The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1894-08-10

The July fire loss in the United States and
Canada upsets the hopes entertained because
of the comparatively good record for June,
which reported SS,2S2,3OO the lightest for any
month in long period. The total last month
was $l6,2O7 900 against $12, 11S,70O in 1893
and $ll $50 900 in 1892.
There is in this vicinity an almost UMPIRE
cedented scarcity of water, springs, wells
and even large brooks are astOnishingly low
or dry altogether.
Wisconsn's state tax this year will be %
per cent less than usual, chiefly because of the
restoration to the state by eX-treasurers and
their bondsmen of interest drawn by them on
deposits of state money during their term of
office The total amount paid back is $780,
900. The Democrats think they ought to
carry the state on this showing of house
cleaning.
The political crisis which has kept New
foundland in turmoil for the past six
months seems to be ended now with the UNI
seating of the ID or more Liberals including
every member of the cabinet on charges of
corruption in the election, and turning a lib
eral majority of twO-thirds into Il working
Tory majority. These election contests,
which are decided in the courts, were gener-
ally based on the fact that the preceding as
sembly made a large appropriation for road
making and other Improvements and that the
IHUucy Was cNpcuucu Ill tuc lIlDcIdl ulstIlCto
about election time in the employment of
laborers, which the courts held to be corrupt
practise. The Liberal government had to
stand helpless and see itself moved down in
this way. 1t tried to escape by getting dis
solution and appeal to the people, but the
governOr-general refused to order it, Then
the assembly adjourned without making any
appropriations, but the administration went
ahead collecting taxes and expanding them
without authority of law.
EXGov st John, the Kansas prohibitiOnist
leader, is at the head of new departure in
life insurance in New York which promises
to effect some interesting information on the
subject of total abstinence, as well as to
preach practical lesson on temperance. 1t
is proposed to inaugurate total abstinence
department in one of the life insurance COM
panies, and it is started with the supposition
that enough total abstaners will insure in the
company as such to form separate and dis
tinct class of policy holders.
Ben H. Clover, who represented Kansas
Populists in the last congress, has gone back
to the Republican fold. He says he is disgust
ed with the way in which the state Populist
administration has abused its trust.
The Roman Catholics of Canada seem to
have practically given up hope of securing
from the Dominion government Il reversal of
the Manitoba laws which forbid the support
of sectarian schools from the public funds.
Consequently they are trying to secure this
pubic support indirectly.
Major William III. Upham, the Republican
candidate for governor of Wisconsin, was a
soldier of the Union army whose funeral SER
mon was preached at home while he was sup
posed to be filling grave on southern
battle field. He was boy then, and after he
turned up alive, but badly wounded. Presi-
dent Lincoln sent him to West Point to re-
,eiye a military education He is a manllfac-