The Republican journal., 1915-01-28
Our Washington Letter.
Correspondence of The Journal

Oul w GSlllllSlOll LCltCI.
Correspondence of The Journal
WASHINGTON. D. c., January rs. 1915. Capt.
Sumner l. Kimball, superintendent of the life
saving service and native of Lebanon, Maine,
where he was born 80 years ago last Septem-
Der, will soon go on the retired list with many
splendid enconiums. The new Coast Guard BILL
which is soon to be law, makes adequate pro-
vision for him. When this bill was before the
House many nice things were said about Capt
Kimball For example. Representative Small
of North Carolina, Democrat. spoke of the
retirement provision in the bill with reference
to Capt. Kimball: "In order that it may be
KIN own of all that there is no partisan reason
for my favoring Mr.. Kimbals retirement ex-
cept upon merit, will state to the gentlemen
who do not know it that he is native of the
State of Maine, and have always understood
that in sympathy he was Republican. Mr.
Kimball deserves well of his country" added
Mr.. Small. "He was at the head of the Life
Saving Service at its inception. As man he
has Qualities which make for genuine man.
hood, in character, in sincere devotion to duty,
in loyalty to the government which he repre-
sents, and in fostering the service at the head
of which he has been general superintendent,
he is model of civic virtue. He is now more
than so years old, and in the course of nature
this retirement fund cannot be enjoyed by him
for many years. Whatever the Life Saving
Service is today, the pride of our country and
the pride of the world in the saving of life
and property, is due to the genius and conse
Grafton to duty of Sumner Kimball. In adopt
ing this section" said Representative Small to
the House. sit will demonstrate that at least in
this instance one Republic is not ungrateful."
This appeal in Mr. kimball's behalf resulted IN
the overwhelming defeat of an amendment
to curtail retirement provisions for him.
Capt Kimball is one of the oldest employees
in the Treasury Department and has held many
positions there. He was a member of the
Maine legislature in 1859 and has been chief
officer of the Life Saving Service since 1878.
This has been very dull news winter at
Washington, but Maine people appear to be
following transactions at the national capital
Senator Burleigh SO infers from the stacks of
daily mail that come to him from his consttu-
ents back in the home State. These bring a
variety of matters and he devotes lot of his
time to looking after these interests of Maine
people, as he has always done since he entered
public life at Washington.
Recently a request was made of him in be-
half of Albert j. johnson of Belfast, Maine,
private in the Marine Corps, who is now sta
toned at the barracks at Bremerton Washing
ton State. johnson has business opportunity
in Cuba that he wishes to accept. The Navy
authorities grant requests for the discharge of
enlisted men reluctantly and Senator Burleigh
found obstacles in the way of his request in
behalf of johnson. However. the mans record
was good and Senator Burleigh ultimately OBJ
tanned the Departments assent.
Senator Burleigh has recently been doing a
lot of work on the Claims Committee of the
Senate. One can probably do more work on
this committee than on any other of the Sem
ate, if he wishes to perform his duty consci-
entiously. There are thousands of pending
claims before this committee, some of which
are meritorious and some of which are decid-
eddy otherwise. Senate Burleigh has just re-
ported four claims bills favorably to the Senate.
The junior Maine Senator is still in receipt
of many prohibition petitions from Maine.
Within the last few days he has presented re-
quests for Constitutional amendment from
citizens of Yves tbrook, Perry. Washburn,
Weeks Mills, and other Maine towns The
Senator has also presented petition from
Frontier Loyal Orange Lodge, No. 216 of
Vanceboro, Maine, praying for the further
restriction of immigration, which was ,rdered
to lie upon the table. Senate and House have
both approved the immigration bill, which has
gone to President Wilson, where it is supposed
it will meet with veto.
The problem as to Democratic postmasters
in Maine has not been altogether solved. Every
little while some new step in the process of
getting good men and true into these places is
taken. A batch of Civil Service examinations
for February Goth has just been ordered at the
request of the Postoffice Department, These
are for the following Name postoffices paying
salaries of $500 or ever: Biddeford Pool. Cape
Cottage, Christmas Cove, Jay, Mattawamkeag.
M onhegan, WATERFORD Center and West Farm
ington.
The Civil Service Commission, which is nom
partisan, has had something of struggle with
the political authorities who camor for Demo-
or ats for the offices. The Department officials
want Democrats high up on the eligible list
and have been insisting that there should be an
eligible list OF two or three at each vacant
fourth class postoffice where the salary is
more than $500 year, because then it would