The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-12

steal political economy VS.. Christian
economies"
Congressman Walker is chiefly
known from the banking bill intro
duced by him some years ago, and for
which he has labored for many years.
1t is known as the Walker banking bill
and in brief proposes a plan for COM
posing the finances of the country by
relieving the United States treasury of
all responsibility for the current re-
demption of paper money and to have
the banks assume that duty, as a COM
pensation for which they are to be all
lowed to issue bank currency against
their assets up to the amount Of their
reserves, not to exceed one-half their
capital stock
He is a member of the American
Academy of Political and Social Sci
ence and of the American Institute of
Civics, by both of which societies he
has been honored by having his occa-
sional addresses printed in the regular
proceedings of the societies. He also
claims membership in the order of the
Sons of the American Revolution.
Tufts College some years ago con-
ferred upon him the honorary degree
Of LII. d. He is a trustee of Brown
University and Newton Theological
Seminary.
fold duties of a busy congressional
career can imagine the amount of labor
and care which falls to the lot of a
member of congress. Not only is it
necessary for him to be in constant at
tendance during a session of congress,
but If he is to win distinction he must
appear to good advantage on the floor
of the house at frequent intervals. This
means that he must keep himself well
informed on the questions under con-
sderation, and also intimately in
throughout the world. In addition to
all this, which is enough to engage the
attention Of two ordinary men, he must
answer the inquiries and correspon-
dence of the voters who make up his
constituency Two or three of these
incidental matters which Mr.. Walker
has successfully followed and fought
during recent years will be of interest.
AT the outbreak of the civil war Mr..
and Mrs. George c. Marshal were liv-
ing in one of the southern states Mr.
Marshall enlisted in the First Missouri
cavalry and lost his life during the
war. His widow again married and by
that act forfeited her right to a pen
sion. After the death of her second hus-
band the woman came to Massachusetts
and made her home in the family of
Cyrus Spaulding Of Webster Her case
seemed to be a very meritorious one,
and after two or three southern con-
greSSmen had expended their patience
in endeavoring to get special act
passed for her relief, Congressman
Walker took the case in hand and at
the last session of congress succeeded
in forcing the measure through both
branches of congress and secured
thereto the presidents signature ana
today the widow is receiving an an
nuity from the government as a result
of the perseverance of Mr. Walker.
The now famous Howe claim was an
other matter that showed the persever-
ance and persistency of the man. As is
we'll known the question of bringing the
matter before the house lay in the
hands of the speaker. and his hobby
was to keep the expenses of the session
on a rockbottom basis. The conse-
quence was that every day many bills
and petitions were refused recognition
and the only way in which actin could
be obtained on the bill was by general
consent. This meant that Mr. Walker
must have the democrats with him. M?
Bailey of Texas was the leader of the
party at that time and through his
friendship with him he was enabled to
win over the opposition.
During his life in Washington, Con-
gresham Walker has always had the
same apartments at the Shoreham.
having been among the earliest tenants
at that hotel, which was opened at the
beginning of the 51st congress.
1t has been truly said of him that
there is a fluent air of conviction about
his whole person, and absolutely con-
WINGED himself, he carries conviction
with him whenever he addresses the
house.
He is man of commanding stature,
and his gray hairs give him a certain
dignity, but his stronghold is his power
of humorous illustration with which he
is at all times possessed. At the time
of the bond sale during the Cleveland
administration, Congressman Walker
coined a new word, growers to des-
ignate the issue.
A prominent democrat once spoke of
him as that rigid, white-haired man,
with the capitalistic whiskers-the
great financier of the house"