The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-03-08
STORY OF GEN. ALGER
How He Made Frank Hatton's
Widow Comfortable.
HE HAS DONE MANY KIND DEEDS.


and Well Again and In Case of War with
Spain Will Make "a Great Record-Bur-
rows Speech ia Opposition to the Seat
ing of Corbett in the senate-William
Alden smiths Coined Phrase.
Washington. March 8.-Michigan's
member OF the cabinet. General Russell
A. Alger. will soon be strong and well
again. His recovery has been slow
and tedious. There was time in jan
uary when some Of his best newspaper
friends believed that he could not posi-
bly, recover, but none of them said so
In print. General Alger will make
great record as secretary Of war in the
event of protracted hostilities with the
treacherous people of Spain.
BY the way there is story Of Gen.
eral Alger that has never been pub
lished In 1889 he was in his office in
Detroit when ex-Postmaster General
Frank Hatton came in and told him
that the Washington Post was for sale.
Mr.. Hatton wanted TO borrow from
General Alger $4,000 with which to
make a first payment on the paper.
Hatton was practically penniless. Gen.
| eral Alger loaned him the money. Hat
| ton bought the paper with a partner)
| and In 1894, when he suddenly died, Mr..
| Hatton owned $4,000 worth of stock
| in the paper, which was worth $500, 900.
| General Alger came here to help the
widow settle her business accounts. He
gave $4,000 and Chris Magee of Pitts
burg gave $1,000, making total of SIS
900, and this amount raised the holding
Of the widow to 500, 200, so that she was
| fixed for life in comfortable circum-
stances. General Alger has done many
kind deeds Of that character.
| Burrows Masterful Effort.
The speech of Senator Burrows In op-
position to the seating of Senator Cor
bett of Oregon. who came here with a
commission from the governor. but with
out having been elected by the legisla-
ture, was a masterful effort. and friends
Of the senator say that 1t was the ablest
constitutional argument that he has
ever delivered in his long public career.
Congressman William Alden Smith
has coined a phrase which Is likely to
last. When the sundry civil appropria-
ton bill was under discussion, and II
was provided that the president should
appoint nine commissioners to the Paris
exposition, without salary, the Grand
Rapids statesman objected on the
ground that the places were created FOL
rich persons and poor men could not
accept such places The chairman OF
the committee on appropriations replied
that the places were merely ornamental
and would do the government gooc
without costing anything. Congress
man Smith said: THE commissions are
then like the peacock feather OF l.
Hung Chang. They should therefore bt
called peacock feather commissions.
And that name will stick to those class
commissions.
Congressman Hamilton is making dill
igent but seemingly futile efforts to Sc
cure a special appropriation for the i'm
provement of the river at st. Joseph
The committee is dilatory, and inclined
to be refractory
Brewer in Failing Health.
| Civil Service Commissioner Mari
Brewer is said to be in failing health
He was not a well man when the presi
dent gave him the appointment, but
is supposed that this climate will prov
to be beneficial to him.
Colonel Andrew T. McReynolds o
Grand Rapids need not imagine for al
instant that he will get pension of $40
|
Is doubtful If he will get that amour
from any congress. The money In tn
treasury is not in excess Of the govern
ment needs. and great economy is bein
practiced by the committee on appropri
! atoms.
! CONGRESSMAN Bishop settled a YER
uplv fight when he recommended tn
appointment of Sam ]. Wall to be post
| 90
postoffice department who handled tn
papers in the case say that it was on
, Of the bitterest personal fights eve
| made for an office.
+ Senator Mcmillan has been very bus
recently with the District Of Columbi
appropriation bill. which is prepared b
his committee, and for which he Is pr
, marily responsible. 1t is very impor
. tant measure and the senior senate
from Michigan has given II his person
r al attention.
r Depend Upon the Chairman.
The present and the future of the ma
tional capital, it's development, and II
\ beauty depend upon the chairman {
. the committee on the District OF &C
. Iumbia. because he must understan
! the national capital and manage all leg
:, islation looking to the welfare an
grandeur of the city.
3 Congressman Sam Smith is favorin
/ a service pension bill and working &c
its passage. The congress. however.
economical, and inasmuch as such a bi
would cost many millions annually fc
many years, the bill is not likely to bt
!. come a law during the present session
0 1T have never doubted that the a.
J. fairs in Cuba would result in war wit
T Spain," says Congressman Spauldinl
1.-THE relations between the govern
ments at Madrid and Washington ha'
: been strained continually for fully tw
!. years. The De LONE incident and tt
!. Maine disaster simply tended to inter
: sify the feelings of the people of bot
: government"
: For a New Lighthouse Tender.
!. "I am assured by the chairman OF II
!; house committee or appropriations
J, saws Senator Mcmillan, that he wi
not oppose my amendment to the SUI
dry civil bill making an appropriate
of 500, 900 for the construction OF ne
: lighthouse tender for use on the gre'
y | -, Tho houca chairman il Mr. Car