Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-08-15

back into the union the republicans
had not succeeded in electino a
majority II the house in off wears.
or year following a presidential
election in which republican presi-
dent had been elected, until the
campaign of 1898. During that
campaign, after a most strenuous
contest, we succeeded in electing a
republican majority of thirteen.
Again in 1902, an off year, a most
vigorous contest was waged to
maintain republican ascendencv.
which resulted in electing majority
of thirty.
The strenuous work connected
with these continuous CAMPAIGNS
told upon my health to such an
extent that was obliged to decline
to act longer as chairman. and was
succeeded by the Hon. J. S. Sher-
man of New York, who for many
! years has been vice chairman of
the committee. 1t was difficult for
me to impress upon my colleagues
the fact that l could not again ac-
cept the Craftsmanship, and the
organization Of the committee was
deferred some three months on the
theory that l might again consent
to take charge Of the campaign.
desire to call your attention
briefly to important legislation
which has been enacted during nv
service in the house, in which I
took an active part, as follows:
First The sound money act, or
what was known as the gold
standard bill" l was a member o
the committee of eleven republicans
appointed by the party caucus to
draft and formulate the bill, which
was reported to the house and
later became a law in practically
the form recommends by our com
mlttee.
Second-I was one of the four
managers who handled the oleo-
margarine bill and assisted in
enactlng into law the measure
placing a tax upon that article and
requiring the producers to sell it for
what it is and not as butter.
| have secured legislation a2pro.
priating money for the construction of
postoff1ce buildings in two cities in the
district-Baraboo, where the building
is erected and occupied at the present
time. and at Platteville, where the con-
struction of the building will shortly
be commenced-and have been instru.
mental in the establishment of free
city delivery of mail at these two post.
offices.
I was one of the first members of
the house to become interested in the
installation of rural free delivery of
mail. Early in the history of this
service, when the same was in the ex.
perimental stage, the postoffice com.
mittee in the house refused tie report
favorabiy an appropriation of $780,
900, which amount had been requested
by the department. Upon the re-
quest OF the postmaster general I
made fight for this5 appropriation in
the house, and it Was finally. secured,
enabling the Department. to demon
strate the practicability of supplying
the farmers with their mail by car
riers. This service has Iproven very
popular and has been so extended that
many million of dollars are now an
prOpriated each year for its.supporU.
| While member of the Wisconsin
legislature in 1889 prepared and in
troduced co-employe bill, which was
enacted into law and was the effective
statute of this character that the state
ever had, and during the last session
Of congress gave my support to a CO.
employe bill which was national in
scope and is now law.
AS chairman of the committee on
the District of Columbia [ have had
charge Of great amount of legisla-
ton relating to the rapidly growing
capitol of the nation. During the last
session Of congress seventy-fve bills
were passed and enacted into law af-
fecting the city of Washington and
District of Columb ia. many of them
1 OOtAAS NOAJ AhAPOA UdAlO A1Oc10 vi CSs
One of the great improvements in
| WashingtOn-namely, the elimination
of grade crossings and construction Of
the union depot, which legislation |
had charge of on the floor Of the house.
is rapidly reaching completion. The
depot will be the most magnificent in
the world and the tracks have been
raised on permanent structures SO
that there will be no further loss of
life because Of grade crossings. In
this connection | wish to say that
neither the District Of Columbia nor
the general government contributed
one cent for the construction of the
depot nor for the purchase of ground.
but the contribution made bv the
government was solely for the eleya-
tion of tracks, of which the govern
ment pays one-half of the estimated
cost, or total of S30OO0OO opposed