Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-03-25
From Washington.

VI X. EDlIOH.
Hon. Thad C. Pound is pushing
with his usual vigor the reservoirs of
The Upper MISSISSIPPI, st, Croix,
Chippewa, Wisconsin and Rock rivers.
A meeting of the delegates In Congress
Immediately interested in these reser-
voirs was recently held at the rooms
of Col.P B. Walker Secretary of the
Minnesota state Commission In this
city. Senators Cameran Of Wis,
Window and Mcmillan of Minnesota,
Representatives. Pound, Humphrey,
William Hazleton, Caswcil and Wash
burn were present with other proni;hept
citizens Interested in tn. improvement
CT The Mississippi river.
Senator Cameron was called to the
chair The objects of the meeting
were stated by Gov. Pound who e5-
planned the great benefits to be attained
by being able to regulate the stage of
water in the Mississippi river, and its
navigable tributaries during the usual
season of low water Col. Walksr
demonstrated, by the aid Of map he
had prepared, the entire feasibility of
regulating the flow of the rivers by
means of these reservoirs. 1t was
clearly shown that in all Of the improve
mehts carried on by the Government,
there was none where such small
expenditure of money would produce
such beneficial results as the building
of these reservoirs at an expense of
less than $4,000 600.
An executive committee c5Tsisting
Of Senators Cameron, Windoni s Nc
MILAN, and Representatives ashburn,
Of MINI, Price of Iowa and Pound and
Williams of Wis, we're chosen to urge
upon Congress tile Importance of i'm
mediate appropriations for the com
mencenent ST tie work, On motion
of Senasor Cameron Mr.. Pound WAS
made chairman of the Committee.
Judge Humphrey whose health is
miserable in consequence et the long
anxiety during the sickness and death
of his most esteemable wife, was OBJ
liged to leave soon after the organic
alton Of the meeting,
Hon. G. G. Williams, as enc of the
Judiciary Committee of Congress,
reported an act to amend the act regu.
lating the jurisdiction of Federal
Courts. This is measure Of so much
importance to the western STAGES, that
/ viii give 3 brief statement of its
aims.
1st As the law now is, a citizen OF
one state bringing an action against 8
citizen of another state In which $500
or more is involved, may have it tried
in the United States Courts. The
amended act seeks to raise the amount
necessary to have it tried in the
United Slate. Courts to $4,000; it be
ing truthfully claimed that $500 al
the time of the adoption of the Con
stitution, represented as much valu,
comparatively as $4,000 does now.
2nd. To make parties, doing bus:
ness in the state where they do not re
side subject to the State laws where
they are doing business. The objec
is to- prevent. the nonresident of !
asStbte, to'force' s,resident to pay al
unjust claim rather thar to be drawn
away from home to defeade himself il
the expensive United States Ceurts
All remember how the farmers of tht
country have suffered by settling, The
unjust claims of dealers in worthless
prtents rather than to be at the ex
Pense of defending, themselves in the
United States Courts a long distanc.
from home Mr. Williams made QUE
of his most telling speeches and VA
congratulated by his fellow members.
Hon. Matt II. Carpenter made ar
eloquent and convincing speech last
Saturday against the bill for the relief
of Fitz-J ohm Porter. | will make q
few extracts from the same.
"What are We called on by this bill
TODD ?, IF Gen'l Porter had never