The Republican journal., 1890-01-02
Maine to the Front.

To TIE EDITOR OF TIE JoURNAL: A> it
has been for all the days during which the H.
publican party has been in existence, Maine
may tt Justly tf0tit Of tic pace Witch She
holds in the council halls of the nation. When
that party was born of the awakened con
science Of the people of the North to the wrong
and ruin portended by the aggressions of slav-
cry. there was heard no stronger voice in the
nited States Senate than that of Fe>senden
there was no wiser head than that of IIamlin.
and no Drawer heart in the House than that of
Israel WashbuIn. Since then the Morrills, and
Pike. and others whose names are familiar to
your readers, have kept the Maine delegation
strong and influential. And now with the adj
vent of a new Administration and Republican
House we have Mr.. Blaine at the head of the
Cabinet, Reed Speaker of the House, the see
ond most powerful position in the Govern
ment: Milliken chairman of one of the most
important and difficult As well as one of the
hardest working committees of the House;
BouteIe chairman of the nov important com
mittce, on naval affairs. Dingley on the com
mittee on ways and means, and on shipping;
while Hale and Frye bold foremost positions
in the Senate. What state in the nation with
delegation of but six members can make Il
like showing: Certainly none.
And these positions have not como to their
poS>e~s0rs by fayOrtism, but simply because
they have earned them by what they have al
ready done and the experience which their
work has given them When Maine. profiting
by the example set by the South before the
war Of the rebellion, discarded the old-fashoned
northern method of rotating frequently her
representatives, in Congress and adopted her
present policy OF retaining those who served
her faithfully and well, she at once established
her leadership IN the legislation of the country.
Inc present session begins with more indi-
cations of doing business, of giving the cuun-
Try some wholesome laws. than we have seen
for the past six years. The promptness with
which Mr.. Reed has formed his committees
and gol some of them at work as well as their
fortunate makeup, excite the hope that Repub-
lican House may be able to formulate and adopt
new rules which shall expedite instead of OBJ
! >lrnctlng legislation, as the former rules have
done: and the evident determination of the Re
House worthy of the great country which ii
represents. if possible in the face of a strong
and alert minority. are indications which give
u Just cause for hoping for something better
ihau the last six Years Of Democratic rule IN
the popular branch Of Congress has developed.
Mr. MiIlikcn ha> recently been interviewing
the chief engineer and consulting The book Of e.
Inmates relative to appropriations for river and
harhor improvements in the third congressional
1i,tii't. S150o0 are recommended for contntl-
/ ii- ml royemcnt> in the kennebec river. The
survey and plan contemplate clearing out the
river so a> to give eleven feet Of water at the
WhaiNe~ at Augusta and no less depth at any
point lower down the river. And Mr.. Mill
SENS fort will be TO get the money appropri-
ated for that purpose as fast a. it can he eco
nomiraIly and wisely used. There is now more
nav i@aton on tie kcnnebec than upon any 9th
er rive in the country east of the Hudson. 1t
Is badly ob>tructed and certainly presents a
| most meritoriou> claim for Improvement by
the government.
one hundred thousand dollar, are recon-
lnendcd to he appropriated for continuing work
I
The improvement OF Ragaducp river above Gas
tine, and an ample >um t. improve Belfast bar
Dor, something which il i most desirable Should
be done. OF course it is not pro5able that tie
entire sums recommended will he ropoIte Nv
the river and harbor committee. since it has
| hitherto pursued the vicious policy of recon-
lnendhg but half the sum which the chief Cl.-
ginecr las reported 10 be required. But the
necessary amount 10 finish the work begun
will ultimately he appropriated.
Mr. Niiken has introduced a bill to erect :.
public building At Bar lIgrbor. AMI will >ccGre
il passage if possible. lie Will Also ondrayor
/ 10 have pot office building erected in WASH
ington. The present post office here i, dis
grace TO the nation. totally unfit for the use to
winch it i pat. dirty, tumbling-down. old
block, giving no security to the public records
ana property ih II; indeed. almost Il ruin, aud
rented }y the government at an exorbi.ant
price It i>, however no more than Justice 10
pn-res- to say hat better facilities for the
posi- Office business at the nations capitol have
npt been prevented 50 much by lacll Of willing
mess y provide a suitable public building for
thi, purro>e. a. Ny the 4recd OF land owners
ana their attorneys. Bat it i, hoped that thi,
difficulty may NOW be overcome.
The appointment Of committees by Mr. Reed
has given as near universal satisfaction TO both
parties a. perhaps has ever been done. ana TIE
lroinpinc>> with which he has acted in the
matter Is commented on all sides. Both Dem
orrat> and Republicans express a belief that it
means a practical business session in Which
there 4lAN lie considerable tcgi> IutiOn 10 meet