The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1897-12-18
BUSINESS is IMPROVING.
So Report Gathering Congressman
from All Sections.
Wages Are BEING Raised and Mort
cages Are Being Paid On-In-
creased Earnings Among
All Around.
Especial Washington correspondence

The coming together of the members
of congress for 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 TO the con-
ditons 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
IN 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-
sissippi valley, or the Pennsylvania
slope, there are reports of improved
conditions.
Increased earnings among farmers,
increased earnings by railroads and
railroad nen, 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-oyer $4,000, o0ooan increase of
more than 30 per cent, as compared
with llast year, while the reports of
mortgages cancelled in that and all of
the farming states are equally graft
flying. 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
T.. %, 10 ,,1pN.a1 md
that an increase in wages is now also be-
ing had in many cases. Naturally the
first effect OF protective tariff is to in
crease the number of people employed,
and il is not until the second stage of its
work has been reached that the effect
is felt in the increase in wages. That
Is 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
syiyanin. Michigan and elsewhere, andI
from other industries Of this character
IA 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 to visit Ja-
pan. 1t was announced that their OBJ
iect 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 a shining example Of
free silver prosperity during the discus
sions of 1896. and no single incident
SINE the defeat Of 1896 so much dis
turbed the silver advocates as the loss
Of Japan from their list of silver stand
ard countries. 1t 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
will be disposition on the part OF mem
bers of both parties to insist upon either
a definite report, or an explanation OF
their silence. The fact that they have
had nothing to say since they returned
Is considered, TO say the least, sugges-
tive of failure TO find in japan any sur
ficient argument in support OF their
silver theory.
Another subject which interests
members of congress much on their
return is the announcement that all
American prisoners in Cuba have now
been set al liberty. 1t will be remem-
bered that this administration, when
il came into office nine months ago,
found that very large number OF
American citizens were confined in Gu
ban prisons. and had been so confined
in many cases for months. Within less
than a single month many of these
were released, and now congress finds
upon reassembling that through the
firm but conservative course OF the adj
ministration every American citizen
who was thus confined in Cuban pris-
ons and had been so confined for
months, if not years, has been set at
liberty. This fact is already having
its effect in modifying the disposition
on the part Of certain people to critcise
the course Of the administration in re-
gard to Cuban affairs and to lead to
feeling that the president and his adj
visers, If permitted to carry out their
plans, will shape the matter in sat
isfactory way.
The operations of the tariff law dur
ing the four months since congress
placed it upon the statute books and
left 1t to begin its career in the face
Of adverse conditions have been very
satisfactory. With 500, 100000 worth
Of surplus foreign importations upon
the markets of the country the condi-
tions in which it entered upon its work
were, of course, extremely unfavorable.
In the face of that fact, however, its
earnings have steadily increased, be-
ginning with little over $4,000, 0Oe in
its first month, and now reaching more
than $25, 100000 in November. In each
month since the tariff bill was placed
upon the statute books the earnings
have increased. and the treasury Off