The Republican journal., 1913-07-03
Washington Whisperings.

Washington Whisperings.
WASHINGTON, D. c., June 80, 1913.
With the Panama Canal nearing compile
ton, Col. Goethals being authority for
the statement that "by January, 1915,
anything that floats can pass through the
Canal between the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans" interest is on the increase in
all the Atlantic and Pacific coast cities
to get ready for the ADDED trade ex-
pected.
New Orleans is the latest municipality
to feel the influences of an all-water
route from the coal fields of Alabama
and is preparing to grapple with Penn
sylvania for the fuel market on the low
er Mississippi, so that when the Panama
Canal is an actuality it will be in posi-
ton to take care Of the increase in trade
its position rightfully commands.
What has been dream for a genera
ton or more on the part of the people
OF New Orleans. cheaper coal, has be-
come a realization through new water
route just opened which taps The coal
helds of Alabama, this new waterway
being accomplished by the recently deep
ened channels through the Tombigbee
and the Alabama rivers into Mississippi
Sound and thence to New Orleans bv
short cut through Lake Borgne and the
canal connecting the lake with the river.
While the first shipment was small, it
is confidently believed it is the forerun-
ner of millions of tons of coal and marks
the accomplishment of one of the most
important commercial achievements in
the southwest since Eads cut his channel
through the shifting bar at the mouth of
the Mississippi.
For the purpose of accomplishing Just
such improvements as the all-water route
from the Alabama coal fields to the Gulf
the National Rivers and Harbors Con-
gress was formed and it takes to itself
some of the congratulations in the crys-
tallzatlon OF sentiment that has made
this Improvement possible.
The longest and loudest wall of distress
heard by the new Democratic admins
tratlon has reached Washington from
thousands of small cities, villages, ham,
let's and other centers of rural America.
1t is cry of protest against the action
OF Postmaster General Burleson in abol-
ishing the Understanding of letters.
Formerly postmaster was required,
as soon as he opened mail bag, to stamp
letters on the back with the date and
hour of arrival and then to sort them
for delivery. Mr. Bureson thought this
practice consumed too much time and
he ordered it omitted.
The complaints invariably have been
to the effect that village postmasters are
holding back the mail of their business
competitors or their political or personal
enemies. When back-stamping was re-
CURED, postmaster could not withhold
mail without being convicted by the silent
testimony of the arrival date.
Uncle Sam is, after all, a good and
wise employer, notwithstanding the
kicks that are heard from some of
his employees throughout the dominions
over which his flags flies. The Reclama-
ton Service, which is changing the waste
places of the United States to eardens
OF great promise, has adopted the idea
OF providing amusement and entertain
ment for the thousands of employees
under its supervision by introducing into
the camps moving picture shows, there
by giving to those who are employed
upon his varied projects such recreation
and advertisement as the normal body
needs in its hours of relaxation.
Under the provisions of the S-hour law
the laborer's time on a government lob
is divided as follows: 8 hours work, 8
hours play and hours sleep. In order to
promote feeling Of contentment among
the people thus cut off from the rest of
the world, consideration must be given
to matters of social nature and your
'Uncle Sam" has solved the problem of
mind rest by erecting hall where even
ing lectures are given, papers and maya
zines are on file and the movies" are
shown to keep the employees in touch
with what the outside world is doing.
The expenses of the show and the cost
of the equipment are reimbursed from
the admission fee, which is nominal, and
all profits accruing are invested in new
attractions.
On the Rio Grande project in New Mex
leo the moving picture show is operated
in connection with the regular Texas tri-
weekly circuit and at the performances
in March the daily attendance was in ex-
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