Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-01-14
MISSOURI CONGRESSMAN.

A Little Gossip from Washington About
Them-Peter Martins Board Bill Against
Uncle Sam-A Bill for the Relief of the
Syracuse Cumberland Presbyterian
Church-O'Neill's Dredging Bill. Etc.
A Washington dispatch says:
There is history to bill for SIT so recently
allowed by the government, and despite its
modest pretersions it has history more inter-
esting than many more important relief meas
ures introduced in the house Of representatives.
When Price was making things lively for the
union forces around Pilot Knob in 1854, an
honest but humble Irishman, by the name OK
Peter Martin. was keeping boarding house
somewhere in the neighborhood of Pilot Knob
It was not exactly a fashionable boarding
house. Peter was himself employed as Sec
ton hand or boss on the railroad, and his wl1e
turned an honest dollar by lodging and cooking
for small army of railroad hands who were
fellow laborers of Peters. Price was MAKING
it particularly interesting for ex Gov Fletcher
command and on their march to get out OF the
way of Prices guns, hungry and footsore. the
command. or at least a respectable portion
of the command, happened to strike Peter
Martins boarding house. Peter and his good
wife and all the hired help about the estab-
lishment sat up all night to feed the men,
Everything that was eatable and everything
that was drinkable was reQuisittoned and con-
sumed. and Peters good nature seasoned tho
victuRls, When Fletcher and his men departed
there was little left about the premises fit to set
before the regular" boarders Peter and his
wife looked as philosophically upon the vacuum
created by the soldiers it was possible for two
light hearted souls to look under such circum-
stances, but, unfortunately, they failed to ask
for q voucher or something of that sort to show
the damage they had sustained, and Fletcher
was probably too much in O hurry to think OF it
hirnesK So when the war was over Martin tried
to collect his bill for feeding the union soldiers,
amounting to 80, but somehow or other the
bill was never allowed.
When Representative O'Neill came to con-
gross Martin submitted his claim to him.
O'NeiL tried to collect it. but met with several
failures. At last ex-Gov. Fletcher came on to
Washington and a happy thought struck the st.
Louis statesman. AS he had helped to eat Peter
Martins fare he ought to help pay for it. ONeill
went to Fletcher. The latter recalled tho mat
ter quite distinctly.
Well. then governor" said the congressman,
''if a representative from Missouri and an ex-
governor of the state can not get Peter Martins
bill allowed. they ought to go out of politics.
Fletcher agreed with him, and the two entered
into solemn compact to collect Martin s bill.
Ex-Governor Fletcher promptly made an afi-
Gavit to the correctness of the account as rem
dered. O'Neil again pressed it, and he was re-
warded by letter from the assistant auditor OF
the treasury saying that Peter Martins bill had,
upon Mr.. Fletcher's affidavit, been allowed end
would be paid.
Martin is now resident of st. Louis in my
of his claim after twenty eight years will come
to him tardy, though none the less welcome,
New Years gift.
Congressman Tarsney has presented bill
which provides that from and after July l,
1892, the terms Of the circuit courts Of the
United States for the Western district of Mis-
souri, shall begin and be held at Kansas City on
the fourth Monday in April and the first Mon
day in November annually; at ST. Joseph on the
first Monday in March and the third Monday in
September annually; at Springfield on the first
Monday in April and the first Monday in Octo-
Der annually; at Jefferson City on the third
Monday in March and the third Monday in Oc-
tober annually
Mr. Heard has introduced a bill in the house
for the relief of the trustees of the Cumberland
Presby terrain church Of Syracuse, Mo. The
church trustees claim to have been damaged
amounting to the sum of $4,000 by the occupa-
ton of their church by union troops during the
war. Nr. Heard also asks for relief in the sum
of 5000 full for damage done to the Christian
church of Marshall and for Robert Tillson and
Maitland Boon of Missouri; also for pensions
to Joseph K. Boon, John Jones and Thomas S.
King, all Of Missouri; also to remove the charge
of desertion from the name Of Alexander Il.
Byrum. Independent Of these Mr. Heard in
troduced twenty-five pension bills In one day
which were presented in tho Fifty first con-
Eress.
Representative O'Eeill's dredging bill to
dred9e the channel of the Mississippi river be-
tween St. Louis and Cairo has gone to the house
river and harbor committee. The st. Louis
says the bill is the outgrowth Of
several conferences had with Glen. Casey Of tho
board of engineers. and Maj. Ernest, formerly
in charge Of the river at st. Louis. It provides
for q maximum expenditure Of $4,000 for q
self moving dredger with which to remove
shoals and similar obstruction in the channel OF
yNsrxr,A y,riv1 AnRkl ,
opinion that dredger such the bill provides
for will easily be able to deal with the problem
of regular navigation between tina two points
named.