The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-02

every mail brings the Speaker request
for money. Some one wrote 10 the Speak
er recently that al a meeting OF poaro
having IN charge an undoubtedly worthy
work, he had been put on their list for a
contribution Of 500. Fortunately Ameri-
can candidates for Office DO not find IT
necessary TO subscribe to all the local
charities as candidates in England do.
If Mr. Reed were assessed very often
for $500. his family wouldn't have bread
and meat Other people write 10 the
Speaker with modest requests for one
or two dollars.
Mr. Reed has a warm spot in his heart
for old ladies. one of the meanest du-
tics he ever had 10 perform was 10 re-
move the apple and cigar stands, which
disigured the House wing Of the Capitol
when he first became Speaker. Mr. Reed
announced when he came into office that
he was going to get rid OF the hucksters:
but every time he faced the duty he had
to draw back. Almost all these men ana
women had some sympathetic claim. The
most urgent was that Of the woman who
made application for the cigar privilege
which her husband had enjoyed The
husband had just died. and the woman
had no other means Of support When
Representative Van Setback. Of Wisconsin,
went 10 the Speaker to intercede for this
woman, Air Reed said ivan Setback.
/ you're a rich man and I'm a poor one:
but III put up half the money If you
viii buy that woman out" Arrangements
were made finally 10 set a department
/ position for this woman. and most of the
/ other "concessionaireS' were provided for
/ in the same way.
A case in which the Speakers syn,pathy
was not wasted was that Of a man
In Texas. His letter to the Speaker was
| typical or much OF the Speakers mail
lie was a stranger 10 Mr. Reed: he was
not even Maine man. He simply wrote
! 10 the Speaker because he knew no one
: IN authority, and because Mr.. Reeds
name was familiar 10 him. lie had been
arrested in Texas on charge OF irnperson-
ating man who had served I'm the Same
company with him in the war. His an
| pication for a pension was not made I'm
the name under which he served but in
another name which differed I'm only one
letter from the name Of the other man.
rms cnange Of name he explained i'm n
| satisfactory manner In support OF his
statement that he was not personating
| another. he had the other man as a wit.
| ness, ana The captain OF his company
also testlhed IN his favor. But the grand
! jury had indicted him. ana he seemed
1 In fair way 10 go to the penitentiary
Mr.. Allen was so much interested I'm the
case when he read the letter that ne
made an investigation and laid the result
before Mr.. Reed, who became equally in
| terested, and went personally 10 the De
| partment OF Justice and interceded for
| the man. The result was an investigation
by special agent, which demonstrated
| pretty plainly that the man was a victim
OF persecution by over-zealous agents OF
the pension office, and the prosecution
was stopped
What Mr.. Reed did for this stranger
Is characteristic; he has done the like
again and again, and his good Offices have
| been sought very OFTEN by DCi rats IN
his State. He would as soon kind.
| ness 10 "a Democrat as for a can
! where no political principle we'd
] This does not include the =. APP
| pointments for his constituelt Reed
has his own ideas about the ci..i ~srvice