Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-02-27
Maine Post Offices Which
Nobody Wants.
Prominent Maine Men who Are
Now in Washington.
Congressman AIexander's Important Con.
tribution 10 Political History.

WI, i|' ~, ISo. \oPS0
ciaD.-It is not often that pOstmas-
tership goes begging, even in Maine
Recently, however, there have been
two instances in widely different parts
of the State. "Bilr' Sewall of Island
Falls. now collector of customs at
Houlton, ArOOstook county, was here
only a few days ago, asking that he be
relieved of the postmastership in his
home town. There had been consider
able difficulty to find a townsman at
Island Falls who would take the office,
although the compensation for per-
forming the duties there amount to
something like 5000 year.
Representative Burleigh has lately
had another case, that of Postmaster
Levi Richmond at Winthrop Center.
That office Ivy no means pays as mucr,
as the office at Island Falls, the COM
pensatiOn ranging along between $3.50
and 5000. AS soon as Representative
Burleigh learned that Mr.. Richmond
wanted to quit the Office he asked the
postmaster to look around and aScer-
tain whether any good reliable citizen
there would like to be his successor. 81
have talked with several people here"
Mr.. Richmond wrote the other day.
"but fail to learn of anyone wanting
the position as postmaster, though
some seem anxious to continue an office
here"
Mr.. Richmond's health does not war;
rant him in continuing in Office and he
has asked Representative Burleigh to
relieve him surely by April 1 next. In
reply to this request Gov. BurleiSh has
| y cl<p6 the nnSfnfiirP 6an9 rtmpnf TO
cept the resignation of Mr.. Richmond
to take effect April 1 next. 1t is not
likely that he will have any successor.
Gov. Burleigh has recommended to
First Assistant Postmaster General
Hitchcock that the Office at Winthrop
Center be discontinued.
The members of the Maine delega-
ton refuse to believe that positions in
Maine. as postmaster. are becoming
undesirable. 1t is known that even now
a very warm fight is occasionally made
for certain of these little Offices But
with the Republican good times, when
nearly everybody is earning good
money and plenty of it. the desirability
of postmasterships is not what it once
was. Again the rural delivery of mail
has made many small postoffices less
desirable berths for traders and store
keepers, because people are not COM
ing to town now for their letters and
papers the way they used to come.
Col. F. NJ. Higgins of Maine, has
been visiting in Washington this week.
The divorce congress, to which he was
A delegate, was also attended by At
torney General Hamlin and by Charles
F. Libby of Portland. Mr.. Libby gen.
orally comes to Washington every win
ter where he invariably receives a
warm greeting from the Maine cOntin-
gent.
Prof. Z. +. Hitchings of Watervile.
Me-. who has been here in connection
with the hearings before the House
committee on agriculture on a pro-
posed appropriation for the eXtcrmna-
ton of gypsy moths in New England,
met many of the Maine people about
the Capitol. Representative Burlcigh
made an appointment at the White
House for him and took Prof. Hitch
ings there to see the President. The in
terview was Il very pleasant one.
When the pure food bill was under
discussion in the Senate recently Mr..
Hale took occasion to inquire of Mr..
Hepburn about the preservation of
Goldfish and other food products. 81
have received 4 letter from a valued
constituent of mine." said Senator
Hale. "who asked what objection there
could be to an amendment, which had
been drafted by DR.. Wiley, allowing
personalities to be used when these
personalities could be removed me-
chemically or by maceration i'll water
|
| ultimately adopted and will undoubt-
edly be in the law as it finally goes up
on the statute books.
Senator Hale also took a lively inter-
est in the pure food bill to prevent the
adoption of sweeping provisions which
would do injustice to legitimate indus
| tries. 1t was, i'll fact, at his sugges-
ton that the agreement for a final
vote upon the bill was made. 1t has
been before the Senate for years, but
practically all of the bills heretofore
have been of so radical nature that
they could not command majority of
votes. AS soon as good bill was
whipped into shape both the Maine
senators favored its passage.
Representative d. S. Alexander of
Buffalo, who is well known to the
Bowdoin men in Maine, is just bring
ing out two volumes on political His
tory of New York state.' He is very
loyal Maine man and was a close
friend of the late Speaker Reed. Being
an intimate friend of the late Presi-
dent Harrison by reason of his long
residence some years ago in Indiana,
Mr.. Alexander had part in the nota-
BILE fight over the appointment of Reed
and Harrison. Whether in Maine. In
diana or New York, Mr.. Alexander has
always taken keen interest in politics
and has been a careful student of men
and events. His political history is de-
CONTINUED on Page Five.)