Pledged but to Truth, to Liberty and Law; No Favors Win us and no Fear Shall Awe." PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY - J . V A N S L Y K E , - EDITOR AND PBOPRIETOB. OFFICE: IN THE NICHOLS . BLOCK Two Doors North Owen & Chapell's Store, TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: One year (inadvance)..... ..;....;tl ,50 It Not Paid within Three Months...,2.C.) Subscriptions received for three or six Diionths in the same proportion. " RATES OF ADVERTISING: We announce liberal rates for advertising In the PLAINDEALEK, and endeavor to state them so plainly that they will^T.^ttdily un derstood. They are as folla^fT' 1 Inch one year - • » 2 Inches one year - - - - 10 00 3 Inches one year -. - * -< 15 00 Column one year • • - - - 30 00 V Column one year-. - - - 60 00 1 Column one year - - - - .. 100 00 One incn means the measurement of one inoh downjthe column,single column width. Yearly advertisers, at theaoove rates, have the privilege of ohanging as often as they choose, without extra oharge. Regular advertisers (meaning those having standing cards) will be entitled to insertion of local notices at the rate of 5 cents per line eaoh week. All others will be charged 10 eents per line the first Week, and 5 cenis per line for eaoh subsequent week. Transient advertisements will be charged at the rate of 10 cents per line, (nonpareil t/po, same as this isset In) the firs tissue, and 5 oents per line for subsequent issues. Thus, an inoh advertisement will oost $ l.oo for one week, 11.60 for two weeks, *2.00 for three weekB, and so on. The PLA.IHDBAI.EH will be liberal in giving eiitorial notices, but, as a business rule, it -nil require a suitable fee from everybody seeking the use of its columns for peouniary gain. All Foreign Advertising payable quarterly, in advance, • These terms will be strictly adhered to. BUSINESS CARDS. O. H. GILLMORE, TTORNEV. Probate work a specialty. L Office in Kenual block, W oodstock, 111. KNIGHT * BROWN, ATTORNEYS AT LAW. IOO washingtor Street, _ unlOAuUi xijAI. FRANK L. SHEPARD, COUNSELLOR AT LAW. suite so--132 Clark St., Chicago. C. P. BARNES, ATTORNEY, solicitor, andi Counselor, Oollectlonsla specialty. WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS • . X . FRANK R. JACKMAN, ATTORNEY AND COURISELOB AT LAW. Prompt an 1 careful attention toall mat ters left in my hands, Money to loan, Office in Hoy Block, Woodstock, 111. Telephone- office, 55, residence, 59. 35YL C. H. FEGERS, M, D- PHYSIOIAN AND SURGEON, MoH«nr> Ills, Office at Residence. JOS, L. ABT, M. D. PHYSICIAN, SURGEON AND OCOLIST, Office in Nichols Blcck, over Plaindealer Office. McHenry Telephone No 4 United States War Claim Apicj OF W. H. COWLIN, WOODSTOCK, ILL. Prosecutes a l l classes and kinds of claims against the United States for ex-soldiers , their wives, dependent relatives, or heirs. A specialty i» made in prosecuting old AN! re jected claims , All co'minunications promptly answered-It postage stamps are enclosed for reply. WM. W, COWLINi Office at residence Madison St ., Woodstock. Telephone No. 23. DR. A. E. AURINGER, PHYSICIAN ANDSURGEON. Office in the Stroner building, one door weet of A. P. Baer'S store, West aicllenry, 111. Residence, house formerly occupied by Dr. Osborne, All professional ealls promptly at tended to JOHN P. SMITH, Watchmaker & Jeweler MCHENRY, ILLINOIS. A FINE stock of Clocks, Watches and Jewelry always on hand. Special attention Ivan to repairing fine watehoa. Give m< CaU' JOHN P. SMITH. W. A. CRISTY, Justice ot tlie Peace. WEST McHENRY, ILL. Special Attention paid to Collections. H. C. MEAD* Justice of the Peace and General In surance Agent. Including Accident arid Life insurance. WEST MCHENRY. III. « W. P. ST. CLAiR, •Justiceof the Peace and Notary Public Heal Estate and Insurance. KUNDA, III* A. TVS. CHURCH, Watchmaker and Jeweler No. 126 State Street, Chicago. Special attention given to repairing Fine Watches an • Chronometers. A Full Assortment of Goods in his line. West Side Livery, FEED AND SALE STABLES. Ei J. HAND'S, Prop'r. WEST McHENRY, ILL. First class rigs, with or without drivers, furnished at reasonable rates- Parties taken and from the Lakes in Easy Rigs, and prompt connection made with all trains Our Rigs will be kept in first class shape, m d we sha 11 spare no pains to please our cus outers at all times, Give us a call, E J. HANLY, ITlit McHenry, 111,, Aug. 16. 