Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24

No other corporation pursues a dis
honest dealer or contractor SO persist
emily and so relentleSsly as does the
government of the United States.
Neither the petty CRATER nor the man
guilty of big frauds escapes trial when
once the hand of the law is laid on
him. The conviction of the gang of
men engaged in petty frauds in the
PoStoffice Department two or thres
years ago is an instance of one kind,
and the success of the prosecution of
Greene and GaynOr guilty of defraud-
ing the government of more than a
million dollars ON engineering work in
Georgia. is an instance of the other
kind. Captain Carter the army officer,
who had charge Of the inspection of
their work, was convicted of partici-
pating in the frauds, and sentenced to
diShonorable discharge from the army
and to five years Imprisonment He
has served his sentence and is now
free, trying to prove his innocence.
Greene and Gaynor. after they were
indicted in 1902, forfeited their bail
and escaped to Canada. For three
years they fought extradition. but the
British government finally surrendered
them, and they were put on trial. After
trial lasting thirteen and half
weeks they were convicted. sentenced
to Imprisonment for three years. and to
pay hne OF five hundred and seventy
five thousand dollars each-the amount
which they are charged with stealing.
-
In response to public sentiment the
House committee has stricken from the
agricultural appropriation bill the item
providing for the free distribution of
garden seeds. Seventy-fve wears ago
Congress appropriated $1,000 for the
purchase and distribution among farm
ers of rare and valuable" seeds. The
purpose was to encourage the tillers of
the soil to, raise the standard of the
crops and was laudabe one. Since
that time the appropriation has stead
lily increased until now it amounts to
S3O0,0OO. Instead of having the orgi-
nal purpose in view. the custom has
degenerated into a political one where
by congresSm"0 can increase their pull
i'll their respective districts. Tons of
common seeds are distributed and the
only effect is to let the farmers know
that their representatives in Congress
are expecting their votes From a real
benefit to the agricultural interests. the
custom has fallen into species of
graft. That the farmers no longer ap-
preciate the government liberality is
evidenced by the scores of letters re-
ceived by congressman condemning the
practice and urging that it be stopped.
-
The report that Rev. Thomas Sher-
man, son of the late W. T. Sherman,
had started on a journey over the
route of the famous march to the
sea- conducted by his father, and that
he was accompanied by a troop of the
Twelfth Cavalry, caused a great deal
of unfavorable comment throughout
the South. 1t was explained later, how
ever, that the cavalrymen were sent to
study the battlefields between Chatham
oOga and Atlanta, and that the officers
accompany them. In view Of the mis-
apprehension, existing, the President
ordered the troop to return to post at
Fort Oglethorpe after it had gone as
far as Resaca. Father Sherman aban-
doned his trip at Gainesville, Ga, APP
parently angered by the action of the
President, and returned to Chatta-
nooga. He is reported as saying that
he was an invited guest of the Federal
government.
When the last link of the cable con-
Meeting the United States with China
was completed, the President sent
message of congratulation, addressed
to Their Imperial Maiesties. the EN-
press Dowager and the Emperor of
China" The Emperor answered the
message with another one of felicia
ton, which he concluded with. "By or
der of the Dowager Empress we now
offer to your eXcellency our sincerest
congratulations" and signed himself
as Emperor. 1t seems that even an in
terchange of international courtesies
has to be effected in China by order of
the Dowager, who rules because she
can, not because she has the right
-
Former Consul General McWade at
Canon, China, who was removed on the
recommendation of Assistant Secretary
of State PIERCE, appeared before the
House Committee ON Foreign Affairs
and made serious counter charges
against Peirce, while defending his
own course aud character with numer-
Gus affidavits from people of prOmi-
hence in Canton. McWade charged that
PIERCE was in Canton only few hours,
and that while there he virtually COM
PEELED him to give up a valuable tiger
rug Since the hearing this rug has
been returned to its former owner by
Peirce.
-
"Uncle Joe" Cannon of Illinois
Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives, was 20 years old recently, and
his birthday was fittingly celebrated by
his colleagues, who rendered him a re-
ception at night. fhe President, mem
bers Of his cabinet and many other
men prominent in public life were pres
ent to wish the Speaker many happy
returns" There was no speechmaking.
Uncle Joe" warmly grasped the hand
of those who participated in the cele-
bration and with a kindly word replied
to the good wishes showered upon him
No precedent is known for the celebra-
ton.
-.
1t was announced by Secretary of
the Treasury Shaw that lie had re-
moved the S25,OOO,OOO limit to the
funds he would advance to national
banks dollar for dollar on gold i'm
ports. Hereafter national banks by an