The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1882-04-13
KANSAS IN CONGRESS.
Tenn Ryaa's 0meisl Record.
wAsurNGToS April 4, 1892.

finance in two weeks, but must admit that
though have been in Washington precisely
two weeks to-day, do not feel myself COM
petent to instruct yearning public in all the
mysteries of that great and complicated ma
chine which we call the Government. You
will be astonished at my modesty no doubt.
for you and have known cable" correspond
ents to begin to grind out vast grists Of wis
dom within twenty-four hours Of their first
arrival at the capital.
The enthusiastic neopbyte first turns his
attention to the 'sdelegation,' and his anxi-
ETY. for office may generally be measured by
the generous with which he distributes his
"taffy." II the scent is fresh and the zeal oil
the pursuer is unchlled by disappointment,
there is scarcely limit to the extent or va
riety of his unctuous compliments; and adj
miring constituencies are happily enabled to
acquire valuable information, not only re-
speeding the merits of their representatives
in either branch Of Congress, but also touch
ing the dresses, the varied accomplishments
and unriyalled popularity of their respective |
wives.
My business having no reference to an Of
fec of any kind. what may say will not be
inspired by "a lively sense of favors to come"
Nor will ! ask space in your crowded columns
to go over the record OF all the men who serve |
us SO faithfully at Washington. 1t will serve |
my present purpose if you will permit me to
express the qualification which l share with
all reasonable Kansans, at the sure prospect
of the ur opposed return of our capable Rep
f.stt fis.
as to the record and services 81 the man who
for six years has SO successfully represented
the Third district.
When Tom Ryan was first nominated, II
was almost wholly upon the score OF his per-
sonal popularity, as he had but little political
experience, and but slight opportunity I"
exhibit the peculiar qualities essential to
success in Congress. 1t is not likely that
| even the warmest of his friends foresaw that
he would develop into the persistent and
tireless ''worker' that he has since become
That he has always met every reasonable de-
mand upon him with resolution and deter
mination to succeed the record amply attests.
| That these demands, coming from an i'm
mensc district rapidly growing in popuia-
| ton and wealth, have been and are extensive
and imperative, DO observant man can doubt;
vet all have been, and are confronted earn
estly and methodically, and the claims of the
| humblest receive the same attention as those
of the most influential.
If it were practicable TO make a complete
showing within the limits of n newspaper
letter, am confident it could be shown that
MIR. Ryan has secured the passage OF more
measures of interest TO his people, during
his service here, than has any otner member
from any State. Let us remind your readers
of few of the more important of these
measures:
The Cherokee strip lands were brought in
to market drought his influence, and are
now nearly all occupied by settlers. The
settlers on the Kansas trust and diminished
reserve lands owe much of their success in
obtaining their titles upon just and reasona-
BILE terms TO Mr.. Ryan's determined and tire
less advocacy. The Usage bill, which passed
the House at time when few dared to hope
for its success, and which subsequently be
came a law, saved the homes OF thousands
Of people from forfeiture, and added hun
dreds of thousands of acres to the taxable
property OF the State. His bill for the relief
of colored immigrants PERMITTING the duty
on clothing, etc., contributed for their relief
abroad became law in spite of much preju-
diced opposition; as also did his bill to ere
ate new land district in the southwest, the
Office now soon to be established. MIR. Ryan
rendered an invaluable service to the people
of the western half of his district when he
secured the passage of a bill to permit set
tiers, whose crops had been destroyed by
drouth to leave their claims for year with
out losing any of their rights. BY this time
Iy and generous act several thousand poor
settlers were saved from a compulsory for
fixture of their claims. Mr. Ryan's bill d.
recting the Secretary Of the Interior 10 GER
tify to the State some fifty thousand acres OF
4 indemnity school lands, became law, and
the title of the State has been perfected. HIS
bill to provide for the sale, at graduated
scale Of prices, of the residue of the Usage
lands living east OF the sixth principal merid-
ian, is also law.
Mr.. Ryan carried through the House, in the
last Congress, bill to give the right of way
to one or more railroads through the Indian
Territory, but it failed in the Senate. This
measure was OF peculiar Importance to the
Third district. US it would have enabled the
Santa Fe road to continue its line from Ar
kansas City to Fort Smith. The subject has
excited so much attention that it is not like
liz that the boundary of the Territory will
long be permitted to serve as Chinese wall
against the carrying on of necessary enter
| II, Ia inf r
carried through the House, when it was at
the mercy OF single objection. the bill pro-
vidiny for terms of the United States court
at Wichita, and attaching n portion OF the
Indian Territory to the State for Judicial
purposes l doubt il there are half dozen
men in the House who could, without OBJ
lection. have put through so importanta bill.
The result was a substantial triumph TO Mr..
Ryan's personal popularity and to the conf
dence which the House reposes in his good
faith
In addition to these measures OF public
character, and others that might be men-
toned, MIR. Ryan has labored earnestly and
effectively to advance the more immediate
personal interests Of hts constituents. His
X,
contains large proportion of cx-soldiers
from all the loyal States. The just claims OF
these people have always had warm friend
and advocate in Mr. Ryan. and the collection
of pension and bounty money in hundreds
of cases has been facilitated by his cXerlions.
Your readers are not unmindfu of the TACT
that Mr.. Ryan has persistently sought to have
the Contracts for Indian supplies awarded
at some point in the West, rather than in
New York, so far from the base of supply
and distribution. 1t will be gratifying to
them to know that his views have been adopt
ed by the Indian Bureau, and that Kansas
City will probably be selected as the place
for receiving and opening bids.
In territory developing so rapidly as has
that of the Third district. of course the de-
mand for increased mail facilities has been
urgent and ineessant. That lie has met this
demand with characteristic yigor, is shown
by the fact that during his three terms he has
secured additional mail service to 4 greater
extent than any other member OF Congress,
and BY the further fact that his district is
now admirably served by the postal depart
meni.
II we of the district at large have SO sig
nally benefited by the labors of our Repre-
sentative, you and the people of your own
city have additional cause for joining in the
acclaim, swell done, good aud faithful sery-
ant
| Take your Government building, for exam
pie. With single exception, it was the on
| ly one provided for by the Congress that
made the first appropriation for your build
ing. The committee on appropriations and