The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-05-16
TER CHER
Freeman r.. Lane Sets Forth His Com
III gressionaI Record, In ! Spicy ay.ass.

Freeman II. Lane Sets Forth His Con.
& sl0naIs Record In = Spicy Avsy.2:s
gu should be fair, even In polit ties
said. Freeman e. Lane, as q party o
igentlemen were discussing the congress
/ sional nomination in front Of the Russell
Coffee House, '.and when anyone, wheth:
er he be a supporter Of Mr.. Davis, Mr.
Nye Or Mr.: Gilflllan makes the statement
that Mr., Fletcher hasn't a good congress.
sional record, ] must in the interest Of
| fairness, call him down. Knowing m5
own peculiarities, and feeling that in tht
| heat of debate might not give Mr.
I Fletcher his just dues. semitic Washing.
! ton for his official record, which as you
| will see, discloses the fact that he has
been doing something more than draw
| ing his pay during his long and honor.
| able service.
The first session Of the SD congress
opened on the 9TH day OF August, 1893
and adjourned @Nov.s.3, 1893. This was
the extra session called by President
Cleveland, its object being to relieve the
financial pressure supposed to be due to
the Sherman silver bill. Mr.. Fletcher
took the oath of office ON the 9Th day of
August, 1888, and during that session his
entire work consisted in being sworn in,
being appointed. a cenferee on a house
committee To confer with like commit
tee from the senate, to consider the ad-
visibility Of building bridge across the
Hudson river III the state Of New York
presenting a petition from the Mime
apolis Presbyterian, Ministers associa
ton, asking the repeal Of the Geary law,
and obtaining a ten days leave Of alb
sence- He never. presented bill lex
cept for his pay) or said a word, dur
ing that session.
THE second session of the SD con-
gIess convened the first Mondy in De-
cembeT, 1888. During that session Mr..
Fletcher's voice was never heard in the
halls OF congress, except twice, and then
he said, Mr.. Speaker, move we do now
adjourn. He never reported bill
from the committee on interstate and
foreign commerce, of which he was a
member, that in any way concerned the
people Of this district, except one, and
that was to allow the Minneapolis Gas
Light Company to lay it's pipes across
the Mississippi river and through the
public domain. It lis true that during
that session he did report from that com
mittee bill relating to a wagon bridge
at Hastings, Mimi, one relating to
bridge across the st. Louis river near
Duluth, one relating to bridge in Okla.
homa, one relating to a bridge at Red
Wing, one relating to bridge at Mo-
brara, Neb., and one relating to bridge
at Yfalkton, S. D. During this session he
did introduce bill relative to branch
postofices in Minneapolis, which bill
was referred and has never since seen
the light of day. :,
..0utside of: Mr.. Fletcher's votes. on
bills pending before congress, this repre-
sents his entire work for the people in
this district, SO far as the record dis
closes. during this entire session.
''.The third session of the SD congress
convened on the first Monday in Decem-
Der, 1894, and adjourned March 4, 1885,
During that session Mr.. Fletcher's voice
was never heard on the floor not even
to make his usual speech, nor did he re-
port from his committee of which he
was a member, a single measure in any
way connected with the affairs of this
district. He did introduce, at this ses-
sion, a bill to establish gun factory at
Ft. Smelling. The only bill that he re-
ported to the house from his committee,
was one relative to the bridge across the
st. Louis river at Duluth.
In December, 1895, the present ses-
sion, was. convened. Thus far his voice
has not been heard, except to obtain a
leave Of absence to repair his fences
He has reported to the house, from his
committee, several bills, all relating to
the building of bridges across various
streams in the United States, but all
outside the Fifth Minnesota district.
During this present session he again in
troduced bill touching the Fl. Smelling
gun factory, and two bills relative to
river Improvements. These bills have
been. referred to the proper committees,
where they gently repose. In justice to
Mr.. Fletcher it should be said that dur
ing his long service he has introduced
several private pension bills and some
of our most worthy citizens have been
greatly benefited thereby.
''The record diseloses that Mr..
Fletcher made one speech during his
two terms, and that was when the bill
for the establishment of a sub-treasury
at Minneapolis, was under consideration
mittee, consisting of five persons. Let
it be said that Mr. Fletcher's speech on
that occasion was composed chiefly of
figures and to show you that they were
accurate, need only add that they were
all taken from the Minneapolis newspa-
pers. @
:. "'Now, as to Mr.. Fletcher's claim to
having obtained large appropriations for
this locality: 1t is only fair to give every
one who has aided in obtaining govern
ment funds for the improvement Of the
Mississippi at this point their just dues.
During the 49th congress Mr.. J. B. Gill
fillan was our member. This was during
CleYeland's first term, and a Republic
an was not deuce high in the agrega-
ton of stars that were congregated in
Mr.. Gillian obtained an
appropriation Of $4,000 to be used in
making a survey Of the river from St.
paul rs the Falls of st. Anthony. This
was the starter upon which subsequent
were to be based. In the
50th congress Mr.. Rice, of st. Paul, was
our member, and. of course he did not
procure any appropriations intended to
help this city; but when the 51st congress
Mr.. w. D. Washburn was one
Of our senators, and to his efforts we are
for the revival Of appro OPERATIONS
begun by Mr. Gilfllan. From such ap-1
work was begun, and Of
course, after the government once CONF
neqced work.: It. naturally followed that
were made annually to-
prosecute the work begun, and preserve
that portion already completed. Mr..