The Republican journal., 1902-02-27
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
Waldo County Matters at the Nat:ona'
Capital.
fSroo;o, n &c Tho Journal

Waldo County Matters at the Nat'oh"'
! Capital.
| Especial Correspondence OF The Journal
WASHINGTON. D. c., Feb. 26.-Sev-
eral residents of Thorndike, in Waldo
county, who want rural free delivery
route established out of that town,
have forwarded their petition here.
The petition has been filed with the
Post office Department by Gov. Bur
leigh, who has requested that 1t be
placed in the hands of special lnspec-
tor for examination and report. Prob
ably Special Inspector E. P. Boutelle
will visit that section before long and
look into the ACCESSIBILITY OF establish
ing the route. There are still several
tasks of that character awaiting spec
ial inspector in the third Congressional
district. At about the same time that
the Thorndike petition was received
Gov. Burleigh also had a petition from
citizens in the vicinity of Palmyra,
Somerset County. That petition was
also filed with the Postotfice Depart
ment, and a special inspector will be
sent as soon as practicable to look into
conditions there.
The rural free delivery carriers IN
Maine will be more OF less concerned
in the proposition carried on the pend
ing postotfice appropriation bill to
change the present system of their EN-
ployment to contract system, such as
prevails with the star route service at
present. BY that plan the routes
would be let out to the lowest bidders,
residing near. who could demonstrate
the requisite qualifications. There
may be a very strenuous fight over the
matter before the present postoifice APP
preparation bill becomes law, but If the
plan is adopted it will probably be by
its incorporation on the bill III the
| Senate. The force Of rural carriers III
Maine is already quite large, probably
over 100 men, and their aggregate sal
aries are probably over $50, 600. There
are many advocates of putting the car
riers under the contract system for the
sake OF removing the service from
politics.
| Washington is aso@ this week with
| the ceremonies incident to the visit of
| Prince Henry. The magnificent dinners,
already given and to be given, i'll honor
of his royal njghness, his extensive
suite who are occupying an entire floor
on the splendid New Willard hotel
here, a hosiery on Pennsylvania
| Avenue between the White House and
| the Capitol, where they live in regal
state with service separate from the
rest of the hotels guests, and the score
of other incidents connected with the
visit keep local interest at climax of
/ intensity The invitations to The i'm
portant dinners are eagerly sought, and
the list Of the successful ones are
eagerly scanned by envious officials
high in public life. Naturally there
are many to be disappointed. The
| htIlldlI 41llDdSSdtlOI bdItlltl Iluil,
for instance, seats only IS people, and
! therefore lie is unable to invite a large
company to the dinner that he will
give. Ladies, socially ambitious, will
be disappointed by hundreds at being
unable in some way to participate in
the functions. There will be many
Iaort ~ cI,ac ap1 MANY y reluctant Inns
band will be sent, and has been sent, Oh
diplomatic errands to secure a ticket or
an invitation to some affair, where the
Prince will be the dominant figure.
\ Notwithstanding all the 1lunkeyism
that transpires i'll connection with his
visit, all the people here who have any
personal knowledge of the Prince
describe him as sensible young man,
without the naughty notions that are
believed to appertain to most royal
personages. That impression has been
strengthened by his conduct and bear
ing since he has been III Washington.
The last two weeks have witnessed
many notable official banquets in Wash
ington. One of the best appointed of
these was given a few days since by
Chairman Foss of the House Commit
tee on Naval Affairs, at the New Will
lard. Numerous people connected with
the naval administration were present,
including a gentleman well known i'll
Belfast Judge Advocate Sam'l c. Lem
ly of he..Navy Department. He married
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank
Milliken, now residents of Washington.
The expense of official and private
dinners in Washington during season,
could it be accurately computed, would
run into an enormous aggregate. The
tendency towards more magnificent dis
play in flowers, decorations and menu
is increasing every year. Such dinners
as are given at the hotels, and they are
of the cheapest variety, cost at least
s. per cover and from that figure run
up to so, Sl5, and even So each. They
add much to the gayety OF Washing
ton winter aid in the formation of