Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-12-12


of general legislation he was clearly in
line with his party in the nation. 1t
was said by Speaker Cannon. and be-
lieve by President Roosevelt, that the
record of the Fifty-ninth Congress en-
braced more important legislation for
the people of the United States than
that of any other congress since the
civil war. To have contributed by his
vote and influence to the support of the
railroad rate bill, the pure food bill, the
construction of the Panama canal. the
enlargement of our navy, etc, is some
thing of which any man might be proud.
And, consideration of these subjects
alone would be time and thought well
spent by congressman in the interest
Of his constituents.
along the line of special legislation
l have this to say. Immediately on my
father entering congress, though a
stranger and without acquaintance, he
went actively and vigorously to work to
accomplish something for his congress
sional district. Some of the work he
did was along legislative and some along
departmental lines. He urged the es-
tablishment of rural free delivery
routes throughout his district, with the
result that many thousands of people
were for the first time served with mail
at their doors. The income from this
source alone in this district is not far
from one hundred thousand dollars per
annum. Insisting that the secretary of
the treasury should assist the bankers
OF this section owing to the new devei-
opments taking place in the district, he
secured national repositories at Bristol,
Abingdon, Marion, Norton and Taze-
we'll.
He managed to secure almost double
the average allotment of seeds for the
district, it being his desire to accomo-
date the entire people. This may be
small matter but it shows his attention
to the needs of the farmers, of whom he
was one. He secured the establish
ment of a federal court at Big Stone
Gap over a vigorous opposition, and
thus saved to the government as we'll as
to litigants thousands of dollars in
money and much time and trouble.
I'm addition to this my father was re-
fierce for the whole state of Virginia
and passed upon every presidential ap-
pointment in the state. When one re-
members that a congressman is called
upon to fix every rural free delivery
route in the district, the establishment
or change in name of every postoffice,
the establishment or discontinuance of
every star route, many applications for
increase in pension or securing new posi-
tions for those soldiers who had served
their country well, is called upon for
information in regard to governmental
service or any other governmental
matter, he must conclude that if a con-
gresham does his duty he is one of the
busiest men in the world, which is a
fact. My father during his short SER
vice in congress did all that he could,
and how we'll he executed the trust i'm
posed on him by the people of this great
district, is most eloquently attested by
his three successive elections to con-
gress over able and honorable oppon-
ents.
But this is not ALL Realizing that
government service is always honorable
and often lucrative, my father made
every effort to secure promotion for his
constituents. By his personal influence
he secured the following appointments:
Consul general to Guatemala, a posi-
tion involving diplomatic as we'll as con-
sular duties. Salary $1,000 per annum.
Collector of internal revenue. Salary,
81, 500.
Revenue agent of accounts. Salary,
So, 600
Assistant United States attorney,
Salary, $1,000 and expenses.
Deputy U. S. marshal. Salary,
81, 600.
Rural free delivery Inspector. Sal
ary, $1,5O0.
Chief deputy collector. Salary, $2,-
600.
Two special agents. Salary, 81, 200
each.
One pension examiner promoted.
Salary, 81, 200.
One deputy collector. Salary, s., 400.
Three deputy collectors. Salary, ST.
600 each and expenses.
Three Office deputies. Salaries, rang
ing from 5000 to 81, 200 per annum each.
Two general storekeepers and gaug-
ers. Salary 81 per day and expenses.
About forty minor positions, paying
from So to 81 per day, limited to $500 per
annum.
"And there is no county in the district
but has been honored by some one or
more of these appointments.
Personally feel sense of humility
and unworthiness in undertaking to fol-
low up his splendid work.
ANENT TEMPERANCE QUESTION.