18%. Dr. Walter C. Besley, DENTIST WEST McHENRY. Office at Geo W.Besley's I Drugstore, | Examinations free MILO J. L, HOWE, PIANO & ORGAN) Tuner & Repairer, f All Orders Promptly Attended to, McHenry. DR. BAECHLER, DENTIST. Plate Worki^and everything per taining to'Dentistry. Parties from a distance should, drop a card a day or two before coming. Office. McHenry, A. C. SPURLING, Veterinary Surgeon, West McHenry, 111. Special attention given to the treat ment of Cows. Office at residence on Waukegan street, one door east ot B otel Park. C. F. BOLEY, Purielor of McHenry Brewery, McHENRY, ILL. A Iways on Band with the Best Beer. PEBBY & OWES, Bankers. McHENRY, - [ILLINOIS. This Bank receives deposits, buy 1 and sells Ibreign and Domestic Et change, and does a -fianorsl Ronlfinn wivoBwt cvwicnuiji Diioinnoc UHUIIIOOf. We endeavor to do all business en trusted to our care in a manner and upon te:ms entirely satisfactory to ou* customers and respectfully solicit the public patronage. MONEY TO LOAM; On Heal Estate and 1 ther first class security. Special attention given to co- lecticns, INfeflURANOJSJ In Mr at Class Companies at tie Lowest. Rates- Yours JRewscttuf y . PERRY & OWEN. Motary Public SMOKERS! flea ia Want of a Good Clpr! CALL AT THE OLD RELIABLE Cigar and Tobacco Dealers. OUR SPECIALTIES: Our Monogram, 10c. Barbian's Best hand made 5c The best cigars made. Sold by all local dealers. HUMPHREYS' No. 1 Cures Fever. No. 2 " Worms. No. 3 " Infants' Diseases. No. 4 " Diarrhea. No. 7 " Coughs. No. 8 Cures Neuralgia. No. 9 " Headache. No. lO " Dyspepsia. No. 1 1 " Delayed Periods. No. 12 " Leuchorrea. No. 13 Cures Croup. No. 14 " Skin Diseases. No. I S " * Rheumatism. No. 16 " Malaria. No. 19 " Catarrh. No. 20 Cures Whooping Cough No. 21 " Asthma.*" - No. 24 " General Debility. No. 26 " Sea-Sickness. No. 27 ,f Kidney Diseases. No. 28 Cures Nervous Debility. No. 30 jr Urinary Diseases No. 32/ " Heart Disease. No. 34j " Sore Throat. No. 77 " Colds and Grip. DR. HUMPHREYS' HOMEOPATHIC MANUAL OF DISEASES MAILED FREE. Small bottles of pleasant pellets, fit the vest pocket. Sold by druggists, or sent prepaid upon receipt of price, 25 cents, except Nos. 28. and -are made $1-00 size only. . Humphreys' Medi- cine Company. Ill William St., New \ork. H U M P H R E Y S ' WITCH HAZEL OIL "THE PILE OINTMENT." For Piles--External or Internal, Blind or Bleeding; Fistula in Ano; Itching or Bleeding of the Kectum. The relief Is Immediate--the cure certain. PRICE, 50 CTS. TRIAL SIZE, 25CTS. 8old by Druggists, 6r eent post-paid on receipt of pries. HUaiPIIIlKYS'BED.CO.» 111 A113 William St.* SEW YORK BOOK ON DISEASES OF HORSES. Book on diseases of horses, cattle, sheep, dogs, hogs arid poultry mailed free by addressing Humphreys' Veteri nary Specifics, corner William and John Ste., New York. Sole Agency for the Celebrated POLAR STAR Fancy Flour! Manufactured at New Prague, Minn., Mills, are located :n the finest hard wheat country. Are supplied with most modern machinery . I 4V- . • The Fancy" is fully warranted and guaranteed The choicest in the market. Bought in car lots only and sold on lowest pos - , Bible terms by • SIMON ST0FFEL, WEST MeHENRY, ILL. Always in stock at Volo, 111., by E. RICHARDSON, JOHN ROSING JOHN RICHARDSON, Money Saved is Money Eahefl. J.D.LODTZJr. Merchant Tailor. Has just received hip fall samples, direct from the manufacturers, and can Save you from $2.50 to $4.00 On every suit. In short will save you the profit usually paid to middlemen. Every suit he turns out is first class and a fit warranted. 