The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-12-11
BUSINESS is IMPROVING.
80 Report Gathering Congressman
from An Sections.
wages Are neing Raised ana Mort
gnEes Are Being Paid on-In-
creased Earnings Among
All Around.

OF congress Tor their regular session
brings TO Washington some interesting
news from all parts OF the country.
The average member of congress is a
better barometer In relation 10 the con-
ditions In his own state and district
than perhaps any other man, and when
you get an aggregation of members
from all parts Of the country you get
an excellent view OF conditions in this
great country of ours.
And they come with very favorable
reports. Whether from the north or
south, the Atlantic seaboard the Mis-
s'ssippi valley. or the Pennsylvania
slope, there are reports Of improved
conditions.
Increased earnings among farmers,
increased earnings by railroads and
railroad men, increased earnings among
manufacturers; these are the reports
which members bring from every part
OF the country. From Kansas alone
comes an official report placing the
value OF farm products In that state this
year at over SGG,ooO,00o, an increase Of
more than 30 per cent, as compared
with last year, while the reports Of
mortgages cancelled in that and all OF
the farming states are equally graft
tying. From the manufacturing and
mining sections the reports are quite
as favorable. Members from the manu-
featuring sections Of New England and
the Ohio. valley report large increases
In the number OF people employed, and
that an increase in wages is now also be-
ing had in many cases. Naturally the
first effect OF a protective tariff is TO in
crease the number OF people employed,
and il is not until the second stage Of It's
work has been reached that the effect
is felt in the increase in wages. That
IL now making itself apparent, for re-
ports OF increased wages comes not
alone from the manufacturing centers,
but from the great iron mines Of Penn
sylvania, Michigan and elsewhere, and
from other industries Of this character
In the Ohio valley,
One subject for which members OF
congress OF both parties are looking
with interest is the statement OF Sena-
tors Pettigrew, Mantle and Dubois, who
hurried away from Washington at the
close Of the special session 70 visit ia
pan. 1t was announced that their OBJ
ject in making this trip was TO examine
into the causes which led Japan to aban-
don the silver standard and fall in line
with the progressive gold standard
nations OF the world. Japan, il will be
remembered, was shining example OF
free silver prosperity during the discus
sions OF 1896. and no single incident
since the defeat 81 1896 so much dis
turbed the silver advocates as the loss
OF Japan from their list of silver stand
ard countries. IL was because OF TINS
fact that the silver advocates scurried
away TO interview these Yankees OF the
orient. and find out just how they had
been taken in" by the gold schemers
OF Europe. These gentlemen, although
they returned from Japan weeks ago.
have been absolutely silent, and their
coming TO Washington is looked for
ward to with much interest, as there
win be disposition on the part Of mem
bers Of both parties 10 insist upon either
definite report or an explanation or
their silence. The fact that they have
had nothing to say since they returned
Is considered, 10 say the least sugges-
tive of failure 20 find in japan any SUI
fcient argument In support OF their
silver theory.
Another subject which interests
members Of congress much ON thelr
return Is the announcement that an
American prisoners in Cuba have now
heen set at liberty. II will be remem-
bered that this administration, when
II came into Office nine months ago.
found that very large number OF
American citizens were confined III 'u-
han prisons, and had been so conhneu
IN many eases for months. Within less
than a single month many Of these
were released. and now congress hnds
upon reasscmblng that through the
firm but conservative course OF the ao-
ADMINISTRATION every American citizen
who was thus confined In Cuban pris-
ons and had been so confined for
months, If not years, has been SET NJ
liberty. This fact is already having
its effect in modifying the disposition
on the part OF certain people TO eriticise
the course OF the administration ~ re-
0nrd 10 Cuban affairs and 10 lend To
feeling that the president and his adj
visers II permitted to carry ont their
plans will shape the matter IN sat
isfac'Ory way
The operations Of the tariff law DUR
ing the four months since congress
placed Il upon the statute books ana
left II 70 begin It's career in the lace
OF adverse conditions have been very
satisfactory. with Sio0.0oo.ooo worth
OF surplus foreign importations upon
the markets az the country the condi
items In which Il entered upon It's work
were. OF course. extremely unfavorable.
In the face al that fact, however. its
earnings have steadily increased, be-
ginning with little over si9,0O0'00O in
ite first month. and now reaching moro
than S25. 100000 in November. In each
month since the tariff bill was plnced