Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-05-25
Washington, D. c., Nav 8, 1900.
Gen. Grout "a D.hntsr.

In its issue of May IS the Express and
Standard prints a second letter from Mr..
Coolidge, under the above heading, which
is devoted TO "those passages in the bust
ness of the House where he gave direction
to its action, as shown by the Congression-
al Record" Four points are especially
named:
First, Gen. CIRCUITS success in carrying
through the House the five District of
Columbia appropriation bills reported by
him, beginning with the 54th Congress.
His bill in the last session went through
without a single change, thing that never
before happened, and which could not
have happened "if Gen Grout had not had
the confidence of the House, which lies at
the very bottom of all successful leader
ship"
Second, his successful fight in the 54th
Congress in carrying through the House
his bill to put oleomargarine under control
of state laws. This was done after two
days contest, the bill being saved only by
shrewd and ready parliamentary maneuv-
ers. "Whoever will turn to the Congress
sional Record and follow this bill during
those two days will see that Gen. Grout is
not only a ready debater but good par
Humanitarian and good fighter"
Third, his work in defeating bad legisla-
ton, notably the Sibley tent claim, carry
ing an appropriation of $ll7,O This
bill had been reported favorably by Mr..
Hoar in the Senate, and had passed that
body twice.
Fourth, Gen. CIRCUITS fight against the
Democratic amendments to the pension
appropriation bill in the SD Congress,
just after Cleveland's first election. In
committee and on the floor of the House
% amendments in all were proposed, all
of them against the interests of the old
soldiers. AS the senior Of the Republican
members of the committee on appropria-
tions Gen Grout led the fight against the
Democratic attack. 1.-The result of this
seven-days' fight was that the General
knocked out every one of the % amend
ments either on points of order or by a
vote of the House; and the only amend
ment that went into the bill was one offer
ed by himself, increasing certain appro-
priptions which the hostile Democratic
committee had left too small" Mr.. Cool
idge then continues:
cleveland was inaugurated March 4,
| 1898, and appointed William Lochren
commissioner of pensions. Everyone re-
calls how by administrative orders and
|
sions and pensioners, thus accomplishing
many things the committee on appropria-
tions set out to do the year before by the
amendments above referred to. Mr.. Grout
was still at the head of the minority on
the pension appropriation bill, and when
| it came into the House he took occasion to
expose the management and methods OF
the bureau under Lochren in a speech
which may be found on page 2540 Of the
Record of the 53rd Congress. The speech
was stirring and pungent and full of in
| formation as TO the devious ways of the
pension bureau. 1t furnished members
| Just the information, and in just the form
they wanted, to send their constituents.
Thousands of copies were subscribed for
/ by them on the spot. 1t touched respon'
sive chord with old soldiers everywhere,
and such was the demand for IL that 1885,
600 copies of it were circulated by the con-
gressional campaign committee in 1894, a
fact that testifes to its high character bet
ter than any words of mine"
L. A. COOLIDGE.