The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-04-01

by Michigan Man and Passed While "A
Michigan Man Presided Oves the Senate
Hot Fight for Increased Appropriations
for Rural Free Delivery-Another Ono
ON william Alden smith.
Washington, March 29.-It was thor
oughly Michigan day in the senate
when the bill was passed appropriate
ing 100000 for the building of gun
boat to take the place of the Michigan
on the Great Lakes.
This bill was introduced by Senator
Mcmillan, was referred to the commit
tee on naval affairs, of which Senator
Mcmillan is a member, ard was re-
ported back favorably from the COM
mittee by Senator Mcmillan.
When the vice president was in
formed that this important bill was
to be taken up by the senate he called
Senator Burrows to the chair gave
him the gavel and retired to the vice
presidents room. Thus 1t happened
that the bill providing for a boat TO
take the place of the Michigan, was
introduced by a Michigan man, report
ed by a Michigan man, and passed the
senate while a Michigan man was pre-
siding over that body.
The bill provides that the secretary
of the navy shall award the contract
to the lowest, best, responsible bidder,
and the gunboat must be constructed
of steel or other metal or of alloy. No
premiums are to be offered for excess
of speed. 1t is not believed that there
will ever come a time when this coun-
try will need a war vessel on the Great
Lakes for the purpose of fighting
Great Britain, for the recent friendly
actions of that country, pending our
strained relations with Spain, have
tended to cultivate friendly relations
which will be likely to last
Fight for Rural Free Delivery.
The men of Michigan have been max
ing hot fight for increased appropria-
tions for rural free delivery. They
claim that if less luXuries were given
postmasters of cities and less profits
paid to railroads for carrying mails
the country people could have ample
appropriations for free delivery and
good service could be rendered them
1t is acknowledged by the postmaster
general that rural free delivery is no
longer experimental, but practical and
the sooner it can be extended to all of
our people the better.
Congressman .Corliss of Detroit has
energetically advocated the bill making
presidential inauguration day the first
Wednesday in May, and it Isl favorably
reported. Our presidents are usually
inaugurated in rain or snow storms
because the 4th of March is generally
day of bad weather in this climate.
Congressman Spalding of Monroe,
who is a member of the committee on
banking and currency, says: There
will be no currency legislation during
this session of congress. 1 presume
that something will be done next win
ter. Our foreign relations are such
that it is deemed unwise to attempt to
change our monetary system at such
time. AS Abraham Lincoln quantity
said: We must not change horses
while crossing a stream"
Liquor on Government Reservations.
Congressman Todd of Kalamazoo,
who is member of the committee on
alcoholic liquor traffic, says: IF the
right of petition is regarded by this
congress there will be legislation pre-
venting the use of intoxicants on gov
eminent reservations and in the Dis
trict of Columbia. We have before our
committee a mass of petitions aggre-
a
praying for such legislation. But the
congress does not pay such attention
to petitions as should be paid to them.
Therefore am afraid that the bills
pending will not be taken up and
passed"
Congressman William Alden Smith,
having returned from Cuba. found
peculiar state of affairs confronting
him. The metropolitan newspapers
have taken up the story of his adj
venture with five Spanish soldiers,
whom he vanquished with his umbrel-
la, and they have ridiculed him un-
mercifully. 1t seems that the story was
somewhat exaggerated, but Mr.. Smith
did have an unpleasant experience
with several of the rascally followers
of Weyler, the Butcher.
Congressman Sam Smith of Pontiac
Is like Shakespeare in one particular, he
grows in popularity as people learn to
know him. Physically he Is the small
est man in congress, the smallest man
most likely that ever came to congress
But he a prodigious worker and a nat
ural born friend-maker.
Ayers Working Hours.
Government clerks go to work at 8
o'clock in the morning. Secretary of
War Alger is at his desk every morn
ing at o'clock, hard at work Gov
eminent clerks leave their Offices at (
o'clock every afternoon. General Alger
never leaves his desk before 6 and
sometimes not until o'clock. That
is pretty good record for cabinet
official e.pdN ESPECIALLY for man. who