Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-30
CAPITAL CHAT.
The Change in the Governor
ship Of Hawaii.
More Pay in Prospect for Maine's
Rural NAL Carriers.
Progress of Names Civil War Claim
Of $t31,51S.

Washington, Jan. 29.-1SpeciaD.--
governor of Hawaii. which the press
dispatches have heraIded over the
country. has more than passing inter-
est for the Kennebec valley. for his
father and mother lived in the town of
Skowhegan many years ago and the
father was, at one time, principal of
Bloomfield academy, since merged
with the Skowhegan High school,
They left Maine for Hawaii to follow
the calling of Christian missionaries
and in Maine as in Hawaii are to this
day of revered memory.
President Roosevelt refused to APP
point Harold SewalI of Bath as gov
ernor of Hawaii. although he was an
active candidate and although the
President knew him at Harvard col
| lege. This decision was reached at
the White House before Mr.. Sewall
was told by his family physician that
Mrs. Sewall's health would never per-
nit of her going to Honolulu again to
reside. AS soon as Mr.. Sewall re-
ceived this information he Immediately
wrote to President Roosevelt with
drawing his name, but the Presidents
decision had been made before that time.
There is undoubtedly TO be great
overturning of affairs in Hawaii and
TO no city in the country, except II BE-
San Francisco, VIII they be followed
with keener interest than in Augusta
That city has furnished two ministers
to these islands Of the Mid-Pacific be-
fore they We're annexed. One of them
was Hon. Luther Severance of Au-
gusta, several years a member of Con-
gress and one of the seven men who
voted against appropriations for the
Mexican War, and the other the late
Hon. John l.. Stevens.
Maine and massachusetts, men have
long predomnated in the affairs of the
island and with the elevation of Col.
Sam Parker to be governor there will
still be a representative of New Eng
land families at the head. Col. Parker,
while a Hawaiian of the characteristic
copper colored complexion. is the
grandson Of Il Massachusetts man.
Gov. Burleigh has been notified by
the poStoffice, department that an eff
fort will be made 10 serve Mr.. Ezra
Bates with the rural free delivery Of
nail Mr.. Bates recently wrote him
asking that the facilities be extended
to him. A route inspector will soon
visit Augusta and Gov. Burleigh's re
quest in behalf of Mr.. Bates has been
referred to nm for investigation.
The vote in the House last week in
creasing the deficiency appropriation
for rural free delivery to over 100000
and making the maximum salary OF
rural carriers $500 annually will un-
doubtedly rebound to the benefit OF
many, carriers in Maine. There are
&
of whom must keep two horses 10
uroperly Serve the large number of
people living along their routes. Then
the fact that the routes in Maine are
often through billy country, where the
progress is necessarily somewhat slow.
especially in spring and winter. make
the compensation no more than just
A salary of $500 is hardly 81 day for
man with q horse.
Furthermore the increased appropri
alton will enable the postofficc depart
ment to put on more of these routes
at an early day and therein Maine will
also benefit. for her four representa-
tives are looking closely for more Of
these favors to their constituents. The
special agents will be kept busy in the
State. mapping out proposed new
routes and the department will be
urged to establish them at as early a
day as possible.
The first Maine pension bill to so
to President Roosevelt for signature
will be that of Esther +. Moody. 1t
passed the Senate some time ago and
was approved by the House last week.
As soon as the necessary prelimnaries
of engrossing and signing by Speaker
Henderson and President PROTEIN
Frye have been completed. the act will
be sent up to the President. Mrs.
Moody is the widow of Convcrs Moody.
who was a private in Co G.. Of the
Sixteenth Maine Regiment Of Volun-
teers.
letter received here from New
York. where John PIERCE is located.
states that the controversy between
the Mount Waldo Granite Co. and
Henry Smith & Sons of Maryland. for
the contract for granite for the new
Custom House at Baltimore has been.
n