River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-06-24
NEW MISSISSIPPI CAPITOL AS COMPLETED al

penses, but ii is time for the people to
begin thinking about these things in
detail, and to demand of their repre-
sentatiyes economy in government eX-
penditures.
You have often read or heard of Con-
gresham Holman, of Indiana, who was
called 1.-THE great objector," but you
probably did not know the man. He
was a democrat. l was a republican.
But we were good friends for many
years, until the day of his death, last
April Some time in February last he
said to me: Il began 10 be an objector
to all appropriation bills. when ! began
my second term in congress, in 1861.
came here in 1859, and was made MEM
Der of the committee Oh revolutionary
claims. Although the war had been
over for so years, there were claims
amounting TO upwards of SlO0,000,000
referred to our committee. Nearly all
of the original claimants were dead.
The claims were kept alive by attorneys
and lobbyists. Our chairman opposed
them, and very few passed. There was
smooth attorney, however, who told
me a pitiful story about an old lady
living i'm Virginia, who was almost
starving and he excited my sympathies.
studied the case, and made a favorable
report on it. Then | dismissed it from
my mind. just before the congress adj
iourned, President buchanan sent for
me. / went TO the white house. and
there was the bill. 1t had passed both
houses of congress. and was before the
president for his signature. He asked
me if | thought he ought to sign the
bill. ! told him that ! did not know
that the bill had passed, and declined
to advise him. He allowed the bill to be-
come law, without his signature, by
giving it the ten days limit allowed by
the constitution.
"In January, 1861, Just before the
close of Buchanan's administration,
was at the white house one day. and the
president said to me: Holman. | have
accidentally learned about the suffering
old lady in Virginia. She has been dead
for 90 years, and the entire $4,000 APP
propria ted in that bill was drawn out
Of the treasury by that attorney, and
h. alone was the beneficiary of your
benevolent report on the bin From
that time until the present. | have OBJ
jected TO all bills appropriating the
money of the people. II has been a mat
ter of conscientious performance of
duty with me. was guilty of COM
plicity in a scheme 10 rob the treasury
OF $4,000, although ! was an innocent
party: and | have determined to save
the people that sum OF money. For
tunately. have lived long enough to
save the people a least S50.0O0.OO0 by
my objections TO an sorts Of schemes.
Newspapers and individuals have called
me all sorts of harsh names: but am
on good terms with my conscience, and
am satisfied with my career"
Nobody has greater respect for the
military career and distinguished pub
lie services Of Gen. Miles than the writer
of these lines Nevertheless. he is trav-
cling at public expense. and at exag-
gerated expense. and his junket through
Europe is for his own benefit. rather
than for the benefit Of the people: and
II is not right II is reprehensible that
any mar should be permitted to have
such a junlSet out Of the funds of the
treasury of this republic.
SMITH d. FRY