The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1906-12-20
Col. LounsberTys Notes Of \. Dakotans

Washington, Dec A. - To The
Forum: / found such pile of work
on my desk when / returned from the
west last August that / have had
scarcely time to look up. If one could
see the amount turned off from week
to week they would soon know that
the life of a government clerk is not
sinecure by any means. Those who
become weary of waiting for the con-
sideration of their cases would hard
ly believe that each OF the cor
fespondence clerks are turning out
from twenty-fiv to sixty cases a week.
But that is but drop in the bucket,
so to speak, when we consider that
nearly 100000 letters have already
been filed Tor consideration during the
present year. This includes appeals,
amendments. second entries, letters of
inquiries, etc. each taking distinctive
number, but only covers the general
land office.
took day off and was al the open
ing of congress, meeting many North
Dakotans, among them Major Butts.
Theodore Elton and Charles Hanael
have returned to their duties on the
public land committee and to their
rar and Jones of the pension commit
tee force are also at their desks, and
Major Hamilton and Edward Lamoure
of the senate force are in their accus-
toned places. Our old friend Alfred
r. Wood formerly of The Forum has
returned from five years at Manila and
will spend the winter at Washington
at newspaper work, of course met
she that was Rose Morton, and by her
appearance was reminded" of the dear
old colonel whom I'd rather see than
almost any other old soldier friend
on earth. She is happily settled in
Philadelphia and was over visiting
friends.
Senator Foraker, whom you all
want to watch out for as a candidate
for president who will not be sat on
by Taft or any other person to the
extent of being kept quiet, got in al
resolution on the question Of the dis
charge of the negro soldiers that is
intended to bring out facts that will
put somebody in bad light and give
the colored people to understand that
there is one man who dares to be their
friend. While they are not deuce
high when 1t comes to voting on elec-
ton day, they are pretty strong peo-
pie in national convention. They
differ from certain people in North
Dakota. They faint much on conven-
tions," but get there by a large ma
jority when they start in at the polls
So far as North Dakota is concerned
the most important legislation likely
to come up during the short session
is grain grading, car shortage and re-
lated questions. Senator McCumber
placed letters and petitions from
prominent people and organizations
before the interstate commerce COM
mission yesterday and they agreed to
take the matter up and press the In
quiry. A resolution has been intro
duced in congress. for printing the tes-
timuny taken under the La Toilette
r%S0lution. or this testimony some
1000 pages relates to grain grading
and kindred subjects, and the testi-
mony demonstrates that the charges
made by Senator McCumber when he
introduced his grain grading bill four
years ago were substantially true. 1t
Is demonstrated that there is no COM
petition In the grain trade; that the
producers are at the mercy OF consci-
enceless manipulators who at least rob
them In grades and prices and not UNI
frequently in weights
Publicity IL the sovereign balm for
all woes that affiict the people. The
publicity given the internal outrages
perpetrated by the grain gang Ii be-
lieved to have brought some measure
OF relief to an outraged people already.
I am glad to see that Mr.. Hill has TAX
en- hold of the subject and proposes
to give competition at the head OF the
lake, but the honest men In the grain
trade are rapidly reaching the conclu-
sion that federal grain inspection must
come and II the only certain remedy.
And that will be followed by the es-
Establishment OF international grades.
North Dakota cities on the list Tor
public buildings are Minot, $150,oo0;