Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-11-26

WEE0)&)IU
Many matters of Importance were
left undone or undecided when the first
session of the present Congress closed
last summer. They remain on the cal
andar Of unfinished business in either
the House or the Senate, and may be
called up for consideration when the
two branches of the national legisla-
ture meet. OF wide interest are the
proposed amendments to the interstate
commerce law, intended TO give to the
states Jurisdiction over liquors shipped
within their boundaries. The object
of the legislation sought is to keep liq-
uor out of prohibition States by re-
striction upon the commerce among the
States. The attitude of some Congress
men on this subject was an issue in
the Congressional legislation, and had
an influence on the vote cast i'll their
districts. Bills amending the antitrust
law in the interest Of necessary and
justiiable combinations of capital, and
bills restricting the courts in the issue
of injunction orders for the benefit Of
employees of labor, remain unreported
in the House Judiciary Committee. The
question of the admission free Of duty
of certain products Of the Philippine
Islands has been postponed again and
again, and is still undecided. Friends
of all these measures will strive to get
some action on them. oMreover, there
is the proposition to establish a postal
sayings-bank system, which both par
ties favor in their national platforms.
The chief work, however, which will
be accomplished in this short session
which will end at noon on March 4,
when the new President will take office
will be the passage Of the annual APP
preparation bills. There will be time
for little else, and if any other bills
of national Importance are passed, it
will be by reason of the wide public
demand for them.
The Bureau of Engraving and Print
signs suggested by Postmaster General
Meyer for a new issue Of United States
postage stamps. The new issue has
been designed with the object of OBJ
tanning the greatest simplicity COM
mensurate with artistic results. All
the stamps are of a similar desigr, con-
tanning a head in an ellipse, the only
decoration being laurel leaves on either
side of the ellipse. The lettering is in
straight lines, at the top being ~. S.
Postage" and at the bottom the words
1.-TWO Cents" The one-cent stamp con-
tains the head of Franklin, while all
the others will bear that of Washing
ton. taken from busts by Houdon. The
early stamps.
The Navy Department has decided
for reasons of economy to have coat
of slate-gray paint put on all battle
ships as fast as they are received at
the docks for repairs. The first ship
to receive the new coat is the Maine,
which has just returned from cruise
around the world and is now in the
Portsmouth Navy Yard. Both the Pa
cific and Atlantic fleets will thus be
treated when they turn to the Atlantic
Coast yards for repairs Besides re-
ducing the paint bills, the gray is
deemed a better color than the white
hnc
searchlight
Declaring that complaints continue
to come to the department alleging vio-
lation of the postal regulations con-
corning the disposition of registered
mail indorsed for delivery to the adj
dresses in person, an order has beer
issued by Third Assistant Postmaster
General Lawshe directing that such
mail must be delivered to no one but
the addressee in person, not even upon
his written order
Free passes may be issued to bona
fide eX-employes of railroad who are
travelling to re-enter the railroads SER
vice. Passes cannot be extended to the
families of employees who died a nat
ural deoth while in the service of COM
mon carriers, though that privilege is
accorded to the families of employees
killed in the service, rules the Inter
state Commerce Commission.
The civil service commission has de-
cided that there was no foundation for
the charges that customs inspectors of
New York were compelled to see Mr..
Plummer in the office of Treasurer
Sheldon, of the Republican national
committee, at Wall street, and there
contribute $25 each.
Ambassador Takahira, of Japan, has
delivered to President Roosevelt a mes
sage from the japanese emperor thank
ing the President for his message of
good will and expressing his delight
that the American people were pleased
with the reception to the fleet in ia
pan.
-
The Department of Agriculture has
issued a preliminary estimate of the
production of the principal crops Of
the United States, showing that corn,
wheat, oats and eight other crops, rep
resenting approximately 20 per cent of
the value of ell farm products, this
year aggregate about 8 per cent great
er than a year ago, and "a per cent
greater than the average for the last
five years.
Rear Admiral Arthur Burtis. United
States Navy, retired, died at his apart
ments in a hotel in Buffalo, N Y He
was horn in 1S41 and Joined the navy