The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-07-02
HON. j. r. WATKINS.

In this issue of the Banner we announce
Hon. John T. Watkins as candidate for
reelection to Congress from this District.
He has made faithful, active and earnest
representive, as the following excellent
record Of the leading measures advocated
by him at the last session of Congress will
show:
First-To exterminate the boil weevil,
for which an appropriation of $500, 900 was
made. Second-To eradicate the cattle
tick, for which an appropriation OF 250,OOO
was made for the Southern States. Third
He filed bill to have repaid to the persons
from whom cotton was taken by the Fede'
raj authorities, during and just after the
Civil War, the amount now in the United
States Treasury, about ten million dollars.
This bill was favorably reported, substan-
TALLY as filed, and stands over for future
action. Fourth-He filed bill to have
repaid to the people of the South the cot
ton tax which was illegally collected after
the Civil War, amounting to about sixty
seven million dollars, that part which
could not be paid to those from whom it
was collected on account of want of proper
proof, to be paid to the Confederate vet
Grams, as they were fighting for those from
whom the tax was illegally collected; but
this bill has not been acted on and stands
over. Fifth-He filed number of private
bills for individuals from whom property
was taken by the Federal troops during the
the Court of Claims for proof. Sixth-A
bill asking for an appropriation of 100000
for public building at Shreveport, which
was granted. Seventh-A bill for fish
cultural station, to cost S25, 900; favorably
reported. Eighth-Many smaller bills,
such as to regulate the salaries Of fourth
class postmasters; to extend the time for
building bridge across Red River at
Shreveport; to extend the limit Of time for
patent rights, and other bills for individ-
uals and localities in the district.
He worked earnestly to procure the re-
moval Of the tariff on wood pulp and print
paper; to prevent the passage of bill to
reduce the representation in the Southern
States; to prevent the passage of the
Aldrich currency bill; to procure notice to
shippers of a change in freight rates; to
restrict the infringement of the trusts upon
the rights of the people: to extend the
rural free delivery routes and to procure
parcels post over these rural free delivery
routes (there being more rural free delivery
routes in the Fourth Congressional District
than any other District in Louisiana); to
extend the weather forecasts over these
routes and over the telephones (this being
allowed in all cases where the mail is sent
out over the rural free delivery routes as
late as 10 o'clock a. n.y.
He opposed the proposition to build four
battleships, which would cost the Govern
ment S5O, 0OO, 900. He worked earnestly to
prevent the passage of the ship subsidy bill.
Having been appointed during the ses-
sion of Congress on the committee on the
revision of the laws; merchant marine and
fisheries and the committee on naval affairs,
he was kept quite busy with committee
work. AT the close of the session he was
appointed as one of the three members of
the House of Representatives on the board
of visitors to the Naval Academy at An
napolis.
The Gueydan bill which proposes to
eliminate the provision of the school sys-
tenn which requires the payment or rather
prepayment of one dollar as matricula-
ton fee upon entrance into the public
schools, is good measure and ought to
pass the Legislature, but as meritorious
bills generally travel with expedition the
road to the legislative charnel house, it
will probably never be heard of again. No
such pecuniary exaction should be imposed
upon entrance to the public schools. In
stead, every condition required for en-
trance should be made as free and easy as
possible, rather than onerous.-Louisiona
Demec,ut
The pecuniary exaction requiring teach
ers to pay one dollar for certificates to
teach should also be abolished.
1t is estimated that about 5000 persons
will be killed or wounded Saturday.
The wears first hale Of cotton was cold