St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-06-03
Mr.. Haskins' Work in Congress.


A man is known by what he accom-
plshes and this time seems fitting one
to summarize some of the things that
Mr.. Haskins has done since he became a
member of Congress. When bills have
been pending for years it requires work
and good fellowship with the members
to secure legislation and his record is
certainly creditable one.
The general deficiency bill reported and
passed at the LIST Session OF the 57th
Congress, carried an appropriation in
favor of the State of Vermont of $780,
453 Sc, due the state by the Treasury
for the War Department for military
supplies furnished during the civil war,
The payment of this sum was held up
by the Treasury Department upon the
ground that the State Of Vermont was
owing the federal government for
ordnance and ordnance stores furnished
the state and subsequently, sold and not
accounted for to the general govern
ment. During the 2nd session OF the
5Sth Congress Senator Proctor secured
the passage of bill through the Senate
providing for the payment of the atore-
said sum, or such part thereof as 1t
might be entitled to. When this bill
came over to the House, it was reported
upon by Congressman Haskins and was
bv him engineered through and its pas
sage secured. This bill secured TO the
state the last installment which was
paid to the state by the general govern.
ment and has now become part OF the
| State School funds
During the same session he secured the
passage OF bill providing an appropria.
! ton OF S25, 900 To complete the Gus
toms house and post Office at Newport
and introduced and secured a bill
authorizing the Judge of the United
States court TO adjourn any regular
term of court to Newport, and drafted
the report of the committee on judiciary
at its request.
During the 2nd session of the 59th
Congress, Congressman Haskins wrote
an exhaustive report upon the bill which
had been referred to the committee or
agriculture to enable the secretary O
agriculture to establish and maintain
quarantine districts and to regulate the
movement of the cattle and other live
stock therefrom. When he undertook tc
get the bill up for its consideration ii
the House under the unanimous consent
rule it was objected to. The President
was strongly in favor Of the passage o
the measure and to that end he sent {
special message to congress, calling theii
attention to the necessity for the enact
ment OF the bill into law and in said mes
sage he referred Congress to the repor
before mentioned in these words: 9TH,
bill referred to in this message is accom-
panied by an able report which points
out the necessity. from legal standpoint
for the enactment of this legislation.
tear if no remedial legislation be granted
at this session that it may be impossible
to continue to enforce the necessary
measures for controlling this class o
diseases, and that serious, widespread
and irreparable injury will be caused tC
the live stock interest of the UniteC
States. |, therefore, put in an earnes
plea for early action in this matter anC
commend your favorable consideration
of the bill proposed by the Committee OF
Agriculture referred TO in this message
At a subsequent period Mr.. Haskin
moved that the rules of the House b.
suspended and the bill put upon its pas
sage, which motion prevailed. The Sen
ate subsequently concurred and the bill
became law.
Congressman Haskins wrote at leas
two of the provisions of the oleomarga
rine bill, which passed the 57th Con
gress, and has done more than anything
else toward increasing the price of but
ter and the profits made by the dairy
men of the country.
He also took prominent part in for
mulating the law which has proven 81
effective requiring the inspection OF tn
meat packing houses of the country ant
nsuring the wholesomeness of the mea
product consumed not only here at hom
but exported to foreign countries. Thi
is the measure wherein the President anC
Congressman Haskins disagreed as t
, certain of its details, but the bill is ia
more drastic in its provisions than tn
one favored by the President and it ha
turned out to be most effective
He has taken prominent part in TIL
preparation of every appropriation bill
reported by the committee on agricul
ture since he has been member of Con
gress. each one carrying many millions
, of dollars for the benefit of the farmer,
J of the country. To say nothing of tn,
large number of pension bills which h,