The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1900-09-06

say ABOUT the opposition TO Congrr-, :
ma. Edwin C. Burleigh of this distric'
growing out Of the contest for the posi
Office in the city of Gardiner. Followihk
are some clippings from other papers,
bearing on this matter, which we submit
to our readers:
An Open Letter. Disabled Veteran
Strongly Endorses Congressman Bur
leigh.
The following letter was published in
the Gardiner Reporter. journal a few
weeks ago:
In connection with the resolutions
adopted by the U. V. U. of your city,
which have seen, criticising Governor
Burleigh's action in the matter of the
appointment of the postmaster at Gardi
ner, wish to say that the old soldiers
of this district never have had and never
will have more devoted or more per
sistent friend at Washington. No man
in Congress has ever been more indus
trious in the furtherance of their inter
ests or prompter in responding to then
calls.
according to certain established rules of
procedure and evidence. No case can
be successful, however worthy it may
be, unless it is able to fulfill these de
partmental requirements. Unless they
are met, it is within the power of any
member of Congress to secure their
favorable consideration. 1t is within the
power, however, of a mem Der of Con
Trnp ffNa Il ipA 1.,td In old 81
in many ways, and all that it is in the
power of any living man TO do in
furthering the interests of his soldier
constituents has been done and is being
done by Governor Burleigh. la him the
soldiers of this district have not only a
true friend, but one who is an untiring
worker in the furtherance of their in
terests. He is prompt and efficient,
never putting off till tomorrow any
matter that should be done today, and
by his genial bearing, uniform courtesy
and straightforward methods, has made
as many friends at the pension depart
ment, where he is always welcome
visitor, as any member of Congress
Mr. Burleigh is the only man who has
ever represented this district in Con
gress who has undertaken to keep a
complete record of every pension case in
the furtherance of which his assistance
has been asked The clerical woi k
alone involved in this undertaking must
have been large drain upon the time
OF a man with 80 many and varied in
terests to look after, and yet to this
methodical way of handling such
matters, this close and constant mastery
of details, | attribute no small part of
his notable success in achieving results
for the veterans of his district.
am only one of hundreds whom he
has helped, and merely state the facts
of my personal experience to show how
close and constant has been his devotion
to the soldier interests in his district.
will introduce myself briefly to your
readers by stating that left Monmouth
for Wisconsin, in 1855, and returned in
1868. l was a member of the Name
House of Representatives from Mon
mouth in 1873 During the Rebellion
was captain of Co, H, of the 49th Wis
consin Volunteers.
In the spring of 1897, was stricken
with paralysis, since which time l have
been obliged to have the constant at
tendance of nurse, and my occupation
has been within the limits of a wheel
chair. On June IL, 1897, a few days
prior to his first election to Congress,
made an urgent appeal to Governor
Burleigh to aid me In my distress His
response was prompt and to the point.
for, two days after he wrote me that if
he had ian invitation to 90 to ASKING
TOM he would give my matter his
earnest personal attention. From that
day down to the day of final success he
pursued the case with all the energy he
possessed. AT his request, DR.. Glddings
of Gardiner, was detailed by the COM
missioner of pensions to examine me at
my home. From that time ON until my
pension was allowed, | was in constant
correspondence with Governor Burleigh
Every reasonable man knows that these
claims necessarily move very slowly at
the pension bureau, but, through the
pressing importuities of our Congress
man the case was finally decided and
was allowed the full captains pension of
$72 per month, with large amount of
back pay.
No one not similarly situated can
understand the feeling of gratitude and
relief which felt on receiving the news
from Governor Burleigh of this result.
In the following June, / received a
letter from the Congressman informing
me that, while at the bureau OF pensions,
looking over some claims, including my
own, he had become satisfied that was
clearly entitled to much larger amount
of back pay than was allowed me, and,
upon his request, made an application
to the commissioner for careful review
of the case, with the result that In the
following July was allowed over 1900
additional back pay. Doubtless this
error would have remained undiscovered
to this day, except for the careful and
intelligent inspection of all the papers
by Governor Burleigh.
In connection | desire to add that
probably more than one-half of the
claims for pensions are rejected for lack
of proof that the claimants disability
originated in the service. No claimant
can secure pension without sufficient
proof to bring the case within the laws
of Congress and the regulations of the
bureau of pensions. But with sufficient
evidence and with the Congressman rep
resenting the district where the claim
ant resides doing all in his power to
further its consideration, there is but
little doubt of success. He has the
power to take a claim out of its usual
slow course and hasten 1t on II settle
ment.
What have said relative to my own