Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-11

Crisp was Speaker of the Fifty-third
Congress, and Dave Mercer made his
debut in the Congressional circle with
one object specifically in view. That
was to secure 4 new postofffce building
for South Omaha, then a growing city
of packing houses. With his fine sense
Of the indispensable pathway to that
consImmatiOn the Congressional novice
started out for az assignment to the
House Committee on Public Buildings
and Grounds In that he succeeded.
He went on at the foot Of the Republic
can list. which. under a Democratic
regime. was necessarily the tail end Of
the committee, whereof he was destined
eventually to become chairman. But
his humble location at the committee
table did not hamper his hustllng for
South Omaha. The economical Democ-
racy sanctioned seven public building
bills at that Congress, ana South
Omaha was in the list with $l0oooo'
more money than was given any other
city except Chicago.
Wearing such a fine feather in his
chapcau. Dave" went back to his con-
stitucnts for reelection in 1894, when
vas a Republican landslide year. Inc
Democrats endeavored earnestly to re
cover tie district, and nominated eA-
GOV. James f. Boyd to run against
him. Boyd was beaten by over 4Ooo
votes. But in addition to his South
Omaha public building he had done
other things in his first Congress, when
probably swelled the vote. He pur-
suaded the Legislative branch to ap-
propriate 5000. 900 for the Fort Crook
military reservation and $4,000 for
Missouri river improvements. besides
securing for local firms a contract Tor
the iron work for the new postofIice at
Omaha. in competition with MhWduhee
firms that had bid lower.
Speaker Reed was welding the edNti
whom Dave Mercer started on ms set
ond term and continued coaXlng ARA
appropriations from the treasury VIM
leagues Before the curtain fell on that
Congress he had S25o,OOO for the IrahaI ms
Mississippi Exposition at Omaha , anu
100000 for the Omaha post-oince' 49,
during his service here has been utNcl-
oprd into one of the finest structures pl
its kind in the country; not 10 Ih tii.
The ccssiou Of the Fort Omaha mnitdI
reservation of Nebraska for a mihtaiS
schnnl President Cleveland vetoed thc
latter bill. in which connection there Is
an anccdote. c,, r,,o,.c
Dave was very mucn alTdIu olSN.
land would veto the Exposition approprF
alton. which had passed Congress on'S
after long and earnest effort. he tne &
fore decided to take the engrossed act u I,
House and Senate to the White house IN
nrrson. As he entered the door o. llI
mansion. the late Mai. Pruden emer,sigi,,i
with thc veto of the Fort Omaha pi"'
which he was taking to the capitol. ...
''You are doing q great deal OF ousinc99
at the White House these days, MI. MY
Ger" observed Mr.. Cleveland, as the Ne
braskan presented himself .o.
There was good natured parleE; WITH
ended with cleveland saying, with som.
hesitation: Il guess III sign TINS plIl III
Wcrcer's popularity in the House ana
bis knowledge Of successful politics vs..
IL his election in 1896 as secretary OF tllo
Repuhlican Congressional campaign com
mittec He remained in Washington II
tbot summer. working like TURK I
hnIn null a lot of Republican candldatos
through and neglecting his own c duil
pairn, which. however. was CohuuC,s.ett
Nv his friends His unsparing eilorts tno
wear won him such lasting gratitude lna a
his denomination and reelection ' eNS.
since then have been watched WIN keSn
interest by a large following n ent
House. Chairman Babcock recently ~
nninted him a member of the RepuohcaH
executive committee for this Congressloll'
al campaign.