Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-12-28
STATEMENT ny CONGRESSMAN HAS
k1NS.

Various erroneous comments in relation
cessor to Judge Hugh Henry in the Con-
cord, n. H.. pension agency. have moved
Congressman Haskins to write the follow
ing Communication to this journal.
House Of Representatives. l.. S.
Washington, D. c.. Dec. %, 1896.
TO the Editor of the Free Press:
l have just been furnished with what
purports to he Geographic despatch fur
nshcd the Boston Globe by its Washing
ton correspondent. Mr.. A. Maurice Low.
having reference to the Concord. H..
pension agency. which. while truly stating
that Capt. Grovenor a. Curticc of Con-
tacook had been recommended by the New
Hampshire delegation for appointment in
place of the Hon. Hugh Henry Of Chester,
VI. also states that it was the under
standing four years ago that. when Mr..
Henry's present term expired. ~ New
Hampshire man should be appointed to
the place. and that 'in accordance with
this agreement. Captain Curtcc was to-
day recommended to the President, the
Vermont delegation joining with the New
1t is not true that the Vermont dclega-
ton understood four years ago that. when
Mr. Hcnry's term expired, II New Hamn-
shire man would be appointed to the
place. Neither is it true that there was
any agreement of that kind. nor did the
Vermont delegation, or any member of it.
join with the New Hampshire delegation
in recommending the appointment OF
Captain Curtice.
on the contrary, the Vermont dclegat ton
all joined in letter to the President
recommending the reappointment of Judge
Henry. and giving many good ana SUD-
stAntial reasons why the reappointmeni
fought TO he made. In addition thereto
they fled with the President number OF
petitions signed by pensioners and a large
number of letters signed ny citizens and
pensioners resident in the State of New
HAMPSHIRE strongly recommending the re-
appointment of Judge Henry. These petit
tions and letters were either addressed to
the New Hampshire delegation IN con-
eress or to Senator Gallineer. and were
secured from the latter by Senator Dill
| linsham.
The Vermont delegation visited tn" Pres
idcnt on two different occasions. ana
urged the reappointment of Judge Henry
On the last occasion they mot the ne"
Hampshire senators at the executive
office by appointment of the President
on this latter occasion the President stat
cd that he remembered four years age
when he decided to reappoint Judge
Henry, promising Senator Gallinger that
at the expiratiOn of his term of office. q
New Hampshire man should be appointed
if it fell to him to confer it. The Vernon!
delegation regarded this as pretty strong
jintimation that he had made up his mind
not to reappoint Judge Henry. but to APP
point a New Hampshire man: and the!
filed their papers. and together with the
New Hampshire senators left the eXecu'
tive Office.
Judge Henry writes me that the des'
patch sent the Boston Globe hy Mr.. Low
| is being copied no, only in the New liamp
shire but also in the Vermont newspapers
and that he felt as a matter of Justice 10
! the Vermont delegation, who stood by mn
| TO the last. that the statement OF Mi
! Low should be corrected.
I am the only member of the Vermont
delegation now remaining here W Wash
ington. hut know very well if the 9th
crS were mere tn"N WouIu Joii WIZ" hi'
| in this letter write.
I hope you will give this dental pupilcit,
in the columns Of your paper that II may
reach other Vermont newspapers and YER
monters generally. | am,
Very truly yours,
KIrTRIDGE HASKlNS.
This statement. which is confirmed by
lanothcr member of the Vermont delesa'
ton. would seem to remove all pOssihl,
chance of misunderstanding in relation to
the position of the Vermont senators and
Iconsressmen in relation To the case OF
Judge Henry. So far rs the people oi
Vermont are concerned there Was in all
probability no misunderstanding concern
ing the matter, for the Washington cor
lrespondonce contained "A fun and compre-
hcnsive statement of the action taken
with reference 10 the succession to the Of
fee held by Judge Henry. Moreover it is
not like the Vermont delegation in Con.
gress or the people Of Vermont in gen
eral to help distribute plums in Other
States to which they believe themselves
to he entitled.