The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-03-08
JACK" HARRIS WASHINGTON LETTER.

by something ike ten majority
in total vote of about $50 the
House refused to reinstate the
, "Canteen" at army posts and
soldiers homes. The closeness
of the vote indicates what has
been known to be fact, that the
sentiment in favor of restoring
the canteen was continually in
creasing, and that it will be back
to stay in the not distant future.
The principal argument in favor
of the canteen is that it is prefer
able that a soldier should be able
to obtain pure whiskey in moder-
alton inside the fort or home than
to spend his time and money in
the dives which always surround
these places within easy access,
and where he is the continuous
victim of the worst sharks and
most poisonous rum in existence.
That is about all there is to the
matter. Sentiment sounds sweet
and pretty, but it don't last long
when it runs up against the sta
tistics and facts in the case.
Senator Smoot has been receiv-
ing a continuous ovation since the
overwhelming vote of confidence
of his colleagues from people the
country over as well as from
those in official life here who
know him so we'll and favorably.
To say that the opposition is ut
terly knocked out and discounted
is putting it mildly. In the midst
of the mourning occasionally
arises the peep, that "the war on
polygamy will be carried ON, "to
which nobody objects, carry it on,
by all means, but don't make the
mistake again of Selling on a de-
cent and innocent man for a vi
carious sacrifice. Another thing,
these ignorant and misguided peo-
pie will never again attempt to
bulldOze and blackmail the SEN
ate of the United States as they
did in this case. While the vote
was being taken on the case in
the senate the DIRECTORS were en-
gagged in prayer for that body,
per order committee, which re-
minds me that some people in
Vermont once attempted to pre-
vent the Vermont legislature en-
acting a local option law by an
designated day of prayer
for that body. In the light of re-
suits in both cases, it is safe and
proper to assume that either
Divine Providence was on the side
of Smoot and local option, or
else the prayers of some people
availeth nothing. Either horn of
dilemma may be accepted at will.
By the initiative of the House
the annual pay of rural free de
livery carriers is increased from
$500 to 5000, a hire much more
worthy of the laborer. That such
Increase was most just and prop
ar nobody attempted to deny.
There was and could be no argu-
ment on the subject. Being com
PEELED to maintain two teams and
drive % miles a day over the Yer
mont hills during a long winter
'Or two dollars per day is by no
means a snap, and even at nearly
-hree dollars per day the job is
lot a particularly enviable or de-
,irable one. Congratulations to
he boys all along the line on this =
veil earned recognition of their y
leserts.
This is the time of year for =
arge excursions from all over =
he country to visit Washington, :,
md the city is continually over +
'un with sightseers. They rush :
through the Capitol in droves of v
rom ten to a hundred see it all
n an hour and do up the entire
ity in two days. AS matter of
act, for one to thoroughly and
ntelligently see Washington and
is suburbs would require every +,
weekday for a month. What are II
ocally called the "rubberneck F
the sightseeing automo- C
lies capable of seating fifty peo- A
lie and conducted by a brass ft
unged guide with a magaphone, Ia
re engaged for day ahead, and o.
re continually travelling around fl
own packed with awe-struck Wis Ii
tors listening to the stereotyped W
tory of the official chaperOne. ST
of the temperature or OF
he weather, they are always in
violence. Visitors to the capitol VI
t the evening sessions are al bt
lost entirely confined to depart IL
lent clerks, residents of the city, la
.ho would otherwise never see Z
in session. 1t is as III
luch of a treat to the wife and fc
lildren as the theatre, and ii
oesn't cost anything. Besides, fo
they have a grievance, they can OF
Ill out their representative or tn
,natOr, and relate to him their m
lie of woe. m
The aggressive and well organ DC
ed movement of the department DC
nnlOyees for an increase of pay hf
with the vastly in m
'eased cost of living here is not st
kelly to be successful at this ses- m