Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-11
Territory where the greater portion of
all coal mined in territories Is prodllc-

operating in territories the same pro-
lection afforded those in states. BY
the provision of the Lacey bill the sup
ply Of air will be increased fifty per
cent and the regulations in relation
to firing of shots, ingress and egress,
employment of child labor in mines,
maintained up to the highest known
standards.
Will Reduce Number of Explosions.
Congressman Lacey believes the en-
forcement of the provisions of his bill
will materially reduce the number of
explosions, and, in case of an explos-
ion, will reduce the liability of loss
Of human life. The mines in the In
dian Territory are among the most
dangerous in the country and Major
Lacey's bill will come as a great re-
lief to the miners in that section.
Postal Legislation.
The bill of Congressman Hull, plac-
ing certain classes of mail matter COM
ing within the third class, upon the
same footing as second class mail, is
developing great strength and will IN
doubtedly be enacted into organic law.
The proposition has received the en-
dorsement of the postoffice department
and it is thought that there cannot be
great, if any opposition no it.
The bill provides for the acceptance
on the part of the postofflce depart
ment, of third class mail, payment to
be made in a lump sum on the basis of
weight, as in case with sc eond class
mail at this time. In that event a
book concern, seed house, or other par
ties desiring to forward large numbers
titles of books by mail, would simply
weigh the consignment and pay the
local postmaster at the rate of eight
cents for each pound of matttsr.
Its Advantages.
The advantages Of this importation
would be two-fold, and cons tderable,
both to the individual or concern and
to the government. At the present
time the shipment of an edition of cat
alogues involves vast amount of lab
or and expense for the mere clerical
work of affixing postage stamps and
the labor of cancelling the stamps
which in the case of editions ruluning
into the thousands, is big item.
Capt. Hull has the strong support
of large number Of concerns i'll his
effort to simplify a feature of the pos
tai system, and Mr.. Evans, of the
Iowa Seed Co., of Des Moines, while in
Washington, few days since, rem
dered valuable assistance in Interest
ing certain parties of influence in the
campaign.
Good Story TeIIers VS.. Handsome Wife
The ability to tell q good story and
tell it well is sort of "open sesame1"
in the house of representatives It IS
mooted question whether this rarA
qualification or the possession Of a
handsome and winsone wife consti.
tutes the trump card, but the race is
easily between the two, with the hand
some and winsome wife probably, if
any hing, a few lengths ahead. The
name of more than one bewitching ma
iron of youthful years, with uncom-
mon grace and skill as an entertainer
and clever conversational diplomat,
who through these graces has wrought
prestige for her husband in the house,
might be named. But to quote from
a noted writer, that is another
story"
What I started out to say was that
Iowa has three first-class story tellers
in the house, with a couple of others
in the also ran class when they get
warmed up. Smith, Lacey and Hedge
are their names, in the language of
their fellow congressman, and as story
relaters their fame IN the lower house
is great and increasing. Messrs.
Smith and Hedge are comparatively
new members, but they are old-umers
at EARNING. Judge Smith, in particu-
lar, seems to have caught on as dis
penser of good Ones" and his appear
ance in any circle Is always the sig
nal for demand to proceed" and
this Judge Smith never hesitates to do.
One of Judge Smiths.
| This penchant of Judge Smith for
mingling Renaissance and humor is
not recently acquired characteristic;
he has been prone to tell stories from
early manhood days, and even when
upon the bench he could not forget the
habit and would occasionally, at the
proper time, unravel choice yarn to
the delight of his friends. The Judge
relates the tale Of a contested insur-
| ance case coming before him. Up to
| that time the judge had given only
cursory attention to the fearful and
wonderful details Of contracts of insur-
ance companies and agricultural nipple
ment manufacturers. When this case
came on for trial it was incumbent up
on Judge Smith to go over the two
contracts involved with great thor
oughness. He read both until he knew
the details practically by heart. 1t APP
pears that sometime afterward an ag-
ricultural implement dealer had occa-
sion to rent premises owned by the
judge, in Council Bluffs. He perceiv-
ed fine opportunity to illustrate a
lecture and drew'up the lease in regu-
lation insurance" and agricultural
implement dealer" form The lease
went on to regulate the life and con-
duct Of the occupants during their
waking and sleeping hours, made it
binding that no servant or employee
should be DISCHARGED without written