1 Suits, $ 16.00 and upwards, Pants, from $3.50 to $4. Strictly hand made and guaranteed in every particular. Gents' Furnishing Goods. Am now offering my entire stock of Gents' Furnishing Goods, consisting of Ne(ktics, Collars, Cuffs, and Shirts of the very latest styles. At from 10 to 40 per cent below cost, as I wish to close them out. Come and inspect my goods, I can save you dollars and cents. Very Respectfullv, J. D. LODTZ, Jr. Barbian Bro.'s Block, McHenry. NEW STYLE 1N PHOTOGRAPHl'. Port rats Like Old Paintngs. The leading photographers of the country are now lighting the faces of their sitters in the style followed by the great est portrait painters the woild ever saw. It gives a perfect likeness and preserves all the character in the face. It is highly artistic and needs only to be seen to be ap preciated. WE ARE EIBHT UP TO DATE AMD CAN DO IT. C O M E , S E E A N D B E C O N V I N C E D . JL. E. BENNETT. PHOTOGRAPHER. J. W. BONSLETT, Plumbing Contractor. All KiDfls of Sanitary PImMm PE0MPTLY ATTENDED TO - Has just received a very com plete stock of Plumbing Goods, Bath Tubs* Closets, Lavatories and Fixtures. Steal and Hot Water Heating. Complete stock of all sizes Galvanized and Black Pipe and Fittings on hand. Office and Show Room in Jacob Bon- slett's Agricultural Implement Building, McHENRY, ILL. JOHN J. BUCK, Restaurant--- 4®. Boarding ouse, Near the Iron Bridge, McHenry, 8oard by the Day or Woek a* Reasonable rates, \ NTOE LINE OF BOW BOATS AT MY LANDIHG. for rent by the hour or day, at reasonable rates. Pure Wines, Liquors and Choice Cigars always on hand. •^•FreshLajrer Beer constantly on draught Oood StablinK for Horses. V. 8. LUMLEY. ATTORNEY. Administrator's Notice of Filing Final Settlement. STATIC OF ILLINOIS, I . ' McHenry County, 1 Estate of Scorge Fillweber deceased. To whom it may "oncern and to the heirs ancl distributes of said estate, <>• yau are hereby notified that on the 25th day of October. 1897, the Administrator of said estate will present to the County court of McHenry county, $t the Court House in Woodstock, 111., his filial report of his acts and doings as such Administrator und ask the Court to be discharged from any.and all fur ther duties and responsibilities connected with said estate and his administration there of, at which time and place you may be present and resist such application if you' choose to to do. „ V. S. LUMLEY, Administrator, VOL. 23. M'HENRY. ILLINOIS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1898. ^------ G R E E N W O O D . John Cruikshank is able to be out again. Lfee Andrews was at Ringwood one day the past week. Ben flutson, of McHenry, visited a few days the past week with his brother, George. Lorrie Lumley, of Ringwod, spent the past week in our village. Lee Andrews, is entertaining a cousin from Dundee. N. J. Garrison and wife, Of Ridgefield, spent the Sabbath with relatives here. Miss Ethel King, of Woodstock, spent Saturday and Sunday here, the guest, of Hattie Wesson. - - . G. L. Cowdry is putting a stock of groceries into the Oowr ry building, just south of the Town Hall. E. J. Mansfield and wife visited with Mrs. M's parents, Peter Martin and wife, in East Greenwood last, Wednesday. Wn>. Alien visited his father and brother iu Chicago the latter part of the week. A large crowd of people, old as well as young, enjoyed themselves at the M. E. Ledies Aid Social, at the home of Chas. Smith and wife, Thursday night. The Cinch club had a very pleasant time at the honie of Mrs. Maud Wilson last Saturday night. The next meeting will be at the home of Henry Mentzer and wife. Will McCannon and wife, of Ringwood, spent the Sabbath with Greenwood relatives. It has been arranged to reserve a uumber of seats, for the lecture Friday evening, for those coming from a distance and buying their tickets in advance. The program prepared by the pupils tof the upper room of our school will be "given Friday night Feb. 11. It consists of a drama in four acts, entitled "The Iron Hand," and a farce "Is the editor In." The pupils of the lower room are at work on a program which will be given in about four weeks. Nearly one thousand people listened last evening between peals of laughter and bursts of applause to Rev. P. S. Henson'i lecture on "Backbone." In the most natural and entertaing manner the lecturer wove together earnest thought and solid argument with a remarkable profusion of the rarest wit and humor.