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done for the Postmasters of Fourth-
Class Offices. We want to see them
actually placed within the classified
service, although they are theoretical
ly included at the present time. To
actually place them within the classi
fied service would be but the work of
a moment and the benefit to the serv
ice would be beyond comprehension.
Once placed within the classified serv
ice, they should be compensated prop
erly for the work they perform. They
are working now on the same basis
they did in 1874 simply because no
one has bad sufficient interest in them
to suggest a change. No Postmaster-
General down to Cortelyou ever recog
nized them. Does any one suppose
that any business of any kind can run
for 33 years without a readjustment
or some change of some kind? Think
of the changed conditions in this coun
try in 33 years! At that time (in
1874) it is probable the Government
could not afford to do better. Because
Postmasters paid their rent and fur
nished their heat and light as well as
practically everything else that was
needed to carry on the business of
their offices out of their own pockets
then are they to do so today*
Why Should Postal Service Be Self
Sustaining?
What about the millions of dollars
that it costs to run the War and Na
vy Departments? Why not make the
battleships in time of peace carry
freight or passengers from port to
port and turn in revenue to the Gov
ernment, or why not make the soldiers
when they are not fighting build roads
or work in shops and turn in some
revenue to the Government? On
what theory does Congress, or who
ever is responsible, figure that the
Post-Office Department must break
even on expenses when the Post-Of
fice Department is of more actual
service to the people of this country
than all the other departments com
bined? Why then should one branch
of the employes of the Post-Office
Department, numbering sixty-five
thousand, be compelled to do their
work on a compensation not exceed
ing that paid to an ordinary negro
servant girl?—Post-Masterf Advo
cate.
A GOVERNOR WHO GETS RE
SULTS.
The fulfillment of practically ev
ery promise made, the attainment of
every important result aimed at, by
Governor Comer, when he made his
campaign in Alabama, is now either
an accomplished fact or in sight.
Hard upon the call for an extra
session of the Alabama legislature,
whose object was to bring definite
settlement of the important ques
tions upon which the people of that
state had acted, all but one of the
railroads have come to the governor’s
terms and have entered an agreement
to put in the Georgia rates as de
manded.
The railroads knew the governor
meant business. The legislature in its
regular session had failed to complete
the w r ork of reform which had been
promised the people of the state.
There were certain essential features
of the program which the governor
sought to carry out in the absence of
legislative notion. Unsuccessful in
this, he called the legislature to meet
to complete the job.
This evidence of bis determination
has already produced results. Moot
of the railroads have come to the
governor’s terms, which were in
dorsed at the ballot box, and it has
been made a part of the government
that none of the rights of the parties
at interest, under it, shall be affect
ed by any legislation which may, per
chance, be enacted at the extra ses
sion.
After all, it is results that count,
and in Alabama the extra session pro
ject is more than vindicated in ad
vance of the assembling.
Perhaps the most important result
accomplished in the Alabama case is
the definite settlement of the ques
tions at issue and the removal of all
doubt as to the future. Both the peo
ple and the railroads know just what
they may expect; just what they are
going to get.
There remains no Damoclean sword
hanging in the air to fall upon the
head of industrial progress the mo
ment it bestirs itself. Investment
and construction may proceed with
something approaching absolute
knowledge of what they have got to
meet; they have got their yardstick
and may cut their cloth accordingly.
Over here in Georgia we are still
up in the air, as it were. The Georgia
legislature, in regular session, did but
little—and what little it did was
thought by many to be too much; the
railroad commission has taken no
step even indicative of its future pol
icy as to the great questions which
were involved in the campaign and
promised in the Macon platform.
From any standpoint from which
it may be viewed, both an extra ses
sion of the general assembly and some
definite announcement of purposes—
or, better still, some positive action
—by the railroad commission are
much to be desired.
Mr. Watson has urged, even de
manded, an extra session of the gen
eral assembly, conscientiously be
lieving that the legislative body failed
in its duty when it adjourned with
much of the Macon platform remain
ing in its pigeonholes. From his
standpoint he is right when he de
mands that the railroad commission
shall proceed to carry into effect the
promises of the campaign. He re
gards them in a certain sense as his
promises; for, as he says, he uin
dorsed the note and it has to be paid,
or he will know the reason why.”
X iewed from the most conservative
standpoint, these eventualities are no
less desirable and important. Even
those who do not approve the full ex
tent to which the Macon platform
would go, may still justly and right
eously demand that there be a final
ity to the suspense which is produc
ing stagnation.
An extra session of the legislature
now and a little prompt and positive
action —whatever it may be—on the
part of the railroad commission would
settle all these important questions
once and for all and we might rest
again in a state of industrial equili
brium.
1 f the state has got to wait another
twelve months before it can know
these things, the prospects are it will
bring about industrial depression from
which it may not quickly recover.
The people and the railroads and
other corporations are entitled to
know finally and definitely what they
have got to meet, and one of the
wont oppressions that can be visited
WASSON'S WEEKLY JEFFERSONIAN.
upon them is damning and indefinite
suspense.
Let’s know what we have got to
do, and do it; what we are going to
have, and have it, and then get down
to business.
That is the way the governor of
Alabama went at it —and he won out!
—Atlanta Constitution.
THE VALUE OF OLD COTTON
STALKS.
The hog, we are told, has been util
ized down to the very last notch,
everything except the squeal.
And now' the same results are
sought for with the cotton plant, ex
hausting its possibilities.
It is stated that the last issue of
The Cotton Journal, published at At
lanta, was bound in a cover of white
paper that had been manufactured
from old cotton stalks. An authority
describes the paper as being heavy
calendared and, with a fine gloss and
in every way equal to the best grades
Berckmans Trees
NONE BETTER
We offer an immense stock of
Fruit and Shade Trees, Evergreen
and Deciduous Shrubs, Conifers,
Roses, Palms, etc.
Our stock is free from disease or insects.
Special Department for Landscape Work
We are prepared to make surveys and plans for
residential grounds, parks, cemeteries, mill and sub
urban villages. Consult us and our experts will help
you. Catalogue on application. .......
P. J: Berckmans Co. inc.
FRUITLAND NURSERIES
Drawer 1070 AUGUSTA, GA.
Established 1856. We do not sell through agents.
The $2.00 Offer
was never intended as an ajjjfrt proposition on which commissions could
bo eharaod. The purpose of wo offer was to encourage the voluntary
■ubscrioor to subscribe to both Jeffersonians at the same time.
From mis date the 12.00 price for both Jeffersonians will bo for
the voluntary subscriber. In other words it is a net price. No oom
m I eel one at all ean be paid on that price for both Jeffersonians.
October V. lit?.
of wood pulp paper.
The paper was made by a Philadel
phia establishment under a patent
process, owned by citizens of that
town. The only question remaining
to be settled is, “Can it be econo
mically manufactured?”
It has been roughly estimated that
10,000,01'0 tons of fiber could be avail
able for working up into 5,000,000
tones of newspaper material if it can
be shown fully practicable. Doubt
less this will be demonstrated beforo
very Idng.
And, by the w r ay, we have another
great fiber plant in the South in the
way of the okra plant. Some experi
ments ought to be made with it. It
is possible that it nas exceptional
value for making into certain fabrics
that would warrant its culture
for that purpose. But as it is, the
cotton stalk is a waste product of a
great industry, and therefore its
working up the greater economy.—
Savannah Press.
PAGE SEVEN