincing indications that the president
wants a denomination. This letter sew
eral columns in length, was a resume of
the work of the administration and a
claim for public approval. 1t was not
= a private scheme, written by an individual
journalist, but was prepared under the
semi-olicial auspices of the executive
departments, The Information thus
spread abroad was obtained through
official sources drawn from the sub
branches and bureaus through the me.
dunn OF requests from the cabinet
officers. The document, therefore, had
the stamp and flavor of an executive
announcement, and as such it was sig.
nifcant.
The practical point in the Behring
matter is the protection of the seal every
wherein the North Pacific as well as
in the Behring sea. Fhis can be secured
by arbitration, all the governments in.
terested agreeing to measures that will
effect the purpose, There is general
qualification in both countries that this
troublesome matter is now in a fair way
to be settled on q basis that saves the
substantial rights and interests of all
parties to the dispute. R.
Ingalls, and the Coast.
The articles contributed 10 the New