The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-03-11
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

agitating the reduction of letter post
age during the session Of congress JUS
closed. but the advocates did not seri
ously attempt to pass any such law
| Coupled with the proposition for the
reduction of the postage is the pro
posed increase of the second class rate
In fact, many Of the advocates of the
one cent rate assert that all that stands
in the way of the lower rate Is the fact
that second class matter is now car
ried at one cent per pound.
An Old Contest.
| The contest for increasing the rate
on newspapers and periodicals is near
ly as old as the date when the present
rate was fixed. Subordinate persons
in the postoffice department keep ever
lastingly .hammering at the question
and insist that the postoffice depart
ment must be made self sustaining. if
not a money making department.
They are insisting that the newspa-
pers and magazines should pay high
er rate In order to increase the rev
enues Of the pOstOface. Now comes
the further suggestion that a one cent
rate will result from increasing the
second class postage. There will be a
vigorous fight against the one cent
rate proposition when it aligns itself
with the increase Of rates to newspa-
pers and periodicals.
Benefit to Big Business.
1t has already been pointed out that
the beneficiaries of a reduction in first
class postage will be the big business
concerns. banks. corporations. manu-
facturers. large commercial enterpris
es and. In fact all Of the business ele
ments Of the community, while the
common people. for whom SO many
men labor so industriously, will gain
but little advantage from reduction
of the present rate on letter postage
Bristow's Reputation.
Senator Bristow Of Kansas has the
reputation Of objecting to many things
which other senators want to get
through. One day In the senate Brad
ley Of Kentucky was pushing a pub
lie building bill and said that the Kan
sas senator had once consented to the
bill. Bristow Immediately corrected
him. II voted twice against it, be
said.
Il beg the senator's pardon" replied
Bradley: 81 do not believe he ever con
sents to anything" And everybody In
the senate enjoyed the allusion.
Military Experts.
During the discussion Of the bill re-
lating to the erection of a large armory
for the District militia Cummins, who
had become familiar with state troops
while governor Of Iowa. and Root, who
had become familiar with military
matters as secretary of war. disagreed
1T Is the company drill which makes
the national guard what it Is" said
Cummins. The regimental drill is
largely ornamental and the brigade
drill still more So"
The senator is stating the reverse
OF the fact" said Root. '"rhe regi
mental drill is more important than
the company drill and the brigade
drill Is more important than the regi
mental drill"
The New York senator was looking
at the matter from the army stand
point, where all experts agree that
drills in large bodies are most impor
tant
interesting to the Last.
Uncle Joe Cannon was interesting IN
to the very lust of his service In the
house. He had many merry auips to
oner In debate and would occasionally
break forth In few words of old line
Republican talk. telling the Democrats
what they might expect under the new
And there was real |
sorrow over his fnai departure from
the house
Martin the Fast TaIker.
The stenographers OF the house have
discovered that Martin of South Da-
kota Is the most rapidly talking mem
per Of the body. But they have been
warned that two or three new men
Will give them run for their mon
y" when they get started. The house
g apt to invite fast talking, for time
9 always limited.
Hate TO Let Go.
Those Republican senators who have
un the senate SO long hate to let go.
Chey forget at times that the Demo-
rats are In actual control and take the
cad. as they have been doing for the
>ast sixteen years. But they are learn
ng that q change has taken place.
when the Democratic sena-
on assert themselves Only two Re-
,ublican senators were here when the
Democrats hast had control Of the sen.
lts.