Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1894-10-22

A notable instance of the stick-to-a-
tiveness which is the secret of his sue
cess, as we'll as of his influence in con-
gress, is to be found in the appropria-
tion made for payment of Indian depre-
dation claims that had reached judgment
in the court of claims. Ninety per cent
of the millions of dollars of these claims
on file in Washington belong to citizens
of New Mexico. The entire work of pass
ing the law providing method for their
adjudication fell on Mr.. Joseph, and now
the entire work of securing appropria-
tions to pay tho claims, as they are
proven and allowed, falls on him. At the
opening of this congress last December
the Democratic administration was con-
fronted with an empty treasury, which
the late Harrison administration left it
as precious memento of its extrava-
gance, and threatened deficit was soon
reality, requiring the borrowing of
$50,0O0,O00 to meet the expenses of the
government enormously increased by ex-
travagant appropriations of the billion
dollar Republican congress. Under this
condition, retrenchment and economy
were the enforced order of the Demo-
cratic congress, and Mr.. Joseph was in
formed, when he applied to the commit
tee on appropriations for an allowance
to pay adjudicated claims, that he would
have to wait until another congress when
the treasury would have recovered,
under Democratic economy, from it's
stringent condition. Nevertheless, Mr..
Joseph continued to urge the justice of
his cause before the committee with such
force and persistency that it finally sano-
toned an appropriation of $250000, a
larger sum than had ever before been ap-
propriated for that purpose; and that,
too, in the face of $50,O00000 deficit.
Another very important law secured by
Mr.. Joseph during the session of con-
gress just closed was for the relief of ap-
plicants for land patents, measure af-
fecting over 1000 claimants for patents
to land.
Another important and characteristic
piece of his work was the securing of an
appropriation of $4,000 for the survey
of nrivate land claims on the title to
which the court of private land claims
has passed, confirming tho title. Be-
cause of the empty treasury and the
growing deficit, requiring the borrowing
of money to meet the running expenses
of the government, the committee decided
against incorporating any sum for that
purpose, saying that this matter must
wait, like the Indian depreciation claims,
until the treasury recovered under Demo
Cratic economy from the Republican ex-
travagance which had bankrupted it.
This would have delayed the completion
of the excellent work of the land court by
leaving the boundaries of these numerous
grants still unsettled for want of survey.
Mr.. Joseph went at It, just like he goes
at everything else he undertakes in con-
gress, and the committee yielded to his
forcible presentation of the needs of his
constituents.
| Another instance of his persistent and
successful work Is found in the appro-
priation of $1,000 for the benefit of the
militia of the territory. Last year the
appropriation was only $1,000, and Mr..
Joseph was the only member of congress
who was able to secure an increase in ap-
preparation in any matter in the face of
absolute necessity for retrenchment and
economy.
| RClll uhobhSl CfluolCC VI Hlo lIuu0uCd
and success is found in an appropriation
of $4,000 for the purchase of sheep and
goats for the Jlcarilla Apache Indians in
order to give them employment and self
support on their own reservation, thus
keeping them from constantly preying
on the stockmen and people of northern
New Mexico.
An appropriation of 81, ZOO for the rent
and fitting up of rooms for the next leg
islature and for storing public docn-
ments, and one of $500 additional to the
contingent fund allowed for expenses of
the governors Office, are further evidences
OF his influence ii congress, even to the
extent of securing increased appropria-
tions, while other members were cut
down in all directions by enforced re.
trenchment
He SUCCEEDED IN PASSING OVER 100 PRr.
vATE PENSION BILLS FOR THE REINsTATE.
MENT, OR THE PLACING, OF OLD SOLDIERS on
THE PENSION ROLLs-A LARGER NUMBER
THAN IS CREDITED TO ANY OTHER MEMBER
OF CONGRESS-.
He has done more effective work in
securing the establishment of post.
Offices and mail routes and the increase oi
mail facilities for New Mexico than any
other member of congress for his con.
stituency, AND MORE THAN IN ALL oTHEH
TERRITORIES COMBINED.
Perhaps the most laborious and far.
reaching effort of his congressional
career, aside from his continuous state.
hood battle and the law creating the court
of private land claims, is the bill now