The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-02-25
TO THE PEOPLE OF FREDER-
ICKSBURG.

Az HE IEOELE VI REDEh-
ICKSBURG.
The vote in the Senate on the nor
NAL school is full evidence how Fred
ericksburg stands in that matter
Our city on the Anal ballot in the
Senate was close second to Har-
risonburg. Notwithstanding that
Senator Keezel is chairman OF the
most important committee and a
member OF that body OF long stand
ing, led in the fight for the Valley
town with perfect organization be-
hind him; yet our city received decid-
ed consideration for the imperative
reason thatithas so many unanswer-
able arguments in its favor. Now,
the location OF this school comes up
In the House. We are in much better
position there than in the Senate, for
the reason that we have IN that body
more aggressive, fearless friends. 1t
is high time that our people should
arouse themselves. Let every man
write at once to some friend in the
House urging him to vote and use
his influence for the location OF the
normal here. Do this and do itnow.
Our people do not seem TO appreci-
ate and recognize the value OF the
normal 30 our town. In the FIRST
place, from $4,000 to $4,000 will
be expended by the State in the cree
tion and equipment of the buildings.
and every year thereafter at least
$4,000 viii be donated and ap-
priated by the State for the main
tenance OF the school. In addition.
the students and faculty it is est
mated will spend annually about
$4,000 among our people. Mer-
chants, indeed every department Of
the business life of Fredericksburg
will gain by it; so everyone is deeply
interested. No time should be lost
Awake at once to thedemands OF the
hour. Go to work. IL is not TOO
late. The House has to act. Write
Let fredericksburg be heard from in
no uncertain way. The value and
Importance OF this matter cannot be
over-estimated. Men OF Frederick
burg, business men, go to work; use
the telegraph, telephone and mails,
and do not delay. Now is the time.
In our Judgment the committee OF
the House of Representatives on in
sular affairs is going a long way
out Of it's way to expend the peoples
money iniudiciously when it recon-
mends the payment of immense sums
OF money to the officials of the Ro-
man Catholic church in the Philip
pines for damages done to church
property on the islands during the
Spanish-American war, and we COM
mend to the favorable action OF Con-
gress the report submitted by Con
gresham W. A. Jones, setting out
the views OF the minority OF the com
mittee. Mr.. Jones and his associ-
ates OF the minority strenuously op-
pose the payment Of any money for
the purpose suggested at this time,
and they place their objection upon
the very strong ground that the
title to the church property referred
to is in dispute, and that payment
for damages to any one at this time
would not necessarily release the
United States government from pay
ment In the future for the same dam
age 1t is even pointed out and
clearly maintained, in our judgment
in the minority report, that these
churches were erected under the d.
rection OF the government OF Spain
upon government property. This
being true the church property went
with the purchase OF the Philippine
Ae@e*A0c w Vic Oullt7Q OldJtE. AL
any rate the ownership of the church
property is in dispute, and until such
ownership is decided by the courts,
and there has been no decision as yet.
the United States ought topaynoth-
ing. Especially is this true when
shere are thousands of dollars repre-
sented in claims, which have been al
lowed by the Court OF Claims in this
country -jsr damage done church
property during the Civil war, and
which are unpaid because Congress
cannot be induced to make an ap
propriationfor them. 1t would seem
that this is a good opportunity for
the application OF the rule that char
ity begins at home.
MARRIAGES