The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1904-02-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
washington, January 80. 1904

be convinced that the commercial in
terests of the nation control legisla-
tion, and that politics, even in a pres
idential campaign year, are but incl
dental. Both republicans and demo
Gratis protest that they are not swayed
in the least by partisan motives, but
seek only the good, glory and prosper
ity of the country. This is very
gratifying situation, and as long as
the public funds hold out so long
will the various enterprises which de-
pend upon governmental aid prosper.
Recent reports show that the new
navy is making satisfactory progress ;
our foreign commerce is rapidly in
creasing; our insular possessions are
fairly. prosperous; and great internal
American people at home are contem-
plated, such as good roads, forest re-
serves, irrigation, canals, destruction
of noxious insects, and the general
advance of agriculture. A higher
moral tone in the government depart
ments may be expected as result of
the vigorous wedding out of corrupt
and incompetent employees. AS soon
as vote is reached upon the Panama
treaty, legislation will progress with
more rapidity and political discus
sions will be largely eliminated from
the senate.
The agitation for a parcels-post
goes on in congress and out. Our
present method is absurd and terribly
expensive. To send package of mer-
chandise through the mails it must
weigh less than four pounds, and then
it costs ten times as much as it costs
in England or Germany, where any
parcel less than 10 pounds may be
sent Thanks to our stupidity, an
Englishman can send eleven pounds
by post from Edinburgh to Oregon.
across the Atlantic, and straight
across the United States, cheaper than
a New Yorker can send four pounds
from Rochester to Buffalo. Are
Americans always going to consent to
remain patient and passive in the
grip of four rapacious express compa-
nies? Are our thrifty people really
Indifferent to their own interests?
The question of the presidency is
quite warm. In Washington it looks
as if Roosevelt would certainly be the
candidate of the republican party, for
Senator Hanna's repeated protesta-
tions are taken at par, and there is
nobody else in sight. The woods are
full of democratic candidates. Gen
eral Miles friends have brought him
forward this weel in q " respective. !.
attitude, and dfkpd Army men have
largely enlisted lander his banner.
AS he has never entered into any par
tisan disputes or differences, it is
thought he may be Bryan's "dark
horse - The very latest suggestion
is that of General John @. Black by
General Sickles. The one-legged hero
of Gettysburg is stumping round the
lobbies of the capitol on crutches to-
day setting forth Blacks high avail
ability to everybody he meets. This
would be going to Chicago for can
didate, but he has lived many years
in the east, and General Sickles de-
clares him strong in New York.
Congress is all worked up over the
horse and carriage scandal, and the
Investigation goes on. 1t is believed
that there are fifty or sixty carriages
and as many pairs of horses in use by
subordinate officers in the different
departments that we're bought with
government money, and are used alto
gether for private purposes, going to
receptions, returning calls, etc. They
are driven by coachmen who are
borne on the rolls as messengers, and
are paid from the public funds. 1t is
now proposed to have an auction, and
it is not believed that the horses,
which cost $500 apiece, and the car
riages, which cost $500, can be sold
for more than a third of that amount.
General Reyes, the Colombian min
lister, expects to sail for home to-day.
He has been elected to the presi-
dency of that republic, and he hur-
ries southwark to restrain the war
feeling. The amendments which the
committee voted to add to the Pan
anna treaty before sending it to Pan
anna to be acted on the second time,
have all been withdrawn suddenly
and the treaty is to be ratified as it
stands, as soon as vote can be had.
But the democrats are still loud and
long in protest.
The new secretary of war, Governor
Taft, arrived from the Philippines on
Wednesday. His predecessor took
great pains to receive him with all
honors, and a troop of cavalry met
him at the depot, and, accompanied
by Secretary Root, escorted him to
his hotel. 1t was very unusual and
perhaps unprecedented attention, and
the cavalcade was much applauded by
citizens as it made it's way up Penn
sylvania aveune. ..r'.
AhO OAO6O Va OAAO Ob4OAun1 y OGbA ga
hibits the United States at the head
of the worlds exporting nations, we
having sold during the year 81, 457,
565, 78S worth in products, some thirty
million dollars worth more than
Great Britain. In a single generation
Uncle Sam has more than doubled his
exports, and has risen from the fourth
to the first place as world provider.
The good roads movement is daily
gaining strength in congress. The
state supervisors of New York, in con-
vention, urge the passage of the
Brownlow bill, which appropriates
$24, 600, 600, to be distributed among
the states according to population.
The New Workers want $6, 600, 600 for
their own state.