Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-07-20
CONGRESSMAN GEO. NJ. BOWERS
(Charles Brooks Smith

The advantage of official experience is
demonstrated with vivid and impress
sive clearness in the case of George
! NJ. Bowers, the "baby member" of the
West Virginia delegation. Mr.. Bow
ers has been member of the House
less than two months, but in that time
he sure has done things and got start
ed good many more things, which he
hopes to bring to a successful issue be-
fore the gavel of Speaker Clark bangs
an adjournment of the presnt session.
Sixteen years in Washington as Uni
ted States Fish Commissioner was a
better schooling and more extensive
official experience with the government
al system than many congressman
have had when they appear for their
first term. But that's the Bowers
record. There is hardly a man in an
important departmental position that
Bowers doesn't know and hasn't "ac-
comodated" when he was the head of
the fisheries. AS congressman he is
going right down the list and asking
them to reciprocate, and they are do
ing it when and wherever they can.
Party lines are down.
For example, there was an old vet
eran friend of his who had been trying
to get pension increase for twelve
years In every session during that
time bill had been introduced in his
behalf and that was the beginning
and the end of it. Bowers lifted it
out of congress and sailed over o
the Pension Bureau with the claim.
Result-twenty-f hours later-old
Isaac Locke, of Thornton, went down
on the rolls at $50 month. Of course,
it was a worthy case, but-well, there
was G. M. B. and there are lot of
wires to pull at the department when
! one knows where to find them and
how to pull them.
Another sample: $4,000 for build
ing and site at Keyser and $4,000 for
site at Berkeley Springs-two propos
ed appropriations favorably passed on
by the public buildings committee of
the House-two for one congressional
district, represented by a Republican
at that. 1t isn't usually done-it isn't
really OF course, Congressman Suth-
erland Joined hands with Mr.. Bowers
in these two projects, and they agree
to split the honors. But the fact re-
mains that there are some men on
that particular committee, and not
Republicans either, who were decided
ly anxious to help the Second district
representative.
There is also the ase-two asses IN
fact-when he, Republican con-
gresham mind, recommended the APP
pointment of two postmasters, both
Republicans, and wonder of wonders,
they were duly appointed. Now this
never has been done, or if SO, West
Virginians never heard of it being
done before But Bowers did it some
how. If you don't believe it write H.
G. Duling at Gormania and c. d. Teets
at GAINESVILLE. They are on their
jobs right now.
These are just a few specimens OF
the kind of unusual stunts that George
M. Bowers has pulled off, or put over
since he has become a full-fledged
member of the House of Representa-
, tives. Other congressman are Won
dering how he does it. They don't
stop to think how many departmental
heads, senators and congressman still
/ in the service, for whom Col. Bowers
/, did '1ittle fayors" during the sixteen
wears he was the able directing head
of one of the biggest departments
connected with Uncle Sans big es-
Establishment. "Back scratching is
one of the fine arts of official Wash
ington. One who knows it travels far,
stays long while, and gets things.
/ Congressman Bowers has introduced
the following bills
To correct the military record of
John Lyons, of Martinsburg;To grant
a pension of $50 month to Isaac ID.
Caldwell, of Bayard; To correct the
military record of John d. Edwards,
of Martinsburg; To grant a pension OF
$40 month to Parry McNair,of Bruce
ton Mills; To grant pension of $50
a month to M. M. Sayres, of Keyser;
To grant pension Of $50 month to
Daniel M. Thornton, of Parsons.
JULY WEATHER BRINGS
OUT COOL FROCKS
Sports Costumes Vie for Favor With