The Monitor., 1890-04-18
through the Southern States.

through the Southern States.
Among important reports OF its commit
tees that have been submitted to the In
terrational American Conference. and
adopted by it, is one that recommends that
reciprocity treaties be negotiated between
the several republics of the American
hemisphere, each making tariff conces-
sions, so that the peculiar products of all
of them may be introduced free into the
Others This report is in the same line as
the amendment suggested by Secretary
Blaine to the Committee OH 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 ex-
changes betN cen the money markets of the
countries represented in the conference.
1t may not be generally realized that
American merchants who import goods
from South and Central America make
these imporiatlons almost entirely through
the use of English bankers credits.
Therefore Tie committee suggests the pas
sage by the United States of a law incor
porating 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. Congress
national esteem for ingenuity that had
saved already thousands of lives. There
was bnt little ceremony attending the pre-
sentation, which took place in the blue
room Of the White House. The President
made short address and told the inventor
how much pleasure it gave him to. place
the medal in his hands.
After an investigation Of great care and
accuracy the special committee Of the Ma
tonal Reform League estimates that more
than one-t third of The entire lime of each
Congressman is consumed in securing
Offices for his constituents. And upon the
strength of this the League commends the
bill recently introduced in the House rela-
tive to the appointment Of postmasters as
fourth class fficers.
The Senate is still worrying over those
two disputed seats involved in the Montana
election cases, nor can it be predicted when
it W i'll be done W ith them. The discussion
hoe hut IA a
vote on the main question is imminent
some Senator will take the floor and renew
the debate.
An interesting hearing was held on Fri
day by the House Committee on Agricul-
ture upon Representative Butterworth's
bill to prevent dealings in options and fu-
lures The brokers who deal in grain and
cotton were here from Chicago, New York
and New Orleans to defend the system and
protest against the 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 bust
ness and interfere with producer as we'll as
broker. The bill has already been favora-
bly, reported by the House committee.
The death of Hon. Samuel J. Randall
yesterday morning was a surprise to no
one. Fer several days all hope of his re-
covery had been abandoned by his family
and physicians and his death as expected
momentarly. His Washington residence,
a small, modest building on Capital Hill,
was visited daily during his illness by Sec
retary Blaine and President Harrison.
the sick man hundreds came daily to make
inquiries, and the sick room was kept we'll
supplied with fresh flowers from the White
House conservatory. W NESToN.