Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-12-20

SENATOR MANpERs0N's bill for the es-
tablishmeht of national biological lab
oratory, introduced the other day, pro-
poses an expenditure OF $4,000 for site
and buildings. The object is to estab
lish at Washington laboratory for the
purpose of making continuous and
scientific study into the causes and nature
of contagious and infectious diseases
and of all subjects connected Herewith,
throwing light either on the public health
or animal economies of the country: that
is to have the government do for this
country what Pasteur and Koch have
done privately for their respective
nations.
PowDEBLY has not lost his talent for
saying striking and sensible things
Speaking at Columbus of the present at
titude of the knights of labor, he said
ave are not opposed TO strikes, but be-
heve in reason before strikes; net strikes
first and reason afterwards" This crisp
utteranoe marks the difference between
Powder,y and leaders of the Martin Irons
type. With the latter it has been strikes
irst and reason only when the strikes
proved failures, as they usually did. Whom
Mr.. Powderly's theory is applied, in nine
eases out of ten no strike will be found
necessary, and in the tenth case it would
he 70 Viii al or
Justice. If Mr.. Powderly can induce the
order under his present management to
adopt his plan of settling labor troubles
labor troubles will be less frequent.
WHEN q convicted murderer in New
York has had part of his head shaved
and moistened with warm water, his arms
and legs strapped down TO an operating
table, and is encased in a cap like a
divers helmet, with network of wires
around bIm all in the presence of medical
students and experts, he will probably
be ready fot death. While death by
electricity is instantaneous and is un
doubtedly to supersede hanging in that
state as long as they have capital punish
meIt, preparations for it, as Illustrated
by recent experiments, are more barbar-
Gus than for hanging. Detail is undoubt-
eddy required in the adjustments of the
moose and gallows, hut such arrangements
could hardly be as revolving as the cleo
trician's operating table. 1t seems that
~
simpler methods, and they probably
will soon.
I BE Yates prison law, passed at the die
tates of labor organizations, is already
having its ELECTS on the $500 oonvicts in
New Yord state. The officers at the
prisons at Sing Sing, Auburn and Clinton
agree that their charges are actually suf-
fering for something to do. Jail sur
geons testify that sickness has increased
and tn, wardens have devised disciplinary
measures to keep the restless men il
bounds. The convicts, who first look for
ward to an easy time, were the quickest
to beg for work, and the trivial duties al
lowed are eagerly sought after. Ih'
superintendent of Sing Sing says that 81
oonvicts can do in two months all tht
work the Law allows, and nearly 1,50U ar,
suffering from thu enforced idlenes
there. Meantime the labor party mel
themselves have been forced to admi
that the Yates law is not perfect. A
they wanted was to remove competition
and they think they can devise som
means of keeping the prisoners busy
Apart from the convicts, the tax-pa
who are. assessed half a million additiona
to keep tbs prisoners in idleness, hav
some rights, aud the subject is likely t.
be an issue in the next assembly.