The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1903-03-26
Peptir0n

in the omnibus bill by him when he
and others took up the work OF franz
ing the latter measure. The story OF
the legislation, and of Gov. Burleigh's
part in it, is unusually interesting. The
increased appropriations for Calais
and Bar Harbor were secured after con-
siderable correspondence with the
Treasury Department, in which Gov.
Burleigh convinced Secretary Shaw
that the limit of $4,000 for each of the
sites was far too small. He got into
the bill for Maine those two items,
whereas other members were able to
get only four other items for their re-
spective communities. The site for
Hamilton, Ohio, was increased, as were
those at Albert Lea and Crookston,
Mimi, and one at Saratoga Springs,
n. Y. But at that fashionable resort
the increase granted was only $4,000,
whereas Bar Harbor got $4,000 increase,
or double its original allotment.
Gov. Burleigh and Chairman Mercer
of the House Committee on public
buildings and grounds took up the work
of framing the omnibus bill about a
month before the time for adjournment
of Congress. 1t was generally under
stood that the bill should carry nothing
but increased amounts for public build
ing projects that had already been be-
gun. Gov. Burleigh Immediately took
care of the Augusta, Bar Harbor and
Calais items, helped adjust the de-
mands of other members Of the House
as to items they desired on the bill,
necessarily cutting down many of the
amounts requested and in some in
stances rejecting the items altogether.
He had long had it in mind to do some
thing for Portland, where there is great
need of additional court accomoda-
lions, but was unable to do anything at
the last session of Congress because
of the projects within his own district
that he felt obliged to look out for first.
1t looked like very difficult PROPOSE
to get any new sites on the pending bill,
but Gov. Burleigh consulted with sew
eral members who desired to begin
buildings, and it was decided to hazard
an attempt to put upon the bill pro-
vision for % new sites. That was done.
portlands courthouse site was included
in the list at $4,000, which was the
largest appropriation with one excep-
ton, and that at Houston, Tex, where
not only courthouse must be pro-
vided but a pOstoflice and a custom
house, all to be under one roof; and
Houston was given only $4,000. Most
of the other p sites were for sums
ranging from $1,000 to $4,000. Then
the bill was favorably reported to the
House.
But it was right there that the OBJ
stacles began to rise up in earnest, and
Gov. Burleigh had to pull off his coat
and not only work to save the Portland
item but also to save the bill, which had
it failed would have lost all the Maine
items. Speaker Henderson was oppos-
ed TO the bill, as was "Uncle Joe" Can
non. They believed that the bill would
cause too large an expenditure of pub
lie money, particularly when we were
about to undertake the building of the
Panama Canal at the immediate cost of
about $50, DOC, 900 to the Treasury. But
Gov. Burleigh, while entirely friendly
to the Panama canal, took the ground
that it was well to do something also
for the people at home, and he and
Chairman Mercer set about another
plan, which was to have the bill passed
first by the Senate, one of the objec-
tons by Gen. Henderson and Mr.. Can
non being that the bill would be enlarg-
ed by about $50, OOO, 900 should it ever be
taken up in the Senate. The House bill
was for the time being abandoned and
the Senate Committee on public build
ings and grounds agreed to try to put it
through there. But that committee
first culled out all the provisions for
new sites and it passed the Senate, af-
ter some skillful work, without any
further amendment, then going back to
the House Committee.
While the case seemed hopeless Gov.
Burleigh had nevertheless not aban-
doned the provisions for sites. He and
Chairman Mercer went at it again, con-
WINGED the entire committee that it was
worth trying to get the sites back in the
bill, which was accordingly amended
and again presented to the House.
Speaker Henderson was still obdurate,
but there was some shrewd Vancouver
ing, because of his necessity for the SOL
i'd Republican vote of the House for a
special rule to curb the Democrats who
had begun to flibuster at the end of the
session, and being afraid that some of
the Republicans might desert him in
the vote for that rule the Speaker IT,
nally consented and the bill passed the
House, including the 20 sites and that
for Portland.
rho,o x,,os only ono f,nrthnr stage and