Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-02-06
A MONTH MORE.


of the republican party and not to
enact legislation for the popular veal.
Despite tie crying need from many
sources precious time has been frittered
away in wretchedly partisan manner.
Nearly an entire year was dissipated in
the formation and crammiug through con-
gress of the tariff measure, whose extreme
length in the matter Of taxation has
forced its subsequent Reputation by the
people. The long session was thus wasted,
the country being actually worse off for
the m asure than without it.
The short session should have been pro
dnctiye of some compensatory results, but
none have com 1t is not possible to
approach a sing department Of govern
mental work or care without finding bane-
ful evidences Of congressional neglect
The currency question needs a Whole ses-
sion, instead Of a week, of discussion and
explanatiOn-if it needs any consideration
ct all. The Indian question ought at
least to be considered on its merits. Every
item Of our treaty and Legislative agree
ments should be reviewed appropriations
made sufficient to discharge all our
obligations, and then the proposed
transfer TO the war department should be
considered seriously. The interstate
commerce law needs amending, in the
light Of experience, so as to make exist
ence possible 10 the railroads and regula-
ton possible to the government. An in
ternationaI copyright bull and bank
ruptcy bill are awaiting their turn. The
reform Of our land laws is not begun.
With one voice all interests have
been calling for diligence and expedition,
and yet every cause has been neglected
save that Of party.
1t remains TO be seen what the next four
weeks will produce. Time is 50 short,
however, before dissolution comes, that it |
will be utterly impossible for all matters |
demanding attention to receive it. And |
poor, ill-digssted laws, as the DEMo"RAT ,
has iterated heretofore, are worse than
none al all
The force bill,-peace to its ashes!-
il responsible for the criminal waste |
of time. and the zealots who have adyo-
Gated it have more to answer for than even
the passage of that measure would imply.
FATTER THAN -UsPECTED.
An interesting communication indeed
was that which the assembly yesterday re-
ceived by the governor. It told story
both surprising and pleasant surprising
that the interest on the deposits Of public
funds is so great and pleasing that the
state can receive such a handsome revenue
from u source never heretofore profitable
to the extent OF penny
The governor informed the legi Stature
that the interest paid the state 10y banks
holding commonwealth funds on deposit
amounted to 81 ,027 10 for the past twenty
DAYS or thereabouts and that for the pres
ent month it would probably exceed
$4,000.
This information is stunning. In effect
it tells the tax payers Of Wisconsin that
such interest may amount to S36,OOO an
nualIy, if the February revenues can be
taken as Il criterion, and that a sum per-
haps that large has of late been diverted
annually from the use of the state TO the
possession of the treasurer. No
estimate, 10y even the most
visionary of reformcrs, has placed
the amount thus wrongfulIy takeh
at a sum exceeding So 900, and most
people have been ready to believe 1T could
hardly be more than half that sum. The
February estimate may not be a fair one
ON which to base calculations, but no rea-
son suggests itself for believing that 1t Is
not an average month as far It's treasury
balances are concerned.
Another fact is revealed by the COM
munication that the administration is in
earnest to give the state all revenues that
rightfully belong to it. Treasurer Hun
ner is nobly living up to his ante-electlon
pledge in this matter, and his upright
conduct must put to shame those organs
that have recently been charging him
with violation of faith with the people
in making deposits of state
funds IN the banks OF course
tie treasurer never made any promises not
to make such deposits, but only to cover
into the treasury all interest that might
accrue from such deposits as he saw tit
to make. lie is keeping the faith most
rcGgiously and his policy in this partlcu-
lar completely disarms all criticism.
That large branch Of the farmers ALI
anee that advocates the nomination Of
presidential ticket in 1892 is likely 10 be
greatly strengthed hy the success of the
Kansas organization in placing one of its
members in the United States senate. So
brilliant an achievement certainly has not
been credited to any third-rate party in
this country fer many years. There have
been since the rise of the republican party
anumher of independent senators whose
election vas due to adventitious circum-
stances. but Senator elect PETER of
Kansas viii enter the upper branch the
representative of class that challenged
opposition from the start. The prohibi-
zionist, would think their time was finally
come should they succeed in sending a
representative to this Legislative body.
Yet the prohibitionists have been run
ming presidential tickets these many
years The present drift indicates that
the alliance will eschew any combination
with the ordinary labor organizations and /
go it alone The farmers will form n
tremendous political power if they can be
got to move in unison.
TuE legislature is gradually correcting
some of the bluuders of the body two |
years ago. The Bennett law. which en-
eendered such a vast amount of uufrater- |
nal feeling in the state. was among the |
first measures to receive attention. and |
yesterday the bill repeating it passed |
to third reading in the senate. |
after having already gone through