The true northerner., 1898-03-23
THRIVES ON War WORK
HE KEEPS HIS WITS ABOUT HIM.

HE KEEPS HIS WITS ABOUT HIM.
He Is Calm and Collected During the EN-
citing Moments In Connection with the
War Preparations--Corliss Advocating
Longer Terms for Congressmen-No Riv-
er and Harbor Appropriation This sss-
sion-Other News from the Capital.
Washington, March 22.-General Al
ger thrives en- war work and his health
has improved ever since the war cloud
arose. He has been attending TO busi-
ness with businesslike activity and
with his customary virility. During
the exciting moments of the past two
weeks he has been as calm and collect
ed in demeanor as though he had been
secretary of war for many years. His
army experience has proved to be val
liable to him. He knows every branch
of the war department, and the duties
of every official of the department.
Hence, he makes no mistakes, not even
in minor details. All of the army Off
GERS have confidence in him, as they
would not have in a civilian secretary
of war.
Congressman Corliss turns aside from
wars and rumors of war TO seek legis-
lation for the prolongation OF the terms
of congressman from two years TO four
years 1t is not difficult to induce men,
bers Of the house of representatives TO
support such a measure, but il will
never be adopted by the senate, and,
therefore, it will not become law.
Newspaper men who sit in the CALLER
les year after year know probably bet
ter than the people at home know that
two years is long enough for the aver
age congressman to serve.
There Are Exceptions.
OF course, there are exceptions. Such
men as Tom Reed, Joe Cannon, j. c.
Burrows, Sam Stephenson, and Dave
Henderson ought TO be kept in the
house of representatives as long as they
will serve. But the average congress
man, big as he may appear at home, is
small potato in Washington, where
they rub up against the brightest intel
lects in this country Two years is
enough for a congressional term and
it ought not to be prolonged.
Senator Mcmillan is doing a work
lumbia. He is securing an appropria-
tion for the purpose of filtering the mud
of the Potomac river-the mud which
we poor fellows are obliged to use for
drinking purposes. The Potomac riv-
er is one of the muddiest streams in the
world at times. 1t comes to us from the
Allegheny mountains. Heavy rains
wash down the mountain sides and
Al cltte
gish muck of yellowish fluid. 1t is
pumped into reservoirs and we drink
il and cook with it, 1t ought to be fill
tered, and Senator Mcmillan has Sc
cured an appropriation of $4,000 for the
purpose of having experts examine and
report to congress how to filter 1t.
No River and Hsrbor Bill.
There will be no river and harbor ap-
preparation bill, and public works will
be sadly neglected on that account for
the next year in many places Speaker
Reed has decided that there shall be
no appropriation made for rivers and
harbors. and the senate has concluded
to concur in the decision, although the
members of the committee on rivers
and harbors have been anxious to pass
bill
Moreover, the senate committee on
appropriations absolutely refused to al
low any river and harbor amendments
to be made in the sundry civil bill. Con-
| sequently, the lake country and our big
| rivers will be left to the care of mother
nature.
Congressman William Alden Smith
| Is said To have been in poor health
while in Havana on account Of the
malarial condition Of that place. The
congressional party describes Havana
| harbor as a cesspool full of miasmatic
vapors.
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
| Spalding, a Michigan man who renders
the government excellent service, says
that the treasury officials are thorough
| ly in sympathy with the movement to
provide ample room and extra facilities
for the exhibit of American corn at the
Paris exposition.
| Will Make Our People Rich.
A special committee has been here
recently urging upon congress that a
| liberal appropriation be made for this
purpose. The secretary of agriculture
! says that corn for human food, when
! once introduced into Europe and ac-
cepted by the people there. will result
| in making our people rich. Our prairies
produce abundant crops, and European
demand for corn will give our farmers
| prosperous prices.
Everybody in Washington who knows
anything about Michigan affairs, or
who can have any influence there polit-
ically receives marked copies of the
Mancelona Herald every week. The
paper manifestly runs off of a hot
press, and is warm even when IL
reaches Washington.
Captain Albert Pew of Grand Rapids.
one of the pioneers of western Michi-
| gan. who is now one of the assistant
Goorkeepers of the senate, is one of the
busiest men in the Capitol. He has
charge Of the committee room of SEN
ator Burrows, and is there on duty ev-
cry morning before the senate meets.
When the august body is called to or
der at noon every day Captain Pew
takes his stand inside the senate lobby
and guards the door opposite the room
of the vice president until the senate
| adjourns.
Fog Signal at Muslegon.
Congressman Bishop will probably Sc
cure an appropriation for steam fog