Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-11-27
General Hazard Stevens.

"oik' DEM.
General Hazard Stevens.
1t will please many OF our readers
to learn something OF the record and
recent dOings of the gentleman
whose name heads this article, and
who will be remembered as the only
son of the first Governor of Wssh.
ington Territory, as Collector of In
ternal Revenue in the Territory
fifteen years ago, and as q most esti
mable gentleman and worthy citi-
zen.
Gen. Stevens went from Olympia
to Boston. where be entered upon
the practice of law, and where hs
has ever since remained. His home
is in Dorchester, where he apparent
ly possesses the highest regard of
the people without regard to party.
He was elected in 1884 to the Legis-
lature as Republican, and distin-
guished himself in local reforms.
The most useful work of General
Stevens in the Legisla ture, aside
from the Dorchester charter, to
which great praise is given, and acts
limiting debt and taxation, was his
salutary influence in opposing un-
wise and useless legislation. Thus,
the bills to compel the city of Boston
to pay the Blrrill claim of over $40
600; to make criminal offense the
failure to shovel off snow and ice
from ones sidewalk; to make tax
deeds and sales conclusive evidence
of the validity of the proceedings,
Notwithstanding any illegally or de.
feet therein; to empower the Water
Board to charge different rates to
different takers, and to sell water to
some at less rates than to others,
and other such pernicious bills, were
opposed by him and defeated largely
by bis efforts. A novel and extraor-
binary bill OF his made it the duty
OF every citizen to exercise the right
OF suffrage. This. however, failed
to pass. He was an earnest advo-
cate Of biennial sessions and cleo.
tons, weekly payments to operatives,
scientific temperance instructions in
schools, and of giving preference to
veterans duly qualified in appoint
ments to and promotions in Office
over civilians.
So good q record as a legislator
did hs make that q large number OF
the leading citizens of Dorchester,
irrespective Of party. about q month
ago. united in . written request
to him to stand for reelection,
expressing themselves in the COM
plimsntary manner following: "As
one OF the earliest and most earnest
advocates of reform in municipal af-
fairs, as the introducer and defender
in the Legislature of the recent SAL
utary amendments to tho city
charter, and IS q faithful, prudent
aad nonparisan representative, We
believe that the citizens of Dorches-
ter have need of your services in the
next General Court, and we respect.
fully ask you to allow your name to
be presented as q candidate for the
House," He was triumphantly re-
elected to the Legislature.
General Stevens military record
vas q wonderful one; entering the
army o private soldier at 10 years of
age, and being Brisadier General
at 2l. His army record is below
stated:
Private at 10 in tho Seventy-ninth
Highlanders, New York Volunteers,
September 9th, 1861.
First Lieutenant and Adjutant
Seventy-ninth Higblanders, New
York Volunteers, September 26th,
1861.
Captain and Assistant Adjutant
General. United States Volunteers,
October 10Th, 1861.
Major and Assistant Adjutant
General, United States Volunteers,
October 18th, 1868.
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, United
States Volunteers, August 1st. 1864.
For gallantry and distinguished ser.
vices in the campaign before Rich
mond.
Brevet Colonel, United States
Volunteers, October 18th, 1864.
For gallant and meritorious services
in the battles of Winchester, Fish
er's Hill and Cedar Greek.
Brevet Brigadier General, United
States Volunteers, April I'd, 1865.
For gallant and meritorious services
before Petersburg.
Mustered out September 3Oth,
1864.
General Stevens was twice
wounded at the battle of Chantilly.
where his father, General Isaac I.
Stevens, fell with the colors of the
Seventy-ninth Highlanders in his
grasp. while leading q succeasful
charge Of bic division.