-- Minneapolis Tribune. Rev. Dr. Henson was at his best last night at Farwell Hall, where a crowded audience ckeered him, and laughed with him, even when the lauch was turned against themselves. Underneath the humor which rippled delightfully in an unbroken stream there was a solid sub stratum of sound common sense and wholesome philosophy.--Chicago Inter Ocean. Dr. Henson's lecture at the Board of Trade Auditorium attracted a large and representative audience who gave the distinguished speaker a royal reception, and listened delightedly for an hour and a half to his wit and eloquence. He has the happy faculty of combining the humorous and pathetic, and carries hifc audience by the easiest transition from roars of laughter to glistening tears.-- Ohio State Journal. Dr. Henson will deliver his popular lecture, "Backbone," at Greenwood, on Friday evening, Feb. 4. Admission, 25 cents. R I D G E F I E L D . Miss Mary Anderson spent Sunday with her parents at Gary. Doc DufieH spent iSunday with his son, Delmer, at Elgin. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson are visiting rela tives in Chicago. Miss Dorothy Jacobs was the guest of her grandmother the last of the week. Miss Selma Anderson visited with her sister in Ridgefield last week. Mrs. Woods' brother, wife and family from Wisconsin visited with her recently. J. Fisk, who has been quite ill, is now able to be at work again. Mrs. Mary Reed was in Woodstock on Sunday. Mrs. Anderson, of Cary, is visiting her daughter Mary. Geo. Whiston, wife and daughter visit ed relatives at Terra Cotta Sunday. Miss Vernie Church, of Ridgefield, who has been visiting her grandparents at Huntley, has returned home. Miss Mabell Lynch, whohasbeenspend ing the past week with friends in Har vard, returned homa Saturday. There Was a social held at the home of Henry Munroe .Monday by the mis sionary society. The proceeds amounted to about $5, which went towards helping the colored folks of the south. The following programme will be given by the pupils of the Ridgefield school on Thursday evening, Feb. 3d: Opening Song School Recitation Oreson Wood Recitation Florence Reed Recitation Arthur Skinner Dialogue i Recitation....... Harry Whiston Recitation..... .Laura Thayer Recitation Willie Fisk Song Glee Club Recitation !?adie Wood Recitation....... Floyd Thayer Song Mamie Thayer Recitation Gracie Reed Recitation ...Bessie Still Dialogue ..... Recitation Chas. Whiston Recitation Julia Hanson Song.... Quartette Recitation Pearl Whiston Tableaux Recitation Elizabeth Wood Recitation Clarence Thayer Song Glee Club Drill Song Louis GibsOn Dialogue " Song Quartette The entertainment will be given in the basement of the cburch. Admission 10 and 15 cents. Proceeds to buy new books for the library. An invitation is extended to all. A fine Jersey cow belonging to Geo. Wood got out of his yard on Wednesday morning last, and in tr.ying to get her back the cow became frightened and ran on the track in front of the 9:45 train, and was killed. She was a very valuable animal and Mr. Wood's friends and neighbors sympathize with him over bis loss. R I N G W O O D . J. Lawson, of Park Ridge, spent the first of the week here. Geo. Spaulding is drilling a well for O. Garrison, near Greenwood. G. H. Spaulding spent Monday in Chicago. C. E. Fay and wife were Elgin visitors Saturday. G. W. Smi th and wife, of Chicago,>ca' out to attend the funeral of Mrs. H. Smith on Sunday. ; . ; Rey. Wm. Nickle, of Chicago, was shak ing hands with friends here the first of the week. ; / •* _ -_:_L • . Mrs. A. Smith, mother of Mrs. 0. A. Tabor, died Jan 25,1898. The funeral was held Sunday frOm the M. E. chtrch Rev. Nickle, of Chicago, officiating. <• Among those who a'tended the Farm ers Institute from this place were J. S. Brown, IL L. Waterman and H. W. Allen. The young people will hold their next meeting with Miss Rilla Coates on Tues day evening, Feb 8. Program as follows; Instrumental Music...'. Sarah Havens Recitation............ Miss Rachael Boyd Recitation Miss Melissa Bacon Song. „;..C. E. Fay Reading...... Miss Florence Brown Recitation Miss Winnifred Grimoldby Song .......Mrs. Rich, IdaMrlsch Recitat ion Miss Ellen Morgan Reading Scott Harrison Song Dora Coates Children and adults tortured by burns, scalds, injuries, eczema or skin diseases may fecure instant relief by using De- Witt's Witch Hazel Salve. It . is the great Pile remedy. J. A. Story. N U N D A . V Dr. Watson is rapidly improving and has been out a few times. T. L. Shaw, the real estate man, vis ited Wauccnda last Friday, on business. Mrs. W. P. St. Clair was a Chicago visitor Friday of last week. - Mr. Jackson, of the Charles Creamery Co., was in Nuu-ia Saturday last, on business. Mr. Porter, of the Crown Point Milk Co., was attending to business in Nunda Saturday last. Attorney L. I). Lowell is' slowly re covering from the attack of La Gtippe he had a week ago. The days are growing longer and the cold is growing stronger. Another blizzard on. Some Chicago parties were here Mon day and drove out to S. O. Wilson's farm with a view of purchasing. A B. Hitchcox, of McHenry, was o Nunda caller last week and enjoyed the hospitality of hie friend, W. E. Prickett. J Hunter's team ran away from Good win's warehouse and were caught about a mile out of town. The sleigh tongue being broken was all the damage done. Ice cutting at Crystal Lake was entire ly abandoned last week on account of the deep snow, and water on top of the ice. Scraping snow off and plaiuing hat- been donel And it is expected, if no storm prevents, ice cutting will resumr this week. Not more than a third of a crop has been housed thus far. S P R I N G G R O V E . Lester Bell had the misfortune to fall and break his arm. Howard Stevens was calling on old acquaintances here Sunday. Services next Sunday afternoon at the M. E. church at 2 o'clock. Cora Westlake visited in Wilmot a few days last week. John Cole will soon start for the Klondike region with the Hoffman Bros. Next meeting of the R. N. of A. will be Saturday Feb. 5th, Mrs. John Crane isjmproving greatly in health. John Griswold has moved in the building just east of the blacksmith shop aid iH prepared to repair shoes etc. in a satisfactory manner. A Masquerade Ball will be given at the Town Hall Feb, 11th. Proceeds to be used for the benefit of the School Library, John Halderman, of Solon, is no better and preparations are being mad^ to take him to Chicago to undergo an operation in a hospital thtre. Hie brother Chas. Halderman and Dr Armstrong will accompany him. List of Patents. Granted to Illinois inventors the past week. Reported by C. A. Snow & Co., Patent Attorneys, Washington, D. C.: W. S. Coon, Corn-planter. L. A. Fegu- son, Evanston, Safety-fuse. R. D. Gregg, Goodrich, Lantern-lighting attachment. E. S. Lefler, Anna, Can-opener. N. D Lewis, Joliet, Tin plating and polishing machine. W. R. Morris, « Richland. Velocipede-crank. W. A .Northup Har vard, Needle-threader. R. Oliver, Chats- worth, Fence-post. S. Schreffler, Joliet, Gate:hanger. A. G. Wilbur, Aurora. Sharpenter for lawn-mower knives. For copy of the above patents send 10c in postage stamps with date of this paper to C. A. Snow & Co., Washington, D. C. A New Idea. A new use for onions has been discov ered. Recently bloodhounds were turned loose upon the trail of some bank burg lars in Indiana. The man hnnt, however lasted orly a few minutes. Suddenly the leading dog began howling dismally and refused to go farther, and it was impos sible to continue the chase. A prisoner now in jail at Ligonier has turned states evidence and given the police all the facts concerning the burglary and the escape of the men. He says the bloodhounds were thrown off the scent without any trouble by rubbing an onion on the shoes worn by the burglars. He says that no bloodhound can be induced to follow an onion trail. Dogs are a good deal like people after all. Hi? Good Work on the'Appropria tion Bills. CONGRATULATED BY THE SPEAKER WANTED -TRUSTWORTHY AND active gentlemen or ladies to travel for responsible, s-tablisiied house in Illinois. Monthly §65 and expenses. Position steady. Reference. Enclofe self addressed stamped envelope. The Dominion Company, Dept. Y, Chicago. A big stock of the famous/Beloit Duck Coats. Vests, cotton and S^cml Pants I and Shirts, Overalls, etc., now in stock I at S. Stoffels, yBeayltifnl Bouquet of Commendation to the intfuished Congressman from Dan ville--llinrichsen's Bi2I to Remove Ob structions from the Illinois River T_.ikely to Pass This Session--Congressman Smith's Good Work. ' Washington,. Feb. 1.