Daily Kennebec journal., 1912-05-20
Rural Free Delivery Service.

earliest ana most active supporters of
| the Rural Free Delivery service. He
was one of the most active men in
| Congress in securing the benefits of
| this service for his constituents, with
| the result that no district in the eoun-
| try Is better covered with these routes
than the Third District of Maine. He
has received many hundreds of letters
| from. the people who live along these
routes-both Republicans and Demo-
crats-expressing their personal appre-
citation of his prompt and efficient work
| in looking after their interests in this
direction.
Advocated Parcels Post System.
Governor Burleigh has always been a
| firm believer in the parcels post
Though the matter was before another
committee, he took occasion during his
last term of service, to personally urge
upon it's chairman the desirability of
early and favorable action in this i'm
portant matter
interests of Union Veterans.
Mr.. Burleigh has been an indefatiga-
BILE worker in looking after the inter-
| ests of the Union veterans, of whom he
has d large number in his district.
More than 5000 of them Qncluding wild
ows of veterans)-both Republicans
and Democrats-will bear testimony to
| his good work i'm this direction. At the
very beginning of his work in Congress
| he started a set of record books upon
which every case was entered as it
came to him. Upon these books are
recorded all the facts relating to each
case-inciuding copies of the communi-
cations relating to 1t received from the
Pension Department. When we consid-
| er the fact that these cases and the
communications relating to them run
| into the many thousands the enormous
amount of work involved will at once
| be appreciated. Mr.. Burleigh felt that
only by keeping such a complete and
systematic record of this great work
could he hope to accomplish the best
possible results in handling it. The
fact that he has been able since he has
been a member of Congress to assist in
| the adjustment of more than 1000 of
these cases is the best possible proof
of the soundness of this Judgment. In
addition to these cases, Governor Bur-
leigh has introduced nearly $50 special
pension and relief bills in cases which
could not be reached under the general
law. and has secured favorable action
in considerable proportion of them.
Fish from Government Ratcheries.
Stree he has been in Congress Mr..
Burleigh has secured fish from the gov
ernment hatcheries for important wa
ters in all the counties in his district.
1t Is matter of record that he has in
every instance been able to meet all
the requests of this character from his
district, and not once has any applica-
ton of his been rejected by the United
States Fish Commission.
His State Record.
Governor Barleigh vas no new or un-
tried man when he was sent to repre-
sent the people of his district in the
National House of Representatives He
had been tried in positions of public
trust and responsibility. and had meas
ured UP to the expectations of the peo-
pie whose confidence and esteem he
merited and won. and which he retains
today in undiminished force. He has
been all his life equal to every emer-
geney. and faithful to every trust.
During his service as treasurer of
Maine the public debt was decreased
more than 100000. and the rate of tax
alton was reduced from four mills to
two and three quarters mills upon the
dollar of the State valuation.
In 1888 he was elected Governor of
Maine by 1903 plurality over Hon.
William L. Putnam, his Democratic
competitor. He was reelected in 1890, |
when the voters were without a presi- |
DENTAL contest to stimulate them to
political activity, by the increased plu-
rality of 1889. His administration was
pre-eminently a constructive one. With |
a wonderful capacity for hard work he |
combined. in a marked degree, the ex-
ecutive faculty. His addresses to the |
Legislature were models of clearness
and strength. Press and people united |
in commencing his administration. His |
appointments were very strong, and
were always made with an eye
to the needs of the public !
service. He has been man of
action rather than words, and,
in his distinguished public career, has
left behind a record of substantial
achievement that speaks far more elo-
quently than words could possibly do.
His four years were in an eminent de-
gree constructive years in the life of
tire State government.
Praise from Newspapers of Both Par
ties.
OF his first one, the Eastern Argus.
then as how the leading Democratic
newspapc of the State, spoke as fol-
lows in its issue of Jan. 5, 1889:
Governor Burleighs address Is good,
IT discusses the usual topics In a candid
straightforward manner, advances re.
Communications with conservative eau
ton, and gives evidence throughout that
he intends to make a good Governor OF
the whole people. not of class or CLIQUE
III his presentation of the financial
condition of the treasury is slightly more
tiattering than existing facts justify, II
is an error on the hopeful side, which we
shall all be glad to see more than real
ized. The Governor evidently sympa-
thlzes with the taxpayers of the State
| the farmers particularly"
OF his second inaugural address the
Argus said:
Governor Burleighs message is
" ell-written document. 1t is a plain,
business-like review of Maine affairs,
with such comments on past legislation,
and recommendations for future legisla-
tion as seemed called for from his stand
point"
Tho messages of Governor Burleigh