The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-10-16
Local Interests.

Last winter, the writer Of this para
graph prepared bill and had it introduced
in Congress asking foran appropriation of
100000 for public building at Staunton,
to accommodate the Postoflice and Internal
Revenue Departments of the Government.
Facts and figures were adduced to sus-
tain the petition. such as few districts in
the country could furnish. They showed
that the people of StanntOn and Augusta
county were entitled to the appropriation,
otfonlyi by reason of the public demands,
but because Of the large revenue paid into
the public treasury through the internal
revenue department. All whose attention
was directed to the data upon which the
appropriation was asked, regarded it rs IN
exceptionally strong case. The bill was
referred to the proper committee, and
there it slept, because there was no one
who felt n direct personal interest in it.
at hand, to.press it at the right time. Had
there been, it would have passed and
become a law, for it had infinitely more
merit than number of similar bills which
successfully went through. Our citizens
generally were anxious about the matter,
and were willing to do anything fair to
secure favorable action, But nothing they
could do, could compensate for not having
in Congress a representative, who felt q
personal interest in it. Indeed, Augusta
county has not had a member of Congress
for over forty years Hon. A. II. II. Stuart
having enjoyed that honor i'll 1871. we
believe. There are various local interests
that could be looked after successfully
were the member to feel local concern
about them, but which would not likely
be attended to otherwise.
( tits well enough for the people inter-
ested, to take into consideration such mat
tiers, while they are thinking of the gen.
eral effect OF the policy that would be pro-
NOTED in misrepresentation they will select
in November. This local business is of
minor Importance compared with the in
teaests of the district to be affected by the
vote that will he cast for Congressman,
but it is not out of place to mention it.
We want to see some one in Congress who
will press it to successful issue, and Sc
cure to Stanton Public Building such
as the business of the government here
The people can determine where
to look for such man, and they can de-
termine their votes afterwards. 1t issafe
to say that Mr.. Tucker is not the man.
That would be considered too small q bust
ness for him. His time is too much oc
cupied in celebrating and refining on i'm
constitutional points. 10 come
down to the practicable things of life-to.
business affairs in which the people are in
terested, would not harmonic with his
exalted opinion Of himself as one of the
statesmen of the country.
who has measured lances, he afiirms, and
that successfully with the greatest men of |
the Republican party. Certainly Mr.. Tuck
er's legislative record does not show that |
le has ever given the national welfare of |
;he people serious thought. He has mag
aified MI. Tucker-has drawn in fine lines |
HE distinction between the States and the |
Federal government-and cast votes in
conformity thereto that have shocked his
and proven him to be an i'm
practicable theorist. But he has never
come down to the practical work of a prac-
,ical people and never will. And if the PEG
Die Of Staunton and Augusta county want
! Public Building here, the election Of
Mr.. Tucker would be the very thing to de-
eat it.saa asah Asio0p +