Evening star., 1925-02-08

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the Washington navy yard. The Star
u7,sb;n.4 in it's issue of Febru
washing IoH ary l, 1855, said on this
Navy Yard. subject;
committee of Congress that made its
junketing tour last Summer to the
different navy yards of the country
is such bundle of misstatements and
blundering conclusions that it is char
liable to believe that the committee
devoted themselves to having a jolly
good time on their trip; and instead
of boring themselves to investigate
for facts, were content to accept as
the data of their report all the in
terested statements of parties who
hope by breaking up the Washington
navy yard 10 divert the funds used
for its maintenance to their own pet
schemes for navy yards in bogs and
morasses, inland dry docks and Great
American Desert harbor improve
ments.
LAS a matter of fact, the Govern
ment does not possess a workshop so
replete in it's equipment for the spe-
cial manufacture of navy necessities
as has been created here at an ex-
pense of over $40, 900, 900 and so years
of labor and experience. The machin-
anchors, galleys, ordnance, copper
work, caps and bullets, etc, are pc
culiar to this navy yard This is the
manufacturing depot for the Navy.
1T cannot be doubted that the good
sense and practical wisdom of Con
gress will cause the rejection of
measure founded upon such q gross
Misrepresentation of all the facts in
the case.
The District Of Columbia is unfor-
tHnate in having no representative in
Congress with a vote to enable him to
log rolf with other members having
navy yards, docks and harbor i'm
provements to be provided for. AS it
is, our navy yard. our arsenal and all
our national works are at the mercy OF
the members and the spectators who
want to carry off the funds spent here
for use In their own districts. Con-
gress as body has q. duty TO perform
in seeing to it that selfish motives do
not prevail to the disadvantage of
national interests, as well as to the
interests Of the people of this Dis
trict"
Half a century ago an effort was
being made to develop the parcel
paroeI pos+ scale which was even
Aoi'9i oo' tually attained, a law
Defended. to that effect having
been secured. Opposi-
tion by the express companies of the
country was encountered. The Star in
its issue of February 2. 1875. said:
The newspapers throughout the
whole country, and particularly in its
remote and sparsely settled portions,
Ynit tY,es he 81
express companies to secure the re-
peal of the law permitting the trans
mission of small parcels of merchan-
disc, etc, through the mails. And
we'll may they be. That clause of
the postal law is really one OF the
most beneficial to the majority OF
people, and especially to those OF
small means, that ever was framed.
1t virtually makes the mails the poor
mans express company. and at r
merely nominal cost. Under Il, for
example, a family living remote from
any large town, or even from a coun-
try store, may have the whole stock
of the largest retail establishments
In the country at It's disposal. Writ
ing a letter and inclosing a stamp
to the nearest town or even to the
largest cities (total cost from 4 TO s
cents) will secure by return mall
large assortment of such samples as
may be wanted, with prices plainly
marked. Another letter Transmitting
the price will bring back by next
mail the desired article, at q cost
of less than one-twentieth on an
average of what it would be to have
the same thing carried by express,
If, indeed, there be any express ia
cilities at all for that particular 10
cality. This puts the country pur-
lIxr Nc
ing as those living in the cheapest
and best supplied markets. II
any member of Congress wants to COM
NIT official suicide, let him take sides
with the express companies in this
matter