Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-05-08

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Harrison, Virginia NOV West Virginia) 4,
April 30, 1925. The rude log school
house Furnished his primary education,
and the Northsestern Virginis Acade-
my, at his county town. was his Ailad
mater. His father, Co. Josiah ID. VIII
son, was farmer, and the boy grew to
manhood on ths-farm, used from his
severe arduous dutiess He attended law
school at Staunton; was admitted TO the
bar in lS4S. and began his professional
career in his native county. His close
application and decided manner enabled
him 10 acquire ppominence in his pro-
.fession. He wA attorney for the Com
monwealth in both courts in the coun-
ty OF Harrison, from 1852 to 1850. He
has been more or less connected with
politics from his early life, always coop
Grating with the Democratic party, In
In 1862 he was eIecfed 10 the Virginia
State Constitutional Convention at
Richmond, and In lS7l was elected TO
the West Virginia Constitutional Con-
vention at Charleston. In 1872 he was
one OF the delegates from the state at
large TO the National Democratic Con.
vention at Baltimore. He WAS elected
to the Forty-fourth, Forty.hfth and
Forty-Six Congresses.
He was, from the beginning, opposed
TO the act Of 1889, entitled IAN act 10
Strengthen the Public Credit" and 10
the Funding sct of 1870, and was also
opposed N the bill demonetizing silver
and to the Resumption Act. By.his reso-
lutons and speeches in Congress he ia.
yored the Repeal of the Resumption
Act, the remOnetizing OF silver and the
making OF the trade dollar a legal ten
der, the retirement Of National Bank
circulation, and the substitution therefor
of the United States Treasury notes,
lgreenbacksl, besides various measures
for the relief of the people from the
burdens imposed upon them by Repub.
lican Congresses.
Asa member of the Committee on
Printing he has procured the passage OF
various bills and resolutions for the
printing of public documents Of inter.
est and great importance to the people.
Among the most important, ,,one granting
the passage through the mails OF publ.
cations issued in print by the National
Board OF Health; a work on sheep hus.
bandry and diseases OF the domestlcated
ANIMAL and various other public docu.
ments.
lie first acquired reputation As an in
ternatidnal LAWYER by report from the
Committee OH Foreign Affairs, for the
distribution of the awards made by the
international commission between the
United States and Mexico. lie sus.
taned his report in this case by an
elaborate argument, citing many au-
thorities upon international law. His
report from the same Committee upon
the bill providing for the payment ol
the claim of the officers OF the brig ArD'-.
tronq, for its destruction in the neutral
port Of Fayal, by English vessels, dur
ing the war OF lSl2-lI, is spoken 0i ~
an able international State paper. IL IL
full and careful compilation OF legal
opinions. and Of Congressional and De-
partmental action. His report for II
treaty with Mexico and his speech sus-
tanning il, as also his report for refund
ing 10 China what is known ~ the
Chinese Indemnity fund, together with
various other reports made from that
Committee, are very creditable to MN.
lie has eTergetically sought to protect
the manufacturing interests In his dis
trict by appropriate legislation.
He has been successful in his efforts
10 secure the improvement oi the Little
Kanayha river in his district by the
Government; he has also been an act
i've worker in the movement to contin'
ue and extend the great system oil lm-
provements that is being carried out on
the Ohio river.
lie has now pending before Congress
a resolution, the object OF which, Is to
remove from the Quarter Master Gener-
ais and the SurgeOn-Genera g Depart
ment the claims pending in those de-
nartments. TO some other tribunal
where they can be more speedily and
more satisfactory adjusted. Under the
present arrangement the claims IN the
Quarter. Masters office cannot be- hnally
acted upon within the next quarter ot
century. This subject is Of great inter
est 10 Mr.. Wilson's constituents, from
the fact that Clarksburg was one OF the
principal depots for military supplies
during the late war, and II is suggested
that large numbers OF claims which are
Just and should be- paid have been X
nored by this Department.
Mr.. Wilson has been one oil the most
active and energetic members oil the
House in procuring the passage OF pen
sion bills to the soldiers OF the various
wars. and for the passage OF general
Law TO facilitate the payment OF such
pensions.
Few members Of Congress, II any,
conduct larger correspondence with
constituents, In relation TO pension and
other claims. The correspondence IL ~
extensive, that he il Obliged 10 keep, ~
All aman nuensis, stenographer, who Is
constantly employed.