The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-04-02
WASHINGTON NEWS.
A RECORD OF THE WORK DONE
By our sspa,On-DarI. gets rAroush a Member Of
Hsasurss, bat only Oac Passes the House.
Camden DIdn't Introduce As Many bat
was a. sueesssful as Henry @.
IpccIal Correspondence Of the lntelliscnoer.

-'-N-
important and interesting facts connected
Herewith coming out. Just before the ad-
journment the Senate passed resolution
directing the Secretary Of the Senate to
prepare a statement OF the legislative work
Of each Senator. This has been done, and
it is in brief history Of the acts OF the
representative, telling exactly what he in
tended to do and what he actually accom-
plished. It gives his legislative career with
the speeches for "buncombe" left out l
have been to some trouble TO get for the
readers OF the INTRLLIGHSCRR q statement
OF what the Senators from West Virginia
did for their people during the session OF
Congress.
WHAT DAVIS DID.
Taking the senior Senator first we find
that Mr.. Davis introduced twenty.seven
bills during the first session and three dur
ing the second session. Only one OF these
became law and that was granting pen.
sion to Jesse +. Phares. Now, to do MIR.
Davis Justice It must be acknowledged that
the failure OF some OF these bills was not
his fault, as he performed every Senatorial
duty In connection Herewith, and, as re.
suit, had the satisfaction at least oil secur.
ing favorable action in tho Senate. But
the fortunes Of war were against him and
they failed in the House, where the mass
Of legislation was SO great that It actually
impeded legislative work. The various
measures, and worthy ones, too, were in
reality in each others way.
Among the bills which Senator Davis
got through the Senate of'local importance
10 West Virginia, was bill to provide for
the construction OF court house and post.
office at Clarksburg. This was lost in the
House on account OF the fright OF members
at the supposed rebuke OF extravagant
tendencies in legislation at the elections of
last fall. The Senator also secured action
in committee on the following: A bill
to establish department OF agriculture
and commerce; for the relief OF witnesses
and Jurors who attended the United States
District Court for the Western District OF
Virginia, at the spring term OF 1851 for the
relief OF the trustees OF the Methodist
Episcopal Church South at Clarksburg;
auth orizipg the Secretary Of War 10 convey
by deed, to the Board OF Education OF the
District OF Harper's Ferry, West Virginia,
lot OF ground (No.2 in. block b. with
the buildings thereon, for the use OF the
common schools; making an ap.
preparation 10 improve the Little Kanawha
river; appropriating money TO continue
the improvement OF the Monongahea
river; TO amend the laws with reference to
elections in West Virginia; to authorize the
holding OF terms OF the United States Dis.
trict Court for the district Of West Virginia
at Martinsbure; to provide Tor public
building at Martinsburg; for the relief OF the
employees who worked In, and the con-
tractors who furnished castings to. the
United States Armory at Harper's Ferry,
and were not paid from January |, 1861, to
April II, 1861, inclusive; providing pay,
bounty, etc, for the militia Of West Viz.
ginia who actually performed services for
the United States during the late war, and
to authorize the construction OF bridge
across the Great Kanawha River, and TO
prescribe the dimensions OF tie same.
This statement is also valuable because
1t is clear index OF the West Virginia
matters which will come up for action in
the next Congress, as all these measures
will be again introduced, Is
cAMDRS's WORK. '''
When we look at the record made by
Senator Camden 1t is found that he only
originated eleven measures at the first ses.
sion, and not single one in the second
session. He, too, only secured the passage
OF one bill through all the stages necessary
for II to become law. II simply author
lied the issue of q duplicate check TO VIM.
j. Anthony, a pensioper OF the United
States. The only bills OF importance pre-,
sented by him were to authorize further
appropriation TO continue the improve.
ments OF the Ohio River in West Virginia.
for the construction Of two ice breakers In
the Ohio River near Petersburg, and a
bill to recognize and pay certain claims
due by the State Of West Virginia to cih.
zens thereof for services rendered the
United States in the late war, and which
arc properly chargeable to the United
States.
This is the honest record as made by
the Senator's themselves and as officially
prepared.
Thinking OF Senators reminds me Of the
fact that two West Virginia gentlemen, res.
idents in this city who were recently in con-
yersalion, betrayed an ignorance nf the
past history Of your new and young Sena.
Tor, which may not be confined to them
selves. As l was somewhat in the dark
also, the usual refuge in such cases was
sought, the dictionary Of Congress, and this
is what was found. / give the text be.
cause 1t may be Of interest and new to
your readers, and also because, as it was
written by the gentleman most interested,
IL must be faithful account: HU n
KESGA's AIoGRAPny.
"Johu E. Kenna, Of Kanawha, was born
at yalcoulon, Virginia, (Now West vir-
ginia) April 10, ls4S; lived and worked on
a farm; entered the confederate army as
private soldier; was wounded in the ser.
vice in 1894, and surrendered at Shreve.
port, Louisiana, in 1885; afterwards atten.
ded Saint Yincent's College, Wheeling;
studied law with Miller and Quarter at
Charestoni was admitted to the bar in
1870, and has continued to practice law
from that time, was elected prosecuting
attorney for kanawha county, on the Dem.
ocratIc ticket, in 1879, and served until
January !, 1877; in 1875 was elected by the
bar in the respective counties under statu.
tory provision to hold the Circuit Courts Of
Lincoln and Wrvne; was elected 10 tho
FoTty.afth, Forty.sixth, Forty.seventh, and
Forty.eighth congresses ~ a penoprst'
This must be lgthentic aS Mr.. Eenna
wrote it, and It's 6reVity IL simply Ia the
accustomed style Of congressional blogra.
ply. They always reserve themselves for
q special large speech when II Is desired
to reach the "dear people,"
NOTES, .r.t
According to statement recently pre-
pared by the Postotice Department there
arc in West Virginia twelve Presidential
postflices whose postmasters are appointed
by the President, and they receive salaries
amounting to Sl9500. The aggregate gross
receipts Of theae Offices arp Sa2Q7f,
The avaling balance on hand, according