Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-05-05
III. osldsrhsaas 1scorG.


Calderhead's home paper, contains tn
following concerning the Republican
nominee for congress in this district
Nv. A. Calderhead was elected II
November, 1894. Every clause in hi
platform was afterwards Incorporates
in the National Republican Platform
Of 1896. His term began on the All
Of March, 1895, and within mont
be had the supervising architect q
the treasury department complet
ing the plans for a government build
ing to cost $4,000 at Salina. Th'
statute authorizing this had beef
passed In 1878, but II had been lyinl
dormant ever since. He pushed thu
work at the department, and th'
building was completed and occupied
by October, 1896. The Improvement
at Fort Riley stopped when his pre-
decessor went in, and for six years nj
new buildings were erected there. Hi
began where Senator Plumb left of
and obtained an appropriation Of
$4,000, and during his term Of office
the work went on at Fort Riley. II
stopped when bis term was out.
During bis term more than 10000
bills were introduced, and a few over
400 became laws, counting all, both
public and private bills. This aver
aged a little more than one for each
member Of congress. He introduced
o number OF bills for pensions and
obtained favorable report from the
committee upon every bill. He was
q member Of the committee on bank
ing and currency, and the committee
on railways and canals. The com.
mittee on banking and currency was
to be one Of the ablest,
that had been appointed for that sub.
ject during the last fourteen years.
During both sessions Of congress the
committee held almost daily1 meet
ings. In one Of the bills providing
for increasing the circulation Of
national banks, he proposed the
amendment, which authorized the
Of national banks hav.
ing capital Of $4,000 in cities Of
1900 or less, in order that the oppor-
tunity Of furnishing themselves with
banks might be open to every little
community. This amendment has
remained a part Of every banking bill
that has been proposed since, and
was approved by President Mckinley
in his first message. In the same
be opposed the incorpor-
alton Of an international bank to be
established in New York City with a
Of $25,0O0,0oo capital, and
with the privilege Of establishing
eight branches in the principle cities
Of the United States. His opposition
10 1t was so successful that ten of the
seventeen members Of the committee
signed bis report against the hill.
"The old soldier had q faithful
,omrade. And during his term he
attended to more than 600 Of their
pension claims, and the attention was
lot merely the form Of calling up Of
he claim but he went personally to
he office and examined the papers.
Nearly every precinct in his district
las in It some old soldier or widow,
whose pension he assisted in obtain
ng or having an increase. For one
i'd veteran Of Clay Center he obtained
pension Of $50 a month by going in
,erson to the executive mansion and
skiing the presidents signature on
he evening Of the Sd Of March, before
lis term expired next day, and since
lis return home, having about 800
unfinished claims, he has kept clerk
t Washington ever since, who goes
n person to examine every case sent
him. He also goes to the other
and attends to any bust
less, just the same as he did before
is term expired. There are still
Iundreds Of letters concerning bust
less with the land commissioner, the
indian commissioner, the treasury
nd postal department, which he at
ends to the same as il he was still
member, and without any charges or
30. He is a busy man and while
very paper in every case can be cas-
ly found in his office he keeps no ac-