Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-01
CAPITAL CHAT,
Continued from Page One.)

Governor Burleigh is probably the
most influential member. To him,
therefore, Chairman Burton appealed
for help. Governor Burieigh not only
chImpioned Chairman Eurton's cause
which incidentally may result in
helping out some Maine granite quar-
ries providing it can bid as low us any
other granite quarry in the country
but he organized the fight for Mr.. Bur-
ton in the public buildings committee
1t became almost a stand up and knock
down affair i'll short order. Secretary
OF the Treasury Shaw is for sandstone
first. last aud all The time. A member
OF the public buildings committee,
Representative Conner. is fellow
toWnsnan of the secretary, and he
fought like a man who would never
give up. 1t eventually became neces-
sary to force the granite provision
through by the brute force of votes.
Ire other members OF the committee
Would not yield peacefully. When ii
came TO d show down. Governor Bur-
ielsh ned eleven men with him. for
CHAIRMAN Burton's granite construc-
tioh. and representative Conner had
three for sandstone. And granite it
VIII undoubtedly be.
Governor Bureigh thinks the omni-
bus public buildings bill is probably
dead Tor this session. He would have
preferred that the bill. on which he
spent great deal of time in the most
active winter he has ever had in WASH
in%ton, should become "A law before
March 1. However. its failure ONLY
postpones action on the projects which
he got into the bill. His success with
the Maine projects was of the most
gratifying character. He had placed
i'll the bill absolutely every Maine
project pending. Il record that 10 other
member of Congress could boast of.
The totals for each project were IA little
reduced below the estimates to be sure
bat yet We're sufficient. Portland can
build a good court house for $500 900.
the site having already been bought
and paid for. Calais and Bar Harbor
can also get Il good postoffice building.
each for $J0,0C1, as the sites for those
buildings have already been bought
and paid fer. Auburn also can get Il
good building for $4,000 If the bill
fails this session, as seems probable.
tho governor will not have to make his
fight over again at the next session.
Tic items will go in again without
question. lie worked day and night
for weeks To assure the approval of all
these items by the committee, all but
one or two OF whom have been re-
elected to the next Congress.
Governor Burleigh's determination
to clean up all Maine requests for pub
lie buildings is shown in the case Of
Bangor. One day Chairman Gi!lot
told him that Bangor did not need
$500. The supervising architects
office had reported that the money was
not needed.
''T am sure that is Incorrect" re-
sponded the governor. II will write Il
letter of inquiry to the supervising
architect of the treasury. if YOU Will
sign it. Then let me take the letter up
there in person and l viii bring Il reply
il; writing
He did so and the supervising archi-
;oct declared on paper that the money
was needed. Governor BurlciSn knew
that Governor Powers Was greatly cx-
ercised for that Bangor appropriation
and he was determined it should go
into the bill. Governor BurleiSh
brought the reply by hand to Chairman
Gillet and there was no further ques-
ton went III with the other Maine
items and without sacrificing Il dollar
in the amount of any OF them.