Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1891-03-19
THE F|F1Y-FiRS7 CONGRESS.
The NeWs From the National Capital as il
Effects the Interests of the West
ern Farmers.
The Last Acts Of the Fifty-First Congress-
The President Thinks an Extra Ses-
sion Not Needed.

sion Not Needed.
WASHINGTON, March 18.-Special
CoaTespondence: Senator Pettigrew, who
at one bound obtained national notorie-
ty last fall, by reason Of his being one of
the three republican senators that voted
against the Mckinley tariff BILL has some
very decided opinions on the question of
Canadian reciprocity, which he does not
hesitate to proclaim. He said: II was
very much interested in the Canadian
elections, and am very much pleased to
know that the conservatives are on top.
Why? Because their success settles for
for sometime to come all prospects of re-
ciprocity treaties with Canada. am op-
posed to reciprocity with Canada because
it would make every Canadian farmer a
competitor on even terms with American
agriculturists along the border. What
kind of a trade would it be for us to give
them a market Of 100000 of people in
return for an opportunity to sell goods to
5000, 900 people? If reciprocity was in
operation England would move the factor
les to Canada and enjoy all of the advan-
tages without carrying any of the burden.
If Canada desires annexation we will ac-
comodate her, but the people of the
United States don't want any reciprocity
where the balance is so tremendously on
the other side"
Queer packages are constantly being
received at the government departments,
but queerer or more gruesome one than
that containing what purported to be the
ashes of union soldier. some scraps of
blanket, brass buttons of the uniform
and battered bullet. which several days
ago came through the mail from Vicks-
burg, Miss, is not remembered. It was
sent to the war department under the
mistaken impression that the sender
would be entitled to reward of S25.
Mr.. Blaine IS the proud possessor of 8
testimonial endorsing the reciprocity
treaty with Brazil and hoping that simi
lar ones may be negotiated with othel
South American countries, which is sign
ed by more than 200 New York mer
chants and importers, representing al
invested capital of more than 100000,
600.
l. The administration seems disposed te
take little rest after the long tug with
Congress. Mr.. Harrison has gone .tt
Maryland to shoot wild ducks, Secretary
Foster has gone home and Secretary
Proctor has gone down South, while {
large number of the more or less distin
guished jurists and patriots who art
willing to serve their beloved country az
judges, at $5, 900 a years, of the newly
created United States Circuit Court, art
left to cool their heels in Washington
hotels and boarding houses until the pre-
sident returns. There are nine of these
judges to be appointed, and the number
Of applicants-and they are not all repub
licans-already very large, is daily,
might say hourly increasing. .
Commissioner of Indian affairs Morgan
is out in a long and somewhat laboreC
argument against disarming the Indians
that will certainly make him unpopular
with most of the whites living in the In
dian country. He is what seems to be
an uncalled for reflection upon the whites
of South Dakota, whose governor haC
| asked for the disarming of the Indians
in that state: ''Should the arms they
now possess be forcibly taken from them
there is nothing either in the law or in
the habits of the people surrounding
them to prevent them from arming them
selves anew at the earliest opportunity by
purchasing from the whites all the arms
and ammunition which they are able tc
pay for ... .-....
An official order has been issued by thu
war department authorizing the enlist
ment of not more than 1900 Indians in
the regular army.
Since congress adjourned the Alliance
senators and representatives are devotine
their time and attention to becoming &C.
quainted with the methods of transactine
business in the executive departments OF
the government, and I shall be greatly
surprised if some of the present red tape
how-not-to-do business methods do not gel
a complete showing up in the next Con
gress. These Alliance men are investiga
ting in the right way. They are visiting
the departments with their eyes and ears
open, without making themselves official
ly known, which gives them an oppor.
tunity of learning by actual personal ex,
perience the difference with which the
average department official receives or.
dinary citizens and Senators or represen-
tatves, &; difference which the average
congressman never knows, because Of his
anxiety to have everybody he meets know
his official position.