The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-02-14

years an editorial writer on the staff
OF the Wheeling Register. Mr.. Hughes
received, the promises Of the major
fly party members of the West Vir-
ginia delegation in Congress to do
what they could to press his request
to a successful conclusion.
There will be no more special PEN
sion bills (Civil war cases) passed al
this session of Congress, which will
be disappointing news to a number of
West Virginians who have claims
pending, mostly for substantial in
creases in the pensions they are now
receiving. The decision was made in
the House, that, so far as the present
congress IS concerned, pension legis-
lation is definitely ended.
The objection of one member will be
able to kill off the bill in the House,
which was passed without objection
in the Senate, which provides for the
appointment of an additional Federal
Judge In the Southern district Of West
Virginia. The members Of the states
delegation fear that such an objec-
ton will be forthcoming even should
the bill be reached on the cf!en6ar be-
fore congress is compelled to adj
journ.
The members of the delegation favor
the bill for personal reason, which is
Judge B. F. Kellar himself. The large
volume of business in that district ana
Judge Kellar's i'll health are the i'm
polling arguments with them. Judge
Kellar, who has served sixteen years
on the bench, has been on the point of
resigning moro than once within the
past few years, because of the condi-
ton Of his health. But the members
Of the. bar and the public in the south
ern part of the state prevailed on him
to defer the matter, hoping that some
way could be found by which Judge
Kellar could be relieved of much of
the burden of his work and could re-
main on the bench until he had attain
ed the age of retirement. In years OF
service he has served the required
time, but he is number of years short
of being seventy years OF age, which
Is the age of retirement.
The friends of Judge Kellar say that
he has given the best Of his life to his
government, and it would be a grave
injustice to an able and loyal servant
for the government not to pass some
special act, such as the bill now in the
House, which would enable him to
enjoy the reward to which he is en-.
titled and which is one of the induce
ments held out to judges to devote
their lives to the government at far
less income than men Of such Legal
ability could earn in private practice.
Extreme deafness is the main handi-
cap under which he is working.
Expecting and hoping that the bill
will be passed and become law, there
are several lawyers and jurists in the
southern. part Of the state who have al
ready set going operations looking %
their appointment. Judge James II.
Miller. OF the Hinton circuit, has lei
his friends know that he Is an aspirant
If the additional judgeship is created,
Congressman H. G. woodward called
at the Pension Bureau today to pre-
sent and urge favorable consideration
of an application for an increased pen.
sion made by Gideon Myers, OF Eliza,
beth. IA ~
! Among the West Virginians in the
Capital are Hon. and Mrs. Thomas w.
Fleming, of Fairmont, who are at the
Willard; Mrs Izetta Jewell Brown, OF
kingwood, widow Of the late Repreber;