The Somerset reporter., 1902-06-19
Our Washington Letter


Washington, D. e, June i The
rousing denomination, which Congress
man Burleigh received at the hands Of
the Third District Republicans last week
at WaterylIe, caused much qualification
here. The news OF the enthusiasm that
prevailed aid the loyal utterances Of
the platform towards President Roose-
welt and tn administration was printed
IN the local papers # this City. Gov
Burleigh was congratulated by the lead
ers OF the House at receiving so desery-
ing tribute.
Although the Third District Repre-
sentative has been here only five years
comparatively brief time for a member
to gain distinction, he is already recog.
nized as one Of the strongest and
staunchest men on the Republican side.
Tie is consulted by the leaders upon
nearly all important questions of policy
in the House and his advice needed
When he came here Gov. Burleigh was
known as one of the most careful and
thorough political workers in all New
England and he has enhanced that repu.
tation, by entirely honorable methods.
since he has been in Congress There
! is not a more diligent man from the
entire union, for he is on the 60 all the
time, when his presence is not actually
required in the House, looking after the
interests in different capacities of numer-
GUS constituents. And what is more.
although he works quietly and without
the blowing of any trumpets, he generally
gets something pretty near like what he
/ goes after.
The Post Office Department has begun
to announce rural free delivery routes
to be established on Aug. l. Gov. Bur-
leigh secured an additional route last
week for Oakland and he has recently
taken up with the Department the pros
poets of having sufficient approp riations
for some more routes in Somerset county.
There are several petitions pending but
one of the difficulties is to get early re-
ports thereon from special agents in
charge of the work These special
agents are crowded with work and are
not able to keep up with the petitions
which are constantly pouring in from
Maine. Residents of Athens, Fairfield,
Harmony and other Somerset towns are
clamorng for more of the rural free
delivery service but the facilities of the
Department are now taxed to the utmost
to inspect the routes and decide upon
the feasibility of establishing them.
Senator Hale and Gov. Burleigh were
responsible for getting secretary of the
treasury, Mr.. Shaw, to Portland last
week, to enlyen the Maine Republicans
in the State convention. Both are wide
awake to the desirability of getting the
full Republican vote out this fall and
they are leaving nothing undone to Sc
cure prominent list of speakers to &c
up and down the State this fall and
arouse the voters to the importance OF
the campaign in Maine. Every vote will
have its influence, as the rest of the
country is looking for the verdict as a
sign of what can be expected from other
states. The senator and representative
started out together several mornings
before the convention met at Portland
They had an errand up at the White
House and after a private consultation
with the President, they walked over
through the White House grounds into
the cool treasury Department, where {
swift elevator took them up to the sec
retary's office. TIE doors flew open al
they appeared and they were ushereC
forthwith into the secretary's presence
The invitation was extended, the secre
tary was given to understand how much
the Maine people wanted to see him
and he forthwith yielded. During the
campaign Gov. Burleiga will see to il
that few speeches by prominent Repub
licans are made in Somerset county
probably one or two in Skowhegan He
already has in mind some well known
members of the house, that Somerset
audiences would like to hear. Not al
of them are able to give definite answers
yet, because the length of the session OF
Congress remains very uncertain anC
many men have business to attend to, al
soon as they are able to get away from
here. The names will be made known
however, within short time.
The anglers up Somerset way have
reason to be very joyful over the large
assignments of United States Commits
sion fishes that went into that county
tins year The assignments thus far
have been chiefly brook trout fry, a
great many thousands of which have
gone to the county for lakes and streams
above Skowhegan. These assignments
aggregate more than have gone into all
the other three counties of the third
district put together, Congressman Bur
leigh has it in mind to send still more
fish up that way, as soon as n supply Is
available at the fish commission.
Representative Roberts of Chelsea
Mass, the East Madison native, is very
anxious to get away from the hot weather
of Washington. He would like this
summer to visit some of his old baunts
along the upper Kennebec. His family
has gone to St. Adams. Vt, where Mrs.
Roberts has relatives, she being native
of the Green Mountain state. Mr.. Rob
ert's campaign does not begin till early
in October, as the nominating conven-
lions in Massachusetts, are not generally
held till late in September He is as
sured of denomination for third term,
being now in the midst of his second
term.
The Society of the Sons and Daugh-
ters of Maine here, which includes
several former residents of Somerset,
has adjourned for the summer and will
not resume its meetings till October.
For quite portion of the Maine people
here these meetings are very enjoyable,
as they afford literary and musical enter
/ tainment interspersed with reminiscent
ces of life in Maine at the bimonthly
| gatherings. The pilgrmages of Maine