--Congressman Gannon has been recently,,congratulated by Speaker Reed for the superior work which has been done by the comniittee on appropriations of which* he is chair man. The big man from Maine says: "I have never known the general ap propriation bills to be so well managed during a long., session of congress as they have been managed during this session. The rate of progress now be ing made on the appropriation bills ought to enable us to reach an adjourn ment by the middle of May." When it is understood that Speaker Reed is a man who seldom compliments, it will be seen that he has thrown a beautiful bouquet of commendation to the distinguished gentleman from Dan ville. Mr^Cannorr appreciates the sit uation, and he is diligently at work just now on the fortifications appropria tion bill, which has been made of para- mount importance by certain utterances of the general "Commanding our army. It is of great importance that our sea- coast defenses be rapidly improved. New Correspondent in the Field. One of the new aspirants for newspa per distinction here is Colonel W. F. Dose of Belleville, formerly private sec retary to Governor Altgeld. He will become a Washington correspondent, and it is believed that he will make a success of that work. Hon. Thomas Gahan, chairman of the Cook county Democratic committee and member of the Democratic national committee, was here recently on a brief visit. He has been in Virginia, near Fredericksburg, looking at some gold mining properties which he is inclined to believe will prove to be valuable when worked with proper machinery. Of course, he is rich enough to make any experiments that he may choose to en ter upon; but ex-Senator Sawyer of Wisconsin onqe sank upwards of $100,- 000 in similar Virginia gold mines, and his example r should prove a warning. There is plenty of gold in the Apala- chian range of mountains, but it is so refractory that it is almost valueless. However, that is Gahan's business. His money is his . own, and he can put it where he pleases. Death of Uriah Hopper. "I have just received a letter from a friend at Hulls which greatly affected me," says Congressman Hinrichsen. "The letter informs me of the death of Uriah Hopper, an old soldier, for whom 1 recently secured a pension of $12 per month.. He was 78 years old and very feeble. He knew that the pension had at last been allowed, but he died before the first payment was made. His ven erable widow would be a charge upon charity but for this pension. The ar rearages amount to about ?900, which will buy a nice home for her. She can then live on $12 per month, which she will draw as long as she lives. Mr. Hinrichsen has prepared a bill to remove obstructions from the Illinois river. It is not believed that Speaker Reed will allow this bill to pass, be cause of the appropriation which might be necessary; and Reed is exceedingly economical these days. Work of Congressman Smith, Congressman George W. Smith of Murphysboro says: "Since I first en tered congress I have secured a num ber of appropriations of money to be expended in the Twenty-second con gressional district. I have had two gravel roads built to the national cem etery near Mound City, for which $25,000 was appropriated; secured $10,000 for putting in an elveator in the custom house at Cairo, and about $20,000 for repairs on said building; for beginning the work of improving the harbor of Golconda in Pope county, $3,000; for im proving the harbor at Brooklyn in Mas sac county, $25,000; for improving the harbor and to facilitate navigation at Mound City, $35,000; for work near Beach Ridge above Cairo on the Mis sissippi river to prevent a cut off into Cache river • and thence into the