Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 December 1891 — WASHINGTON. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON.

The proposition of the postoffice.inspjotors, who have been in session for somt days, to reduce letter postage by furnish* leg one and two-cent stamped envelopes at the par value of the stamp, making th* envelope free, is well received and will be presented to Congress. It is conceded on all hands that penny postage cannot be had yet and free envelopes with stamps is regarded as a very wise and conservative step in the direction of penny postage and will be the best compromise for the present. It is thought that penny postage will be a fact within four years at the furthest. National bankers in all parts of the country are writing to know if it be true as reported, that Secretary Foster in his annual report will recommend the reduction of the tax on bank circulation from X to Jf of 1 per cent. The replies which are being sent out are to the effect that it doesn’t make much difference what the Secretary or anybody else may recommend no action Is probable. With so strong an element of Alliance members and anti-bank advocates- generally in the House, the complete abolition of the national banlcibg system might be expected if that could be carried throughtheSepato and White House. The time has long since passed when any tax upon circulation is necessary for any purpese. '’’The national banking system, besides giving the best possible protection to depositors, pays its way so far as expenses are concerned, and leaves many millions of swrplns every year. Since It is Impossible for the Government’s bonds, which aro deposited to secure circulation, to fall below par without the currency issued upon them by the Government, it is now unjust to refuse the Issuance of circulation to the pur value of the bonds deposited with the United States Treasurer, and yst such a measure cannot be adopted. There is a deep prejudice against bankers in the present House. It Is acknowledged that the same protection would depositors and others if the minimum of circulation for each bank were reduced to SI,OOO from $12,500, and yet a bill of that kind could not be passed because it would create more banks, and although more banks would reduce Interest, as they would draw money from investments, the prejudice forbids.—Special -to Indianapolis Journal. t

A railroad collision occurred at Toledo, Ohio, Sat irday. Six passengers wer‘J killed and a score or more Injured. Th 1 * dead are: Jas. McQueen, Elkhart, Ind.; Mrs. Dr. McClarry, Madison, Ill.; Baby McDonald and Master McDonald, aged 13 months and 8 years respectively, of New York; Ellen Meyer, Cleveland, and Howell Vaughan, of San Bernardino, Col. The accident was due to one train plunging Into the other at the mouth of the tunne at Toledo. Strpt. J. M. Berkey. Somerset County, Pa.: Let us retain the veterans in the teaching service so long as they stand <n the front rank of progress and keep pace with the spirit and needs of our schools; but if they are not successful, not willing to advance in the profession and to increase their efficiency from year to year, then let them step down and ouL Stale SnpL A. S. Draper, New Tories If there is Any one thing that the school work of this country needs, it is that no person shall be permitted' to teach who has not received soma practical training. ...__ . .