Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-03-27
A PUBLIC
If Mexico Wants one Now is the
Time to Try.

In view of the fact that Moberly
is after a public building there is a
good deal of talk among business
men of this city in regard to Mex
leo securing such a building. The
editor Of this paper wrote to Hon.
r. H. Norton, our member in Con-
gress, in regard to the matter, and
received the following reply, which
explains itself and covers all ques-
tons asked:
r. NJ. White. Esq Mexico. Mo.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 21.-
MY DEAR SIR: In answer to your
letter inquiring as to whether 1
could not get ''some pork in the
pot in the way of q public build
ing for Mexico, and saying that if
Moberly had gotten a bill through
that possibly some provision could
be made for Mexico. / will say,
that it is hard for me to determine
where the present Congress will
draw the line in the way of appro-
priations for public buildings; but
| do not believe there would be
any show for a bill in favor of
Mexico to succeed, nor do I believe
the Moberly bill will ever be passed.
The Moberly bill has not yet been
reported to the House, but I learn
that it has been considered favora-
bly, in committee, and will be re-
ported in a day or two. The draft
Of the report which l have exam
ined, makes an appropriation of
$50, 900 and sets forth that Moberly
is the largest town in North Mis-
souri,, excepting Hannibal on the
Mississippi, and st. Joseph on the
Missouri; that both have public
buildings; that Moberly is the half
way station between those two
cities; that it is a great railroad
centre; that the machine shops of
the Wabash are located there; that
they employ constantly over 1000
men; that the city is we'll paved;
that it is lighted by gas and cleo
triclty; that 1t has fine water-works;
that its population is $500 and
rapidly increasing, and that it's
postal revenues for the year end
ing June 80, 1889, were S,34O.
These are the principal reasons set
forth in the report as to why Mo-
berly should have the appropria-
| ton. A favorable report in that
case IS due, in my judgment, more
to Col. Mansur's popularity than
any other cause. Moberly, as you
know, is in his district and he
championed tae bill before the
committee. He has been here
sufficiently long to be thoroughly
acquainted with all the members,
and his good sense and genial ways
give him a strong personal follow
ing. With all that, however, /
think that If the bill is ever reach
ed on the calendar after 1t is re-
ported, 1t will be defeatek, as the
town is too small and the needs
not sufficiently urgent. In one case
a bill was reported and passed the
House for a town in Name smaller
than Moberly even, but in that
case there was a large postal bust
ness done, and also a large revenue
and custom business, it being close
to the Canada line. As a matter
of principle I am opposed to all
these appropriations except in a
case where they are absolutely
needed. Still, if the "pork'' has to
be divided. I would like to get a
share for my district, and I recog-
nize the fact that almost every ar.
gument used in favor of Moberly
could be used for Mexico, and if il
is the wish of the citizens of Mex.
leo that I make the effort 1 shall
very cheerfully do SO, Whatever
effort is to be made must be made
now, for in a Democratic Congress
(and the next Congress will surely
be D~emocratic) such legislation as
is now being enacted will net be
tolerated. Let me hear from you,
as to your views, and the wishes
OF your people.
Yours Truly,
R.. II. NORTON.