Smyrna times., 1890-04-23
For the Smyrna Times
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. ApriI IA. 1890

WASHINGTON, April IA, 1890.
The Conference of the Pan-Ameri-
cans, which has been in session here
for so many months discussing the
spread of commerce, the march of
progress and liberty on the Western
Continent and kindred international
subjects, expected to conclude its
labOrs on the 18th inst. to start on
their tour through the Southern States.
Among important reports of its COM
mittees that have been submitted to
the International American Conference
and adopted 10y it, is one that recon-
mends that reciprocity treaties be ne
gOtiated between the several republics
OF the American hemisphere, each
making tariff concessions, so that the
peculiar products of all of them may be
introduced fee into the others. This
report is in the same line as the amend
ment suggested by Secretary Blaine to
the committee on Ways and Means of
the House of Representatives.
The committee of the conference on
banking thinks that commerce could
be greatly extended by facilitating
direct exchanges between the money
markets of the countries represented
in the conference. 1t may not be gen.
orally realized that United States mer-
chants who import goods from South
and Central AmpTica make these i'm
pOrtations almost entirely through the
use of English bankers credits. There
fore the committee suggests the pas
sage by the United States of law in
cooperating an international American
bank with ample capital and giving
the citizens of the several countries in
the conference the privilege of taking
shares in the bank pro rata to their
foreign commerce.
On Saturday, the President decorated
Francis Joseph, the inventor of the
life saving car with a gold medal. Con-
gress had decided he should have it as
mark of national esteem for ingenu-
ity that had saved already thousands
of lives. There was but little cere-
mOny attending the presentation.
which took place in the blue room of
the White House. The President
made a short address and told the in
ventOr how much pleasure it gave
him to place the medal in his hands.
After an investigation of great care
accurately, the special committee of the
National Reform League estimates that
more than one third of the entire time
of each Congressman is consumed in
securing offices for his constituents.
And upon the strength of this, the
League warmly cOmmeDds the bill re-
Gently introduced in the House rela-
tive to the appointment of post masters
as fourth class officers.
The Senate is still worrying over
those two disputed seats involved in
the Montana election cases, nor can it
be predicted when it will be done with
them. The discussion has become
monOtOnOus, but whenever a vote on
the main question is imminent, some
Senator will take the floor and renew
the debate.
An interesting hearing was held on
Friday by the House committee on
Agriculture upon Representative But
terworth's bill 10 prevent dealings in
options and futures. The brokers who
deal IN grain aud cotton were here
from Chicago, New York and New
Orleans, to defend the system and pro-
test against tho passage of the bill.
They argue that by the present method
Eastern money moves the Western
crops, and that to destroy the business
Of produce and cotton exchanges
would paralyze business and interfere
with producer as we'll as broker. The
bill has already been favorably report
ed by the House Committee.