The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-07-24
THE DEPARTMENT or IMPROVEMENTS

THE DEPARTMENTO or IMPROVEMENTS
II rle exnendit,ras spr tho Department Of Inn
uroyementu for The pasi eighteen months OF u;
Burtes PA Say ire es7s 7ns e Isl o.
The expendtures Of the bureaus represented
IN that department for eighteen months nnuef
previous administrations were as 'o1ows'
1860 TO 1869 81 36s soo 10
iss0 10 1874 ..................... 3.o16.hAl ~
An average difference in favor OF Bnrke's nj
mjnistration against lH6 ~ ~ No1.'si ~
is7O-7t. of VI 49,, 7ss n In eaei eighteen mouths
IN. O. Pieayune.
In this era OF reform, when every one
In private and political iife Is crying
aloud for IL reformation of the abuses
which have become chronic, through
long tolerance, everything that has
about II q flavor OF economy and re-
trenchment Possesses peculiar inter
eat. and for that reason we call special
attention to the above statement from
the Picavttae, which is no doubt taken
from the official records. ttt
We have often wondered why the De-
partment OF improvements has been so
persistently and even venomously
singled out by certain journals and
noisy ward politicians for the outpour-
ing of their violent abuse. We have
watched with some interest the career
OF the present head of that department.
Major Il. A. Burke, because we rcmem-
Der that in 1874, at the Baton Rouge
Convention, strenuous efforts were made
by certain politicians 10 create the
impression that that gentleman med
itated some foul design upon
the Democratic party. We could find
no evidence OF the truth Of this insinua-
ton, nor has any been offered, but the
charge was persisted in and has con-
tinued to this day the burden Of many
a mournful song OF ward chieftains,
whose prodigious talents and patriotic
longing to serve the State or city have
met with no appreciation from their
fellow-citizens. h.H@6t a1.4&
Major Burke is man OF eNtraor-
binary energy, efficiency and admin
istrative capacity. BY his nomina-
ton and election as Administra-
Tor OF Public Improvements he Was
received into full fellowship with the
Democratic Conservative party OF
Louisiana, and il Is not too much to say
that, as a member OF the State Central
Committee, by his zeal and untiring
energy, he did more than any one man
in the State to achieve the victory
which crowned the efforts Of the party
at the ballot-box in November, 1874.
Such is his undeniable record as party
man.
81 a ~ ali
economical and efficient management OF
hts department cannot successfully be
attacked by the most malevolent OF his
critics. He has frequently been as
sailed in the public prints, but on every
such occasion he has promptly come
forward, and, with the official records Of
his department, silenced the malignity
and exposed the ignorance OF his assail
ants 91 %@ v43 "t'i
Major Burke never whines and com
plains at the injustice and misrepresen
tation to which he Is so often subjected
Conscious Of his capacity and ambitious
OF discharging the duties imposed upor
him with satisfaction to his constitu
ents. he pursues the even tenor OF his
way and truststo time and the subsi
denceo of factional hostility for complete
vindication from unjust charges. w
do not know how much Of the Democra
nor how much of the Conservative there
may be In his political composition; bu
we do know that for efficiency, energ,
and administrative capacity he has M
superior in public life in this State, ant
we hope that at this juncture, wheel
strict party ties are beginning to yiel'
somewhat to the universal demand 10
reform and retrenchment, simple justc
will be done to man who has beef
made the target Of most unmercifu
abuse, and for whom our personal sym
pathies are aroused by the fact that Ia
has recently been Frustrated by sun
stroke while in the discharge of hi
duties.