Ohio river, I secured a separate appropria tion of $100,000; also a large sum to pre vent the Mississippi river from cutting into a...chain of lakes in Union county, near Island No. 21, and I expect dur ing this term to secure other aprropria- tions for improvements at each of the places named on th^ Ohio and Missis sippi rivers, as well as at other points where iyork is needed. "The mail I receive is exceedingly heavy and almost every letter requires some new wrork to be done," continued Mr. Smith. "I have on my records over 7,000 pension cases in which I am and have been helping as much as I could. I receive on an average of two allow ances a day of these claims." Chairman of Land Claims. ..---f Mr. Smith is chairman of the commit tee on private land claims; also a mem ber of the committee on postoffices and post roads, and this work occupies much of his time. The sub-committee on postoffices and post roads, of which he is a member, has the preparation of the appropriation bill for the entire mail service in the United States. "I am glad that I am almost through with my postoffices," said the congress man, "there being only fourteen left in my whole congressional district, six cf which are presidential." Congressman Reeves of Streator is not likely to suffer from overwork for the next few weeks. He has gone with tlie committee on river and harbors on a trip of inspection of southern pdints which are clamoring for appropriations. The work of the committee will be a labor'ipse voluptas; and that's no Joke, either. Some of the Illinois congressmen are giving themselves and their constitu ents a jolly prophecy because Con» gressman White of Chicago has ^been mad.e chsdrman of a sub-committee having cngrge of all bills for public buildings in Illinois. That makes no dif ference. Mr. White may make favora ble reports on all those bills, but Speak er Reed will not allow any of them to pass.: . - Some Valuable Information. Major General Nelson A. Miles, senior major general commanding the army of the United States, recently appeared before the house committee on appro priations, and gave to that committee some valuable information which ought to be given to the country at large. General Miles said that the coast de fenses of this Country are in a deplor able condition, because ive hav# 1 hot. / guns enotigh.nor fortifications enough . to supply such guns as are nqfy iti posi tion. He said that the big rifled can non on Fortress Monroe, Fort Wash ington. and Fort Foote'are as harmless as so many popguns would be. Any tmarmored cruiser, of Spain. .Italy o or • any other foreign power, could steam past these empty guns, ascend the Fo- •, torrrac river, and' jwit-h' shot and sijell destroy the Capitol buildmg in which there has been recently so much blood thirsty talk of wrar with Spain on ac count of Cuba. General Miles, in response to inquir ies by members of the committee, said that, while, he as heartily sympathizes with the suffering Cubans as any man in this country, he also sympathizes with the people of this republic too much to lead them into a war which would most likely prove disastrous, and bring great suffering to our great toil- . ing masses. He said that because of the condition of our coast defenses, more than for any other reason, Presi dent McKinley has pursued a conserva tive course, for which he has been un duly criticised. Forty Millions for Coast Defenses. The general commanding our army further stated that $40,000,000 have al ready been expended in coast defenses for this country: but that there must yet be expended $40,000,000 or more in order to make our country secure from danger of attack. He said that, count ing the Canadian, Mexican and Gulf boundaries of this republic, as well as the Atlantic and Pacific coast boundar ies, we have nearly It...000 miles of boundary to defend, and that is equiva lent to more than one-third of the dis tance around the world. Until the boundary lines and sea coast defenses of our country are placed in condition for actual •hostili ties, it would be foolish, because dan gerous, for this country to run any risk