Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-02-27
PUBLIC MEAS URES.
Bills introduced in Congress-Reported by
Committees = Discussions Agricultural
Repositories.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.-Senator Vance
introduced bill to establish in every
county In every state of the Union an agri-
cultural depository under control of the
treasury department, in which the owners
of grain, cotton, tobabco, etc., may deposit
their produce receiving therefor ware
house receipt and treasury notes equal
to so per cent. of the net value of their
deposit Deposits may be redeemed at
any time on payment of the sum adj
vanced and interest at one per cent per
annum. Fifty thousand dollars is appro-
prlated to carry out the provisions.
NEW SILVER BILL.
The principal features Of the silver bill
which will be reported by the senate com
mittee on finance as a substitute for sever
al bills on that subject referred to it, are
stated to be these:
The secretary of the treasury is author
lied to increase the purchase of silver bull
lion from two to four and half millions a
month. The requirement of the present
law, that the coinage of silver be at the
rate of not less than two millions month,
is stricken out. The secretary is also
authorized to purchase gold bullion in I'M
restricted quantities. Upon this gold and
silver bullion the secretary shall issue
treasury notes of such denominations as he
shall see fit, to be redeemable in lawful
money.
FOR FARMERS RELIEF.
Senator Paddock introduced In the SEN
ate today bill to amend the Interstate
commerce act. The amendment is intend
ed to provide relief to the farmers of the
west who are at present unable to mar
ket their crops on account of the high
freight rates prevailing on the long haul
and which railroads claim. cannot be re-
duced without demoralizing all the short
haul rates under the interstate act. The
bill provides that the long and short haul
clause be amended so that in case of an
infraction of that section the commission
be obliged to consider the cost of trans
portation and the facts and circumstances
bearing upon the market value of the pro-
duct, and if it appears that the product is
one of the necessaries of life, and upon II
a lower rate is indispensable, in ord er to
enable such product to be transported to
market, such transportation rate, so far as
the long haul clause Is concerned, may be
considered an exception to the general
rule. The amendment also provides that
the long haul tor such product, within the
meaning of the amendment. shall be SOC
miles or more. by the route over which the
freight is actually transported.
WINDOWS BILL.
Secretary Window was before the house
committee on coinage, weights and
measures to-day, in regard to silver coin.
age and declared his bill framed to meet
in the best way he could devise to meet
the present financial condition of the
country. He disavowed all charges that
the bill was a mere make-shift, that Its
author did not believe in it, and that ii
was brought forward to defeat some other
measure Mr.. Window took up in order.
the objections that had been made against
the bill. The matter of the
exclusion of foreign ores he covered
in an amendment to the first
section, providing that every bar of silver
bullion imported must be stamped for
eign. as must also such bars when re-
melted or refined. This proviso is elab-
grated and penalties provided for failure to
comply Herewith. The secretary answered
in concise manner other objections and
said he was convinced that the meas