Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-28
OFF FOR WASHINGTON.

Desiring a few pointers on mat
ters likely to engross the attention
of congress-knowing that they
would be Of particular interest to
advocate readers at this time, mas
much as that body is about to
convene-we called at the office of
Mr.. McCord, our member of con-
gress, and found him busily en-
gagged in trying to clear his table
before taking his departure for
Washington. To the remark that
we would like to be able to tell
our readers who is going to be
speaker, Mr.. McCord replied: q
would be exceedingly glad to tell
The Advocate if I only knew.
There are five candidates and all
excellent men. Read, Of Name,
is undoubtedly in the lead, and
would make a speaker that would
rank with Henry Clay, Schuyler
Colfax and James G. Blaine; yet,
| hardly think the House will go
as far east for speaker as Maine
The influence Of the speaker, in
shaping legislation, who can
recommend such measures as he
feels like having passed. The
legislation by congress is largely
consummated in committees, and
a member to have much influence
for good must exert it in commit
tees"
What committees do you
expect to be put on ?"
Really I do not expect any
thing. would like to be placed
where ! could be Of some service
to my district-for instance, on
rivers and harbors, government
buildings, agriculture, Indian
affairs or postofices and post
roads, but, being a new member I
shall, of course, have to take
what l am given and be content"
us there anything in particular
that you expect to accomplish in
the way of legislation? ?"
"There are several things that I
hope to accomplish. hope to
see better and cheaper mail faciIi-
ties. | hope to see the free deliv-
cry system extended to cities Of
5000 and I hope to see letter
postage reduced to one cent and
newspapers and other publications
carried free. Won't be self-sus-
tanning? Suppose it is not self
sustaining. | don't know of any
reason why the postohice depart
ment should be self-sustaining any
more than any other department
OF the government. All branches
OF the government are supposed
to be managed for the benefit of
the people, and for their mainte-
nance and support the people are
taxed. No department comes as
near the people as the post
office department, and l would
have that managed SO as to give
the people the greatest facilities
without the slightest regard to
whether i was self-supporting or
not. What about the tariff? OF
course the tariff will be modified
and reduced to lowest possible
amount consistent with the pro-
lection that must be afforded to
the industries and the labor, and
the requirements necessary to pay
pensions and other expenditures
of the government. l would take
the tariff wholly off sugar, as it
has heretofore been taken off from
tea, coffee and other necessaries
we are compelled to import,
What about law to prevent the
forming of trusts | would
cheerfully vote for a law to pre-
vent the forming of trusts, calcu-
lated to put the price Of any arti-
Gle of necessity above a price at
which it ought to be sold and
afford fair profit on the cost OF
its manufacture, importation or
production, and | would make the
penalty for its violation as severe
as it could possibly be made. 1
think the formation Of trusts is at
present one Of the most serious
menaces that we have to