The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1908-10-29

relief OF settlers on the public domain.
1t may be interesting to learn that
Mr. Steenerson secured the enactment
at the last session of congress of no
less than twenty-four bills Of special
nature, as follows: 12 pension bills,
2 drainage bills, 2 bridge and 1 dam
bills, 2 public buildings, 1 making st.
Vincent port of entry for the imme-
diate transportation of merchandise,
and granting relief to settlers on the
public lands.
The work of representative does
not end with matters of legislation,
however. He is constantly called upop
to aid in the administration of the
law through the different executive
departments. The establishment Of
new rural and star routes, the expedit-
ing OF the service thereon, the i'm
provement or change in railway mail
service; the appointment of postmas-
ters; the remedying of grievances of
men in the civil service of the gov
ernment; the adjustment of claims
against the government for mail con
tractors, survey contracts and like
claims. The allowance of pension
claims of old soldiers and their
widows, and customs claims, the aid
ing of persons whose relatives have
Oeen excluded under immigration laws,
securing of government protection to
citizens abroad, obtaining passports,
the distribution of government free
publications are only a few things
that congressman has to attend to.
In fact, these services in behalf of
the people who are concerned with
the government at Washington in it's
various branches and activities are
more onerous than the legislative
duties of member of congress.
Mr.. Steenerson has given his time
and best efforts to his constituents
without regard to party affiliations
and that his services are appreciated
is evidenced by the fact that he has
just been nominated for the fourth
term without opposition.
When he was elected to congress,
there were only nine rural routes es-
tablished in the district; now there
are more than $50 with complete
county service in Otter Tail and Clay
and part of Becker county, bringing
the daily mail to every farmers home,
thereby increasing the attractiveness
and convenience of home life upon the
farm.
AS early as his first election to
congress, Mr.. Steenerson announced
as his platform and program the
same measures for the regulation of
interstate railroads and of monopolis-
tic combinations or trusts as he has
since helped to enact into law under
the administration of President Roose-
welt, and which, if elected, he will
help to perfect and make more ef-
ficient as experience has shown to be
necessary.
While in congress he has shown his
independence and has often been
counted among the insurgents" and
opposed to Speaker Cannon and he
long ago announced that he was inde-
pendent on the speakership and ia
favored such amendments to the
House rules as would limit the present
power Of the speaker without Destroy
ing the power Of majority to do busi-
ness.
Before his advent in congress, Mr..
Steenerson achieved a high place at
the bar, and was especially success
full in cases brought by him in behalf
OF laborers and employees of railroads
and other Industrial corporations to
recover damages for personal injuries
or death by reason of negligence of
the employer.
In his Barnesville speech, Sept.
28th, Mr.. Taft, who was introduced
by Mr.. Steenerson, said, II am glad
to stand up by your tall congressman
and congratulate you on having such |
a representative. He does you honor |
in Washington and looks after your
interests, as can assure you.'