Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-07-17

Tic NIsCi anu E1dfDOT Dill TO nave
that measure disposed Of before
the tariff bill was taken up, but
owing to the fact that there is a
doubt in the minds of many Sen
ators as TO whether the President
will sign the River and Harbor
bill, if it is passed by the Senate
and the Senate amendments agreed
to by the House, but little was
done towards antagonizing the
tariff bill with it.
Democratic Senators are openly
threatening to talk out the rest OF
the Fifty-hrst Congress on the tariff
bill, unless the republicans will
promise not to take up the Federal
election bill in the Senate at this
session. This can be done under
the present Rules of the Senate, if
the democrats have the nerve to
carry out their threats. Ofcourse
the Senate can, if SO disposed,
change its Rules SO as to upset
this little democratic scheme, but
from conversations with a number
OF the leading republican Senators
[ think the sentiment is at this
time against making the radical
changes in the Rules which would
be necessary to do it. Many re-
publican Senators are under the
impression that there is no general
demand by the party throughout
the country for the enactment of a
Federal election law, so that it
may be said that the fate Of that
measure is in the hands of the re-
publican voters Of the country;
if they wish it passed let them
make that fact known to their SEN
ators, and it will be done. That is
the whole situation in a nutshell.
Ex-Representative Valentine,
the new Sergeant-at-arms of the
Senate, has made a jump into pop
ularlty by raising four mammoth
United States flags at the feet of
the Goddess of Liberty at the top
of the dome Of the Capitol on the
Fourth. Strange as it may sound
this is the first time that the nat
ional flag has been raised over the
Capitol since that building was
completed, except when the House
Or Senate was in session, because
of the Rules which say that the
Flags over the respective houses
of Congress shall be hoisted only
when they are in session, conse-
quently on all holidays and du-
ring the recess of Congress there
has been no flag over the Capitol.
This has been surprising to all Wis
itors, particularly those from for
eign countries, and Mr.. Valentine
is deserving Of credit for having
been the first one to solve that
problem of how to raise the flags.
He had four stats temporarily
erected pointing north, south, east
and west, and it is probable that
they will be made permanent.
The agreement on the silver bill
still hangs fire, and if one listened
to the opinions expressed by the
in private, he would soon
be convinced that no agreement
was possible. Nevertheless it is
safe to say that an agreement will
be reached, and that it will either
provide for the purchase and coin
age of S4,5Oo,Ooo worth of silver
each month or of 100000 ounces
and it is probable that the bill will
make the coin certificates full legal
tender, good for either gold Or
silver, although the last will not
be accomplished without stubborn
fight. The republican conferees
are now trying to get together in
their ideas so as to act as a unit in
this important matter, and it is
hoped that they will succeed.
Whatever is adopted should be a
measure pure and
simple without any democratic
or assistance.
Pronounced Hopeless, Yet Saved.
From letter written by Mrs. Ada E.