The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-06-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Free Delivery In the COuntry-GOV-
ernOr stone Looks the Part-One
of John Aliens Stories.
Especial correspondence

llUl 10 U1NhMuAN sup NAAA w AtAhNA'
Reports showed that where the routes
are selected with due care as to the
character of the roads and the number
OF farmers to be served the amount
saved from the abolition Of fourth class
offices with the growth of revenue bal
anced the extra expense. Perhaps the
most significant fact about the expert
ments is the rapid increase in use OF
the mails by farmers when they find
themselves served at their doors from
day to day. On some rural routes the
postal receipts have increased from 90
to 70 per cent Some routes already
actually pay for the additional cost Of
free delivery by this increase Of patron
age. The debate indicated that 1t will
be a very short time until congress will
attempt TO make more general appli-
cation of the principle Of rural free de-
livery. In the recent debate 1t was
proposed that hereafter when contracts
are let for the carrying Of the daily
mail from postoflice to postoffice In the
country the free delivery and collection
from farmhOuses on and adjacent to
the route shall be included. This is
rather startling proposition, but 1t was
advocated with considerable zeal
Stone Looks the Part.
William ]. Stone Of Missouri cannot
understand why he should be an OBJ
ject Of suspicion wherever he goes. He
commented upon this when he was In
Washington not long ago. The incident
which occurred in the meeting OF the
Democratic national committee was
fresh In his mind. A fellow member
had mildly expressed the hope that the
gaunt Missourlan would not make i'm
proper use Of the proxies with which
his pockets seemed to be well lined.
The former governor had resented 1t
fiercely. In talking about the expert
ence Governor Stone said: 81 don't IN
derstand why | should be subjected to
such insinuatiOns repeatedly. 1t seems
as If somebody was always question
ing my sincerity and loyalty. am get
ting mighty tired Of having such a rep
utation. I'd like tc know how l got it
and why cannot get rid Of II" The
Missourian was standing In front Of a
large mirror as he aired his grievance
against the political world. well, gov
ernor," said his friend. after some de-
liberation, II guess one way to account
for the bad reputation you've got is
that you look the part. You know what
was said of the lean and hungry Cas-
slus.'" Governor Stone glanced at his
full length counterfeit in the mirror
and, shaking his head, said, Perhaps
that accounts for it."
One of John Aliens Stories.
John Allen Of Mississippi has story |
which he locates in st. Louis. He tells |
It to illustrate his own feelings when
people refer in his presence to the late
senatorial contest in his state. when
q man digs me in the ribs" said Mr..
Allen, "and asks, How about that SEN
atorial business in your slater l am re-
minded of a friend Of mine who went |
up to st. Louis and was induced to Wis |
1t the Cotton Exchange. There he fell |
In with some acquaintance who were |
sure cotton was going up. Before my |
friend had finished his visit he had CIV
en- a broker an order to buy 200 bales.
He started to leave the exchange, but |
before he got to the door he was over
taken and notified that he would have |
to put up another margin Cotton had /
dropped. Shortly after he reached his |
hotel a second call on him was made. |
Cotton had dropped again. A little lat
er he took his valise and paid his blu, !
with the intention Of leaving for home.
Just before he got out Of the hotel
third demand was made. On the way |
to the depot he met an acquaintance,
who nudged him and asked, 'How's
cottonT My friend went on in silence |
q little distance, and then he said. 4
never did like that darned fool when
cotton was high"
Soldiers Home at Charleston.
The senate having already received q
favorable report upon a bill providing
for the establishment Of n soldiers
home in Charleston harbor at or near
Castle Pinckney, the house military
affairs committee has also heard q del
egation of leading Charleston men IN
behalf Of the measure. ]. 9. Hemphill,
James Simons, A. @. Kaufman (the
long time advocate Of the proposition),
F. w. WAGNER and others urged the
plan as one designed especially for the
benefit of veterans needing the favor
Ing genial climate enjoyed In the his
toric harbor. For many reasons the
location would be an Ideal one, and II
It were found that Castle Pinckney
was not as desirable as some other site
here are many places near Charleston
that could be secured for the purpose.
To the enfeebled veterans who suffer
distress In getting through the hard
weather at more northerly points this
resort in the sunny south would be-
come attractive, and 1t would serve a
useful purpose in relieving other sol
Hers homes that became crowded.
The opinion of the supreme court af-
1rming the constitutionallty of the IN
heritance tax was q surprise to many
learned lawyers, who expected a deci-
sion similar to that in the income tax
,ase. They reasoned on the theory
hat II 1t is unlawful for the federal
government to impose a direct tax up
IN a mans property when he is living
t should be equally unlawful to impose
/ tax when he is dead. The court, how
ever, makes the distinction very clear.
CARL SCHoFIELD.
~ = nLr.