The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-27

were for dishonorable discharge from
the service, and the balance of the
cases are still pending, awaiting addi-
tional testimony to prove them up. OF
the allowed claims thirty-six thousand
five hundred and ninety-four dollars
were paid claims in the way Of arrear-
ages, and this sum was paid to Lacka-
wanna veterans, exclusively.
In view of the fact that it ia ten
times harder to get pension case
through now to what it was years
ago, by reason of the death Of the
comrades of claimants whose testi-
mony Is absolutely necessary to prove
up their claims, makes the showing Of
success for Mr.. Connell in his pension
business far above the average Of that
of any representative in congress for
the territory covered.
He is member Of the committee on
agriculture and Of mines and Mining"
Of the house of representatives, and
consequently is keenly alive to the in
terests of both the farmer and the
miner. in which he has mutual in
terest.
Every petition, resolution, or me.
mortal that has been sent him by con-
stituents bearing upon the seating of
the Mormon Roberts, or in favor Of the
Grout bill, for the protection of our
farmers against the Oleomarearine
trust, or the establishment of a post
office, or pertaining to the interests Of
the people at home in any way, was
ouly introduced in the house of repre-
sentatives and properly referred to the
committee to which it belonged.
Take the Congressional Record and
scan it's pages carefully, you will find
that Mr.. Connell's vote from the bill
appropriating money to carry on the
Spanish war down to the present mo-
ment has always been in strict accord
with his well-known reputation for in
dependence of thought and action and
what he believed was for the hest in
terests Of the country.
In political appointments, both state
and national, he has had his full share.
and makes no complaint on that score.
He was unanimously chosen by the Re-
publican members Of congress from
Pennsylvania to represent the state on
the national Republican congressional
committee.
In company with ex-senator Quay
and six others, he was chosen at the
recent Republican state convention at
Harrisburg as a delegate at large" to
the national Republican convention
which meets at Philadelphia on June
~ next. Early in the month Of May
Mr.. Connell, after repeated efforts was
at last successful in getting a weather
station located at Scranton, thus plac-
ing Scranton in the same class with
New York, Philadelphia, Pittsbu:g,
Baltimore, Boston, and other large
cities where weather stations are in
stalled. Observations are taken daily,
maps printed, and sent out giving
complete weather data, and Scranton
is now noted on all official weather
reports sent out from Washington, d.
c. The station went into opera
tion early in July. Mr.. Connell was
also successful in having a branch
postoffice established at Hyde Park,
Scranton, Pa, recently, which has
proven to be great convenience in
the way of postal facilities to the resi-
dents Of that section of the city. He
has also made arrangements with the
postoffice department for an early ex-
perimental test of the rural free de-
livery in the district which, If success
full, will be extended as the circum-
stances may demand.
Mr.. Connell has been striving hard to
have his BILL H. R. Bill 4S45, to create
a new federal judicial district in Penn
sylvania. to be known as the Middle
district, passed during the present ses-
sion of congress.