Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-01-03
Hs Hopes to Secure I Good lppfop'h-
ton for Ksnnsbee River lnpfoTs-
nsnts.
lie Thinks the Iev Rules viii SuPaly
Bs Adopted.
Contested Election casss-Fsdsrsl
Election Law-New Public Buildings
Post Office Chansss-othsr Mat
ters.


loY<CkAA W kbc AcuuCbCC JOuKu1A.
BKLFAsr. Jan 2-Hon. Seth L. Milliken,
Member Of Congress for this district, va
found BY Journal representative on Wed
nesday at the Belfas, Custom House. Not.
withstanding the numerous duties which the
Craftsmanship Of the imr ortant Committee
on Public BuiIdings and Grounds have i'm
posed upon Mr.. Milliken. he is looking ~
hale and hearty as ever and 10 growing
some hat stouter than formerly. He has
spent the Congressional rect % At his home
in this city and left today to renew his labors
At Washington.
After Wishing the Journal happy New
Year. he composed himself resignedly to
the requested interview. In response to .
question regarding the projected improve
ments on the Kennebec. he said:
The whole estimate for the river, to be
applied between Augusta and Dyer's leland
as based on the survey made last summer
is $500 900. and the plan 10 to give depth
of eleven feet at Augusta when the whole
is expended. Seventy five thousand dollars
was appropriated by the last Congress, .
part or whole of which was applied last sum-
mer, and sscertained on going to the office
of the Chief Engineer just before came
AWAY, UuAt ne u8u uItCbululcuutu but AppIO-
priation of another S75. 900 to be used ne 1t
season. In almost every case these esti-
mates are cut down at least one half before
they are passed. but have no doubt that We
shall be able to get the whole of this.
shall do my best to make the members
realize that there 10 no river eass-of the
Hudson on which so much business is done,
and none which SO much deserves improve
ment, as the Kennebec.
The Chief Engineer has also recommend
ed 600 for Improvements on the Baga-
duce river near Castine SlO0, 900 to con-
rinue work on the Bar Harbor breakw ater
and an ample amount for dredging and 9TH
erwise improving Belfast harbor. 1t 10 not
probable that the whole sum recommended
in any of these cases except that on kenne-
bee will be appropriated, but We shall get At
least half of it."
What will be the nature Of the new
House rules"
IL can hardly tell. l have no doubt We
shall be able to adopt a code which will al
low the majority to do business The old
rules empowered the majority to obstruct
all legislation"
will the Democrats endeavor to prevent
their adoptionT'
1T would take wiser prophet than to
tell what the Democrats will do in this or in
any other matter. II they Hnd they are
po~t rless, they will 10 doubt be very clever
and by not objecting to the changes try to
get little reflected credit of them. They
will probably hinder us though, II they can.
At the very lowest estimate we shall have .
working majority of eight or ten, which
will be amply sufficient to carry any meas
ure on which We unite"
What are the merits of the contested
election cases 2"
I'm several Of them am sati. fed that
the Republican members are elected on the
face of the returns. Mudd, Of Baltimore,
especially has a clear case, and there are
as he. In former years the decision in re-
gard to contested seat. has been put o6 till
the very end Of the second session: in fact
the 4sth Congress delayed qualifying one
member until forty FIVE minutes before
final adjournment. 1t 10 the disposition
of the present Republican House to do
away with this vicious practice, and to de-
eide these cases at once. When they are
all settled there will be . Republican ma.
jori,y of from ten to fifteen"
"Will Mckinley lead the House?"
"Congre ssman Mckinley will not be ab-
solute leader. No one can be that nova
days. He will no doubt report from the
Committee on Ways and Means judicious
tariff bill and maintain throughout = protec-
tive principle. He is thoroughly in sympa-
thy with Speaker Reed. By the way, the
election of Reed was practically foregone
conclusion. He had earned the place by
his leadership in the past and 10 now filing
it with even more ability than his most san
guine friends anticipated. Up to the pres
ent time he seems to have won the praise Of
both parties. He presides with dignity and
ready decision, and shQws admirable tact
and ability in keeping the House in order. -
"What will be the leading features Of
this sessions work?'
mo one can tell yet. | think the tariff
shipping interests and the establishment Of
better business relations with South ard
Central America and Mexico will occupy
the serious attention Of Congress. 1t 10
probable that lines Of steamers to South
Amer and possibly to other points.
China. for instance, may be subsidized.
have already introduced two bills in aid Of
the shipping interests, and all the Maine
delegation will do their best to secure ap-
propriate legislation on the subject.
am also endeavoring to have sugar put
on the free list. My plan 10 to compensate
the planters by giving them bounty equal
in per cent to the present duty. have in
troduced bill to this effect. which it 10
rumored the Committee on Ways and
Means will incorporate into their next re
port. Its passage would save the sugar
consumers Of this country e52 ,0O0, 900 an
nually.
It's too early in the session to tell whether
an international copyright bill will be
pushed
is there any truth in the story concern
ing Speaker Reeds joke on you, which
~ent the rounds Of the Democratic press3''
II was much amused ~ any one could
be at such 4 poor story. At the Newspaper
account of joke perpetrated BY Reed on
myself in reference to the chairmanship Of
the Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds OF course there vas not an atom
of truth in it, any more than in the pre-
tended account of . recent alteration be-
tween Reed and the President
"The fact that the committee OF which
I am chairman Is obliged to consider in
detail the bill for the erection Of every
proposed government building in the coun.
try makes it one Of the most important and
hard working Of Congress. Among othel
things l shall try to cause the building Of {
new post ofice in Washington in place oi
the old structure nov used. which 10 totally
unfit for the purpose. The erection of I
post office st Bar Hsrbof will also be con
sidercd. believe there are no other peti
tons for public buildings from this die
| trict
"Shoald you favor . bill to establisl
federal control Of Congressional elections!' ?
well. At 6rst blush l am inclined 4
think that such . bill would be perfectly
constitutional. and il il contained no unreas
enable provisions, that should support it
! The matter tasn's developed sufficiently fol
me to give il nv careful attention - yes
J and should want to exAmine it th ,roughll
before decided. believe the violation o.
/ the franchise 10 . direct menace to the iif,
of the Republic. and il il can be dose With
out violating the organic law Of the land, !
should be prevented st all hasards.r
"wiil there be any changss In the posl
Offices in this district within ths nea
futuref"
II have caused no removal Of any o0ss