Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-03-15
A MAN NAMED FOLSOM
HE SUGGESTS THRILLING CHANGES IN.
THE MATTER OF GOVERNMENT.
The Venerable Justice Eield-Argument
That Killed the Nicaragua Canal Bill.
The Pacific Ocean and the Evolution of
China and Japan.

The Pacific Ocean and the Evolution of
China and Japan.
WASHINGTON, March 11.-[Special. J.
Ono Of tho last communications received by
tho hous committee on elections was IA let
ter from q man named Folsom of New Ha-
ven proposing o thorough and novel reor-
ganiZation of congress-. The members of
that committee took Mr.. Folsom's letter
upon the floor and passed it around among
their friends as one Of the curiosities of
congressional literature. Mr.. Folsom
thinks congress fails to carry out the
wishes of the people in many important
particulars because it is too small. He says
there should be a greater Number of mem
berr. If he could have his way about the
matter, he would make the house of repre-
sentatives a body Of 1870 men, and by
giving each 48 states (supposing that the
territories shall have been ADMITTEDLY six
senators instead of two he would make the
upper branch a chamber with 2SS men,
bers.
His Novel Scheme.
Mr.. Folsom admits this enlargement of
the two houses would make it Unnecessary to
build new house and a new senate cham
Der, but he would not stop at q trife like
eA0o IL N"AA Ing Ouo l. p4hA " IN SOOO
of the people. Mr.. Folsom's argument is
that a large part of the people are unrep-
resented in congress as it is now organized,
and he adds, I'm multitude of counselors
there is wisdom" Chairman Brown and
the other members Of the committee were
much amused at this suggestion. They
wonder how the speaker of a house con-
tanning ! ,34O members would DO able to
preserve order In the hall. It is difficult
enough now, with $50 members, and
would become quito impossible were the
membership increased to nearly 800.
These are not I'LL the suggestions which
Mr.. Folsom had to make. He wants the
freedom of speech and Of the press sup
pressed because he thinks they are men-
aces to the liberties Of tho people. He
wants the president and vice president
elected for life, and senator's as well. Tho
president, according to his scheme, should
be paid q salary Of $50, 900 year, the
vice president $50, 900, members of the cab
net ST, 500, the samea as ambassadors now
receive, and senators and representatives
IS, 900, tho same Is members of the cabinet
get at tho present time. Mr.. Folsom
would have q census taken every two years
instead Of once in ten. He wants a stand
ing army of So, 900 men and O navy of 49,
900 men. 1t is needless to say that Mr..
Folsom's suggestions did not receive the
serious attention Of the committee.
! The friends of Justice Field Of the su-
, preme court note with regret that he is
failing fast. The wonder is that the old
justice has been able to hold out so long,
considering his age, the active and labori-
u life which he has led and the prodi-
gious amount of labor which he has per-
formed during his long service upon the
bench. 1t may not be generally known
that justices Of the supreme court work
harder than senators and members Of con-
gress. They are compelled to sit up till
late hours studying briefs and writing
opinions. A seat upon this great tribunal
is no sinccure, SO far as work is concerned.
Though Justice Field is still able to sit
Oh the bench and to take his share Of the
labors, it has been noticed for some time
that he was doing so with increasing diff
Guilty and with evident rapid %diminution
of his powers of concentration and achieve.
ment. He long since passed the age a,
which he could retire on full pay, but he
does not like to nave President Cleveland
appoint his successor for personal reasons,
IN at the same time, being a Democrat,
wishes to lave a president of his own par
ty faith fill the vacancy to be created by
' his retirement.
Secretary Gresham's Taste.
There has recently been considerable tall
to the effect that Secretary of State Gresh
am might wish to take q place Upon tn
supreme court should o vacancy occur.
asked Mr.. Gresham about this, and he re
= plied:' lido not want Il seat III the bench
If I were going to be q judge again,
should prefer to sit on a circuit court il
Chicago, as I did before + came to Wash
ington. In tho supreme court one has t.
sit upon a bench, like an owl, without an.
freedom of action and without any oppor
j., tunity to assert ones individuality. 1t i
" a great court, and the men who constitut
:, it are an honor to their country, but I 4
> not care to become Il of them. like t
:, meet people, to chat with lawyers, to b
:, free and natural, and to be compelled to 81
+ on that dignifled bench, with all it's forms
y y ceremonies and gowns, would be distastt
- full to me-
- Great regret is expressed by many sena
= tors and representatives that the last COL
gross did not provide for examination {
" the route Of the proposed Nicaragua cana
by a board Of government engineers. I'll
~ argument which played havoc with the Mi
! aragua bill in congress was that the rout
y had never been critically examined by CT
~ gineers who were independent. All tt
surveys had been made by men in the en-
v ploy of the canal company. The argume1
q used was that if the government shout
n appropriate money to construct the cam
it might be found 500, 900, 600 was NJ
d enough, and that 200, 900, 900 or $500, 600
s. 900 would be necessary, as was the cal
ii with the i'll fated Panama canal. If q boa1
X of government engineers had been directs
to survey the route, with borings, calcul
tions and estimates, submitting it's repo
to the next congress, then ~the>nation
+. legislators would be in position to act Il
diligently. Many men of both parties b
1ieve this will yet be done, and that
le time the great canal will be constructed l
so the United States government.
IF The Pacific Ocean.
al Men who are watching the progress
affairs throughout the world say the P
cifo ocean is to be the theater Of one of Il
= greatest commercial developments civili2
ton has ever seen. Both Japan and Chi,
have just begun to evolute from barbaris
into a complete civilization. In railrol
| building and they are sure
play an important part in the developme