of warlike demonstration from any na tion. Therefore it was that President McKinley in his annual message stated that he would take nosactipn in Cuban affairs which would not meet with the approval of the whole civilized world. Some of the most persistent fighting characters in the house of representa tives, who want to engage at once in war with Spain, have recently be'en in formed at the war department, and at their Washington residences, by Gen eral Miles, that ff we should have war with any country before adequate pro vision is made for our coast defenses, We would be beaten, humiliated and possibly partitioned, as the great em pire of China was, after going unpre pared into a war with Japan. We might find the Spaniards to be some thing like the Japanese, of whom a newspaper paragrapher said: "They are only forty million people, but they. | fight like sixty." Tho Bankruptcy Bilk • Within a week it is anticipated that the pending bankruptcy bill will be be fore the house for consideration. This measure is called the "Henderson bill," for the reason that it has been formu lated in the committee on judiciary, of which committee Colonel Henderson of Iowa is chairman. All bills of national importance are given the name of the chairman of the 'committee, in which they originate. Because of their chair manships of the committee on ways and means the tariff bills were named the Morrison bill, the Mills bill, the Mc Kinley bill, and the Dingley bill. The Henderson bankruptcy bill is a meas ure in which all of the people of the northwest are particularly interested. The forthcoming number of a monthly publication called the Bankruptcy Mag azine will contain a portrait of Colonel Henderson with a sketch of his life over the signature of the correspondent of this paper. In that sketch Colonel Hen derson is characterized as "a complete trinity of the politician, statesman, and gentleman," and that is really a fair description of the Iowa congressman who has done such excellent work in the preparation of a measure which the best, lawyers in the national capital be lieve will prove to be a fair and equit able disposition of the. rights of the debtor as well as the creditor in all cases of bankruptcy. > President Dole of Hawaii. President Dole of the Republic of Ha waii came to Washington last week and performed, a misssioK~T3f^great national consequence. He announced upon his arrival in San Francisco that he would go to Washington to visit President Mc- Kinley, but that he would take no part in furthering the ratification of the pending treaty of annexation. The dis?^ tinguished visitor has done precisely as * he announced he would do. Upon his^ arrival in Washington he was escorted from the railroad depot to apartments at the Arlington^ hotel. Very soon thereafter the president of the United States called to pay okis respects to tho president of Hawaii. The visit was both brief and formal. Afterwards President Dole went to the White House to pay his respects to the president of the United States. ] . .. * . The .exchange of formalities of this /. character has been customary for many years, and ordinarily would attract but little attention. The newspapers are daily filled with the goings and comings of President Dole, -but nobody really knows the occasion of his visit nor the great consequences which are to result from his presence in Washington. A leading member of the senate com- . mi ttee on foreign relations, in the pri vacy and confidence of his^ committee room, has said to the correspondent of this paper: "There must be a full un derstanding between President Dole and President McKinley, in order that they may aCt in harmony when thousands of miles apart. There is' no cable between this country and Honolulu.. If the' pend ing t-reaty should not be ratified. President Dole is likely to take1 some, ac tion which will warrant the comman der of one of our naval vessels in run ning up the stars and stripes in Pearl harbor, to protect our interests. That would settle the matter- Under tha McKinley administration the f lag wopld never be tatken down." ? ©VNBAR. j,