Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-27


lions, and the same measure was later
presented in the Senate by Senator
Elkins. 1t creates the proposed Court
of Commerce and enlarges the powers
OF the Commerce Commission. Agree
ments between carriers are to be law
full if notice thereof is given and car
riers must quote in writing rates to
individual shippers from point to
point, notice of change Of rate to be
subject to the review of the commits
sion. The shipper will have the right
TO route his freight as he deems best.
Issuance of all stock and bonds is to
be supervised and one railroad may
not buy up or control competitors.
What amounts to the virtual pro-
posal to transplant to American soil
the British age pension scheme, is
contained in the bill introduced by
Representative Godfrey of Missouri.
If enacted the government would have
to pay a weekly stipend to every. man
above the age of 20 who has lived
here twenty years or more and whose
a year To all such with an income
less than S102 a year the pension
would amount to 1924 a month and
that is the maximum, the amount be-
ing graded down to % cents a week
for those having at least $140 income.
That the Interstate Commerce Com
mission has the right under the Hep
burn law of regulating the distribu-
ton of empty cars to different coal
mines was affirmed by the Supreme
Court. The highest court also de-
clared that the commission was with
in its powers and functions when it
disregarded the injunction of Fed
eral Circuit Court restraining it from
carrying out it's order to the railroads
concerned. The offending railroads in
these cases were the Hooking Valley
the Illinois Central and the Chicago
and Alton.
There will be 1000 negro census
enumerators in the south, who will
assist in the enumeration of their own
people. No negroes are to take the
census in homes of the whites. In dis
tricts where there are both whites and
negroes, two enumeratOrs will be ap-
pointed so that each race may be rep
nO1-of nf 9
own color.
BY far the most important bill af-
feeling public lands of the United
States that has been offered since the
enactment of the free homestead law
was introduced by Senator Nelson, of
Minnesota. Eight classes of govern
ment land are proposed. The measure
provides for the government control of
mineral and timber lands.
There is a difference of opinion as
to whether or not anything will be ac-
complished in the way of modifying
the Sherman law during the present
session of Congress- 1t is thought that
an investigation of the interior depart
ment and the forestry service will be-
gin soon.
A lowering of the bars in favor of
the sale of fermented malt or fruit
beverages at army post exchanges and
on army transports, but permitting no
distilled or ardent spirits to be sold"
is provided by bill introduced by
Parker, chairman of
the judiciary committee.
The stupendous sum of 500, 640,817,
the surplus earnings of
foreign labor employed in the United
States, has been sent abroad since
1890 A total Of $76,622,6 29 was sent
abroad by foreign workmen in 1909. 1t
is said that foreigners Gistrust Ameri-
can banks.
A law providing for the federal in
spection of dairy products entering
into interstate trade may be passed at
this session of Congress as a result of
a recommendation made in the annual
report of Dr. A. D. Melvin chief of the
bureau of animal industry
-.
The first and probably the most brill
liant of the formal state receptions
planned for the present White House
season was recently given by President
and Mrs. Taft in honor of the diplo-
matte corps. Some 1000 guests in all
were invited.
-:
The government wants expert farm
ers at a salary of $1,000 annually for
work in the Indian service. The offer
is for agricultural students exclusively,
who must be sufficiently equipped to
train the braves on indian reservations
in raising farm products.
-.
Secretary of State Knox gave out q
statement explanatory Of a circular
note which he had sent to other ma
tons on Oct. IS last. The proposal
was in substance that nations having
objections TO any direct
appeal from their own highest court
should let The Hague court arbitrate
tho c,11ac+ioy of a y-accaI'c "a r,+r1ra o n