The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1898-03-09


Spain Will Make Great Record-Bur-
rows speech la Opposition tn the Seat
ing of Corbett In the senate-Wiiiiam
Alden smiths Coined Phrase.
Washington, March S.-Michigan' :
member of the cabinet. General Russell
A. Alger will soon be strong and well
again. His recovery has been slow
and tedious. There was a 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 a
great record as secretary of war in the
event of protracted hostiites with the
treacherous people of Spain.
BY the way. there is a story OF Cen
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 Algsr $4,000 with which TO
make first payment on the paper.
Hatton was practically penniless. Cen
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 100000
General Alger came here to help the
widow settle her business accounts. He
gave $4,000 and Chris Magee OF Pitts
burg gave $4,000, making total of $15,-
coo, and this amount raised the holding
Of the widow to 100000. so that she was
fixed for life in comfortable GUM
stances. General Alger has done many
kind deeds of that character.
Burrows Masterful Effort
The speech of Senator Burrows in OPP
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 it 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 it
was provided that the president should
appoint nine commissioners TO the Paris
exposition, without salary. the Grand
Rapids statesman objected on the
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 good
without costing anything Congress
man Smith said: The commissions are
then like the peacock feather Of Ii
Hung Chang. They should therefore be
called peacock feather commissions. p"
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 Mark
Brewer is said to be in failing health.
He was not a well man when the presi-
dent gave him the appointment, but it
is supposed that this climate will prove
TO be beneficial to him.
Colonel Andrew T. McReynolds OF
Grand Rapids need not imagine for an
instant that he will get pension of 500
per month from this congress, and IL
is doubtful if ne will get that amount
from any congress- The money in the
treasury is not in excess of the govern
ment needs, and great economy is being
practiced by the committee on appropri-
atoms.
Congressman Bishop settled a very
ugly fight when he recommended the
appointment of Sam j. Wall to be post
master at Cadillac. The officials OF the
postoffice department who handled the
papers in the case say that il was one
OF the bitterest personal fights ever
made for an office.
Senator Mcmillan has been very busy
recently with the District Of Columbia
appropriation bill. which is prepared by
his committee. and for which he is pri-
marily responsible. 1t is q very impor-
tant measure. and the senior senator
from Michigan has given it his person
al attention
Depend Upon the Chairman.
The present and the future OF the ma
tionaI capital, its development, and its
beauty depend upon the chairman of
the committee on the District OF Co
Iumbia, because be must understand
the national capital and manage all leg
islation looking TO the welfare and
grandeur OF the city.
Congressman Sam Smith Is favoring
a service pension bill and working for
its passage. The congress, however. is
economical, and inasmuch as such a bill
would cost many millions annually for
many years. the bill is not likely to be-
come a law during the present session.
II have never doubted that the sf-
rairs in Cuba would result in war with
Spain" says Congressman Spaulding.
The relations between the govern
ments at Madrid and Washington have
been strained continually for fully two
years. The De Lone incident and the
Maine disaster simply tended TO inten-
sify the feelings of the people of both
government"
For n New Lighthouse Tender.
"I am assured by the chairman Of the
house committee on appropriations"
says Senator Mcmillan, that he will
not oppose my amendment TO the sun
dry civil bill making an appropriation
OF 500, 900 for the construction of a new
lighthouse tender for use on the great
lakes The house chairman is Mr.. Can
non Of Illinois. and he knows the needs