Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-16

IA IL " u II " Il w "a W
succeeds another in the same district,
and this is true, but in mat case the
voters are themselves responsible for
the change and can, therefore, not well
make complaint.
1t is argued by the Iowa delegation
that as long as the people themselves
are not urging changes in the bound
airy lines of district, and the sitting
members are satisfied, that the mem
bers of the legislature can logically
find but little ground for making
changes in the outlines of existing
districts. The congressman assert
that they have received no complaints
from constituents that their wants are
not being properly attended to by rea-
son of faulty proportions of their dis
tricts, and members are making no
complaint because one has a few
thousand people more or less in his
district than his colleague, SO what
good end, the members ask will be
gained by tearing down bundary lines
and building up new ones?
Congressman Conner and Thomas,
representing by all odds the largest
oiSsiiSN III poihU VI SluuiC ihiiSS anu
population, the tenth and eleventh dis
tricts, respectively, are very much op-
posed to redistricting They take
this position upon the logical ground
that there is no demand for change by
the people they represent. In the
tenth district there appears to be no
interest in the question, whatever, ex-
pressions voiced upon the subject be-
ing in opposition to change. In the
eleventh district there is a studied
newspaper effort to arouse interest
and enlist the people in a crusade for
I a reorganization of the district, but
Representative Thomas asserts that
the people of the eleventh are satisfied
and that the individual in favor of a
change is hard to find.
AS observed at the outset. the entire
! delegation is opposed to redistricting
and in giving their reasons express
/ themselves in practically the same vein
/ as Congressman Hepburn. The mem
I bers representing districts having in
excess of the average of 100000 are
satisfied to take care of the interests
of the surplus and members represent
ing districts having less than 100000
are willing they should.
Charges Against Major Blunt.
Mr.. Berry, of Davenport, represent
ing the labor organizations of the Tri-
Cities. arrived in Washington the lat
ter part of the week uDon a special
mission. 1t is expected that tomorrow
or Wednesday he will be granted an
audience with the President, at which
time he will formally prefer charges
against Major Blunt, Commandant of
the United States arsenal at Rock Is
land. The nature of the Indictment
will be, it is understood, that Major
Blunt has Disseminated against work
men belonging to the Union, employed
in the arsenal, and Mr. Berry is amply
furnished with af1idavits and letters,
1T is asserted, to sustain the charges
Major Blunt has been in charge at the
arsenal since 1897, and from the first
has been embroiled in series of diff
Iculties with organized labor, the out.
growth of Major Blunt's efforts to re-
Educe wages. The President has a
warm side for labor organizations, as
is well known, and Mr.. Berry expects
to accomplish something for his ag,
Igrleved co-laborers in the arsenal
4 Swain Makes a Report.
Consul Albert w. Swain, formerly
LOT the Oskaloosa Herald, new repre-
Isenting this government in Montivid
leo, Uruguay, reports that Uruguay has
recently made some sweeping changes
in its coinage, substituting coins of the
value of one, two and four cents, OF
nickel, for coins of similar value OF
"copper". The new coins are made by
a German concern, and represent q
flcn Inc nf about q half roi11iNn lnl
lars.
Sansuine for Shipping Bill.
Senator Frye is quite sanguine that
his shipping bill will become law al
this session. The bill in it's present
form may be open to serious objec
lions, but upon the proposition that
some move, either governmental Oh
private should be made with view tc
the stimulating of ship building ant
the organization of passenger and
, freight lines of steamers, may be
. found in the fact that this fall wher
Mr.. Swain returned to Urugay he was
compelled to take passage to England
thence back, via English steamers, tc
, Montivideo. A few weeks since, wher
, F. w. Bicknell, appointed a specia
commission under the department o.
agriculture, to study conditions il
. South America, desired to make the
. port of Rio de Janeiro, he was likewise
compelled to sail five or six thousand
miles out of his way, via Liverpool tt
, reach his destination.
There is practically no avenue O.
, passenger and freight traffic between
: the United States and South America
, The large and immensely profitable
: trade of the South American .countrie.
t goes to England, Germany and France
) the imports from the United State!
i being hardly worth considering. Their,
J will be none until the United State.
, possesses ships with which to carr,
| freight and passengers and thus take
| advantage of a magnificent market al
most at our doors.
IOWA IN GREAT LUCK.
Tenth District Congressman Is Elevat
, ed.
: Washington, d. c., Jan. ID.