The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1903-12-17
Letter from WASHINGTON.
Gov. Burleigh's Work at the Pension Blu
reau. His Committee Assignments. TIL
Life Saving Service.

Gov. Burleigh's Work at the Pension Bu-
reau His Committee Assignments. The
Life Saving Service.
Especial Correspondence of The Journal.]
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. I. For
the first time since the last session of
the Fifty-seventh Congress adjourned
last March, the legislative branches are
now in full swing, with all their COM
mittees appointed and equipped to
transact any business that the consti-
tuition authorizes. There was some
lack of spirit in the extra session, just
come to a close, because it was called
to pass only one bill and it is seldom
that any one bill which gets before
Congress stimulates the interest of all
the members and senators. Now in
over one hundred committee rooms of
Senate and House the consideration of
bills will be actively begun, although
most Of the meetings this week will be
for organization and for appointment
of subcommittee.
This is not, however, to be session
of much hard work so far as direct leg
islation is concerned. The word has
gone forth that only appropriation bills
shall be enacted, counting important
legislation. The holiday season of two
weeks, which Congress always scrupu-
lousy observes, is approaching. The
House is not planning to do much until
January and the new year are ushered
in. An appropriation bill or two will
be enacted, but all of this week will be
required for the committees to get
down to work and prepare something
that the House can act upon.
Of greater interest apparently than
any doings on Capitol hill are the per
sonalities of men whose names are
now linked with the presidency MI
Roosevelt's nomination is a foregone
conclusion, but there is still lot OF II
responsible talk about the nomination
of Senator Hanna. AS the Ohloan
goes and comes around the city there
is always craning of necks to see him.
If he alights from his barouche at the
Senate porte cochere and hobbies into
the building, his ready cane always IN
hand, the tourists and sightseers draw
near to get view of the real, live man.
Then there is Senator German, one OF
the Democratic probabilities, who Is
yery popular with members and sena-
tors of both parties; man OF smooth
shaven, kindly face, whose movements
to and fro likewise excite the interest
of the passing throng. He is power
full man in legislation and the visitors
in the Senate galleries sit and study
him by the hour However, the Demo-
cratic standard will probably be placed
in other hands, as Senator German IS
himself well aware.
Quite share of Gov Burleigh's time
the last week before the assembling OF
the regular session was put in at the
mammoth brick building on Judiciary
Square, where the pension office Is
located. He has on his books the
names of a very large number of Maine
veterans of the Civil War, who have
pension cases at the bureau awaiting
the final decision of the authorities.
There are long delays usually i'll having
these claims for pensions, or for IN
creased allowances, adjusted. y Con-
gresham, who scans the papers care
fully is often able to suggest to ms
constituents how their claims can De
expedited. That is the work Gov. Bur
leigh has been doing for several days.
He had big batch of letters from
these veteran constituents, and with
their individual statement OF the cases
was able to make suggestions in most
of the cases which are calculated to
hasten the day when the claimants Will
be put on the rolls for increased pen
siOnS.
Representatives Burleigh and Little
field. the latter of the second Name
district, have been taking initial steps
here towards securing extensive I'M
provements to the Kennebec River be-
tween Augusta and Bath, which it is
hoped will prove more or less beneficial
in the future to all traffic up and down
the Kennebec valley. There are five
shoal places in the river which should
be deepened. The two congressman
took trip down the river last autumn,
during which they gathered consider
able information to be presented TO
the authorities in Congress and at the
War Department, as the work OF that
character is largely under the surveli-
lance of army engineers.
1t was only couple Of sessions ago
that Gov. Burleigh secured an appro-
priation of $1,000 for improving the
Kennebec between Augusta and Gardl-
ner. He has been pretty successful III
securing such appropriations from the
House, and senator Hale has cooper