The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1898-05-26

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During the neXt year the postage
stamps will be printed at the bureau Of
engraving and printing Of the Treasury
Department instead of by private cOntrac-
tors. The contract will amount to over
S62, 5OO,O 600 even at the extraordinarily
low price charged. The ordinary post
age stamps will be furnished at 3 cents a
thousand, postage-due stamps at ia
cents a thousand, newspaper and periodi-
cal stamps at 6.05 cents a thousand and
special delivery stamps at ia cents a
thousand. The contract contemplates a
total of 3,063. 633,Ss5 ordinary stamps,
4.34G,330 special delivery stamps, 5,544,-
229 newspaper stamps and 19,573,16O
po%stage-due stamps. There has been an
enormous increase in the stamp business.
Ten years ago., in 1883, the total value Of
stamps issued was $3S,29S, 741; to-day it
is $62,5S0,2O1; twenty years ago, in 1878,
the total was only $21, 1S0,557.90.
The speech of Mt. Chamberlain, British
minister of the colonies, in Birmingham
the other day, is not taken seriously in
Washington, neither by our own Govern
ment nor by the members Of the diplO-
matte corps. While an Anglo-Saxon al
lance would not be unnatural, or unpro-
fta bic for England, there are complica-
tons which would make it impossible at
present, and the fact that Mr.. Chamber
lain proclaims it would make it unpopular
ia esrttain Influential siEeles aer2sg ths
water, for he is not regarded as a pFac-
teal a He is the frequent inventor
of new political policies; he is an uneasy,
restless patriot, impulsive and impetuous,,
who talks as fast as he thinks, and never
fears to express himself On all subjects.
He has belonged to all political parties,
one after another, and is always %springing
novelties upon the British people.
There is a fear at the Navy Department
lest it may be necessary to exercise severe
discipline with some of the naval reserves
who have enlisted for the war. Two of
the Maryland reserves, who We're ordered
to the auxiliary cruiser Dixie, have de-
serted. If they are apprehended and con-
ylcted Of desertion under the laws of war
they will have to be shot. Both Of them
are said to be young men of good families
and excellent character, who enlisted UNI
der mistaken notions. They supposed that
they were going out for a summers cruise,
to have a gay time Of it, but when they
found that they were expected to scrub
decks, clean guns, shovel coal and do 9th
er mental labor, these proud son Of Mary
land bolted without saying good-by and
have not since been seen. There has also
been considerab BILE trouble Of this kind
with the military volunteers.
The surgeons who have been making
examinations Of the members Of the mill
tia volunteers will make reports that will
be apt to discourage the bicycle habit, and
particularly the use Of low %handlehars.
1t is said at the medical department Of the
army that a great number Of the volun-
teers who have been rejected for physical
disability are bicycle riders, who, by that
violent exercise, have developed diseases
Of the heart and the spine which unfit
them for exposure or endurance. These
troubles are said to be confined almost
entirely to riders who use low handleb.-s
and lean forward in the saddle.
Something owe $1,000 900 has already
been expended in war preparations, and
about $4,000, 600 more of obligations are
outstanding that will mature during the
present month, making a total of $780,
100000 up to date, with contracts being
made daily for all sorts Of purposes involv-
ing the expenditure Of millions. The Sen
ate Committee on Finance after consid-
ering the subject very carefully came to
the conclusion that the efforts of the
United States to free Cuba would cost not
less than $780, 10000, provided the war
was not prolonged more than one year.
Gen. Lee is going to have a sensational
staff, if all the persons who have applied
for service with him are gratified. Some
how or another the ambitious young men
who have received staff appointments. and
particularly the sons Of their fathers, ap-
pear to think that Gen. Lee is going to be
a favored commander, for most Of them
have applied for service with him. Rus
sell Harrison, James G.. Blaine and AL
gernon Sartoris are among the number,
and his own son, George Mason Lee, is
also to be appointed.
The first thing that Gen. Wheeler did
when he was assigned to a command was
to ask that his son be detailed as a mem
Der of his staff. Secretary Alger has de-
tailed his son az a member Of the staff Of
Gen. Miles. There is a good deal of the
favorite son business going ON in Wash
inOfnn if1ct now in oornno4o, 1911 IL
army appointments.
1t is not believed by anybody in Wash
ington that the Spaniards will attempt to
send ships or troops to Manila. 1t would
be useless for them to do so, unless the
squadron is stronger than that of Admiral