The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1878-09-14

not contemplate entering into de-
tails which are sufficiently familiar
to those who watched Major Burke's
course as Administrator of Improve
ments. 1t can he said without fear
of contradiction that whilst his adj
ministration showed a vast retrench-
ment on the amount spent in pre'i-
Gus wears, there were more labOrers
employed and more work actually
done than at any time under the bu-
reau system. The difference was
that Burke only gave. the public
money for honest work, and exacted
full consideration for every DIS
bursement. His gross expenditures
as shown by the official accounts at
the City Hall were;
For 1875 S34l ,OoS
For 1876. 405, $50
Making the outlay during the first
eighteen months of his administra-
ton, tO-wit: From January l, 1873,
to july !. 1876, S576,758 81. In
connection with which attention is
called to the expenditures under
previous administrations for cor
responding period of time.
The expenditures of the bureaus
represented in the Department ut
improvements for each eighteen
months under previous adminlstra-
tons were rs follows:
1867; to 1868. ...-.-.$l 1863, 500 %
1870 to 1874 1875 o4l %
an average difference in favor of
Burke's administration against
1866 to 1869 of. ......---S1o6,I4l 80
1870 to 1874 of. -.--.l Az, oo2 ~
in each eighteen months.
Rather a brilliant showing for Ma
jor Burke when one considers the
notorious fact that this vast re-
trenchment represented an equally
great increase Of actual, visible work
and reparatiou upon the public
property.
Major Burke retired ut the end of
his term without one single enpport-
ed complaint of misnIauaGement,
neglect o. extravaganza in The dis
charge of his duty having been made
against him. 1t was universally
, conceded that his conduct of the
, Bureau had been model of accu-
, racy. ECONOMY and efficiency; that
the city had expended less money
and obtained greater results than
under any preceding administration
: He has every right to be pIoud o
, the name he made, and is justified
! in pointing to it as an eloquent in
dorsement of his claim to pOpula
2 support.
1t is hardly necessary to say tina
. a man who had developed such tire
\ mendous executive ability, and wh'
4 throughout two proceeding cam
paigns had sustained the burden o
i, organizing and conducting the prac
E teal programme of the party, wa
found in the thickest of the struggl
r of 1876. Burke was never one t
: figure upon the stump and turl
. graceful periods to the plaudits q
enthusiastic crowds. His was tn
n hard and homely work-far NOR
n necessary, far none effectual, ou
4 never consnicuous; and upon him b.
tacit consent devolved the manage
Il ment of the executive department q
: the campaign. That he discharge.
IS this trust with all his CHARACTERISED
Y fidelity and ability, and that he wa
n recognized as pre-eminently fitted t
n speak as to every detail Of the can
. yass and election, was fully demon
> strated by the fact that Governo
! Nichols chose him to represent tn
~ Democratic interests in Washinsto
!, during the eventful February, 1871
J. The record of his performance l
n that capacity has been so recent
,r laid before the country that It
m wholly unnecessary to go over I'll
r. ground again. The correspondent
j. which he submitted in evidence On
,. fore the Potter subcommittee d,
n ring its recent sittingin New Orleal
=. shows that he was regarded as Il
IN genuine representative Of LoulsiaI
M in the negotiation, the man mo
il fitted to speak for and to be treatt
M with on behalf of the Democrat
of marty of the State. Burke has bee
m content to hold his peace while otlie
o. were alluded to as prime movers
r. the events of that time, yet he OF
of them is chiefly entitled to io'
al back upon the episode with the 7
~ tiection-''all of which | saw; mu
N. of which WAS"
rs And now, as the Legitimate culm
m nation of this brilliant and honor,
Al. Bile record, Major Burke is before q
H., people as the regular nominee ct c
FRA Democratic party for State Treas
NM rer. He received the nominatl'
ms after contest of unparalleled stu
~ borness and against two Of the me
"a formidable rivals that any man co,'
w. encounter in Louisiana cenventit
'at His success was tribute to his COZ
~. uess, self control, sagacity, ana
49,, the absolute confidence and fidell
nv of his supporters. All that is ask
~ for him is that his claims may
h. fairly and dispassionately consider