The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-07-11
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondencel

fspecial Correspondence
Though modern statesmen have de-
creed that the United States is singular
and that the singular pronoun should
always be used in referring to our
country. the plural form Will stand for
centuries at least In one place in Wash
ington. On the pedestal of General Ma
thanael Greene's statue In the north
east portion OF Washington is this in
scrlption:
Sacred to the memory Of Nathaniel
Greene. Esquire native Of the state
OF Rhode Island. who died on the 9th
day Of June. 1856. late major general
in the service of the United States and
commander of their army in the south
prn department"
"There the plural form is used In
speaking of the United States, and
there It will live when the men who
have advocated the use Of the singular
are dead and forgotten, said an official
who insists on using the plural. while
admitting that Hamilton, Jefferson,
Blaine. Edmunds. Webster. Gresham
Olney. Depew and other American
statesmen too numerous TO mention
have held that the singular pronoun
should be used In referring to our gov
eminent. General Nathaniel Greene's
statue. with its inscription. will prob
ably outlast even the memories OF some
of these. because the statue Is or
bronze. while the solid granite pedestal
looks as If it might last until the crack
OF doom. The statue was raised good
many years ago. In the inscriptions on
other statues In Washington the singu-
lar is used in referring to the United
States. In many of the official docu-
ments, however. the plural form is
found. and frequently this evidence of
disregard for the unity of the govern
ment crceps into The Congressional
Record in the speeches made in the
house and in the senate.
"PremIum" Publications.
The postofiice department will within
a few days take final action on the
proposition to exclude from the United
States mails as second class matter
those newspapers for which subscrip-
tons are obtained by premiums. Off
cials of the department are practically
unanimous in the belief that the pub
lications complained of should be
denied the pound rate privilege, and
the opinion among postal officials Is
quite general that a departmental rule
against this class of publications will
be adopted. 1t Is said at the postotfice
department that a rule like that re
Gently suggested by Edwin c. Madden,
third assistant postmaster general,
would work great good TO the general
public in protecting credulous persons
from deceptive advertisements, would
wipe out the deficit in the postal reve-
nues and would render practicable a re-
duction In the rate Of letter postage.
The only objection urged against the
rule IS that it would operate against a
few of those who are publishers Of
legitimate newspapers and who try TO
introduce their publications into public
favor by the use Of premiums.
War on the shirt Waist.
The shirt waist has become a prob
lem in municipal government. to be
wrestled with and gravely discussed
By the board Of education and per
haps the commissioners Of the Dis
trict of Columbia. Principal NJ. F. F.
Swartzell Of the Eastern high school
is not a shirt waist man. and he has
hurled the issue up TO the District
authorities by sending to their homes
nearly % pupils of the Eastern high
school who went to their studies clad
in shirt waists. on the ground that such
garments are not proper attire. This
action threw CONSERVATION into the
ranks Of the students. and aroused
their parents to instant action. High
School Director Francis r. Lane has
already been appealed TO. He has de-
clined to render n decision upon the
delicate question upon his own respOn-
sibility, and before the board of educa-
ton meets again the school year will be
over. What the developments will be
Is a matter OF much interest and con
lecture. Before next summer 1t is prob
able an official decision will be handed
down and the status Of the shirt waist
with relation 10 education sharply de.
lined.
WaShInRtOn's Beautiful Parks.
Thanks TO the intelligent and compre-
hensive efforts Of Colonel Bingham,
the officer in charge. the public parks
OF Washington are probably more beau
tlful and attractive at this time than
ever before In the history Of the ma
tional capital. He has taken advan.
tage OF the bOuntles OF nature. assisted
by the appropriations of congress, tc
make the so called breathing spots OF
the capital yeritable places of Joy and
beauty.
The trees. plants and flowers are now
at their best, and Colonel Bingham has
received many compliments for thelI
neat and artistic development.
Colonel YoungbIOOd L. Ont.
Nothing has been done at the White
House about a place for Colonel vii
liam Youngblood. who has retired as
auditor of the treasury for the interior
department. and 1t is understood that
he will at once accept a business offer
from a New York house. Colonel
Youngblood's friends had expected that
provision would be made for him. but
he does not care to wait for an open.
ing and will cut loose from political
places In Washington. His business
will take him back south. where he will
resume an active connection with Ala
bama politics.
Senator Cocxrell on Cuba.
Senator Cockrell thinks the accept
ance Of the Plat amendment will