The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1920-07-19

j years. In spite of many obstacles
he fought this bill through the com
mittee, through the House, and had
it not been for the pressure which he
brought ito bear on the Senate through
the various Spanish War organiza
tions, ii would have failed in the
Senate. 1t became law on June s
1920. And in the enactment of this
law bearing his name, he again won
a distinction which no member OF
Congress from this district had ever
achieved. The Sells Bill will bring
into this district each year more than
| 5000, 100000, not five per cent of which
will be paid by our own people.
On Roads Committee.
He became member of the Com
mittee on Roads in 1914, and is now
ranking member next to the chair
man. He helped frame the first law
ever enacted by Congress appropriat-
ing Federal money for the use of
the states in road building. Just prior
to adjournment of Congress in June,
he reported from this committee and
steered its passage through the House
a bill which saved for Tennessee
$175, 100000 for road construction.
He has introduced a bill at the re-
quest of the various State Highway
Commissions for an additional appro-
priation of $4O0, 900, ,eo0.00. He Sc
cured the adoption of resolution by
the committee just prior to adjourn
ment which pledged a favorable re-
port on this bill during the next Con-
gress. He will have charge of it both
in the committee, and in the House.
Not content with assisting in the
enactment of legislation making ap-
preparations for highway construc-
ton, he has at his own expense ap-
peared before the Tennessee State
Highway Commission from time to
time, and also before some of the
county courts, in the interest of va
rious projects affecting nearly every
county in his district. On account of
his activity more money has been al
lotted to his district for road pur-
poses than to any other in the state.
River Appropriations.
The last. River and Harbor Bill con-
tanned an appropriation of 100000
secured by him ard Taylor of The
Second Distc,ct for survey of the
Tennessee river and its tributaries in
CIDER to locate and estimate the
available power in these streams for
hydro-electrie development. No money
ever expended by the Federal govern
ment in this district will bring more
profitable results han this.
This district never had a represen-
tative in Congress who ;.aJ been a
better fir nd to the soldi,rs of all
wars than Sells, nor one who has
rendered them ouch substantial serv-
ice. Nine years ago when he entered
Co. gress the Civil War Veteran was
drawing a minimum pension of $1,000
per month. The rate is now $4,000.
Sells voted 'cr the increase, and sup
ported it in speech when the bill
came up for consideration. Hundreds
of these men have been pcn5ioned by
sro,;cl bills introduced by Sells.
No representative had ever done
anything To- the Spanish War vet
eran until Sells entered Congress. AS
long as a veteran of this war lives,
the name of Sells win be remembered
for his successful labors in their be-
half. He himself was sodier in 1898.
enlisting and serving through the war
in a private's uniform. The private
soldiers who have borne the burden
of conflict, it would seem, are en-
titled to one member of Congress to
represent them. Sells is the only
member who boosts of this distinc-
ton.
Friend to Soldiers.
Sells has been no :ess friend to
the World War soldiers and his de-
pendents. Li,ut. Reece has charged
in some Of his speeches that Sells
voted to send these boys to fight in
France, though he must know that