Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-25
NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Augusta May Get Post Office
Appropriation
AT Present Session-- Measures to I'M
prove Kennebec River.
breezy News and Chat About DoinGs ;
Washington.

Washington. u. G.. Fch. :i.-,Spec-
idb.-TEcrc is remote possibility that
Augnst: viii get the addition to her
postotticc building so much desired. at
this session of Congress. and that in
spite Of the decision of Speaker Hen
Gc"son. that there shall be no public
building legislation until next year
The possibility came about through
tie fricndliness of Chairman Mercer
of the committee on public buildings
and grounds for Gov. Burleigh.
When the sUndry civil appropria-
ton bill WAS under consideration in
the House the other day. Chairman
Mercer offered his omnibus public
building bill as an amendment to the
appropriate ton bill. lie was well aware
that it would so cut on a point Of Or
der, rs it did, but Mr.. Mercer added
to the omnibus bill, which includes
only increases for public buildings al
ready authorized. an item innocent in
All appearances, which read: United
States post Office. court house and Gus
tom house at Augusta, Maine, from
$l6l Geo to S2S6 GOC''
The matter ended with the ruling out
If the point in the House for the pres
cnt. but in the Senate an effort is on
foot tn put the same omnibus bill on
the Sundry civil bill as an amendment
!, is easier to do those things in the
Senate, and there is something Of q
probability that it will succeed over
there. The main question is whether
the ConfercCS will be able tn keen the
amendment in the bill. 1t is probable
that Senator Hale will be one of tie
cnnfCrCes on the Sundry civil bill. and
If that happens he will. as usual. look
out for Maine interests to the utmost
The sundry civil bill will hardly he
concluded and signed by the President
till aim, st the last hour Of the session.
Senator FRYE did a good turn for the
Tenple of the kennebcc valley who
want the river improved betwcacn Au-
g"sta and Gardiner a distance of %
miles. The House, as is we'll known,
authorized an arpropria ton Of S2G,4co
When the river and harbor bill went
over to the Senate. Gov. BurleiGh Sc
cured a letter from the engineer au-
thorities, stating that the appropriate
lion ought to be ms much as $4,000 and
that there ought " be a total eXperdi-
ture of $4,000 more. besides that. I'M
was forwarded to Senator Frye chair
man of the committee on commerce.
who had it nut in tin bill as an amend
ment to the House provision. The opln-
ion prevails that the river and ha9Dor
bill will not become a law at this Sos
SIGN but it may and in any event when
the bill is passed it viii probably have
the provision for Maine. Senator Frye
l., .,;IF
and there is every probability that as
one of the cOnfcrccs, he VIII he allow
ed to have everything for Maine shat
he chooses to ask for.
The bulky report on tie river and
harbor bill. as prepared in the senate
committee on commerce. deVotcS con-
siderable attention to TIE prajcct on
the Kenn"bcc between Gardiner and
Augusta The traffic annually on that
pant OF the river is given in the report
ut 1S%. 0G0 tons. Of which i50. GOO tons of
ice annually form the largest item
The shipments Of lumber are estimated
at in,G6000D board feet or ll,coO tons,
ana The amount of coal received at 20
600 tons. The report also states that
there are six shoals between the tWO
cities that form Instructions to navi-
cation. If the river We're improved. rs
projected. II is claimed that almost the
entire expense Of $1,000 Il month for
running Il transfer steamer between
aTtllner and Augusta could be saved.
"onc passenger and freight steamer OF
ABOUT $50 tons" says the Senate COM
mittee's report. runs during the sum
mer between Augusta. Boothbay IIar-
Dor and intermediate points. This
steamer draws Sia feet of water and
finds it difficult at times OF low water
to navigate in the 10-foot channel al
ready dredEed. ToWboats also complain
that they often strike the bottom ANA
that they have broken several Whee!s.
The Maine Daughters of the American
Revolution, in Washington, the past
week, as delegates to the continental!
congress- have been prominent in the r.
tivitcs. The selection of Mrs. y. y. Ken
dali. of Portland, as State regent was
very satisfactory on all hands, as was
her Subsequent election as ono Of the
vicc-prcsidents general. Mrs. Kendall re-
fused to enter the field for the latter on
fee till she was assured that Mrs w H.
White, of Lewiston. daughter ol senator
Frye did not wish that place. There haNs
Dpcn numerous U1lltI SltiiIf ir'tiN'
whose. homes are now in distant SIdVS'
among whon there has been none MOI
prominent than Mrs. j. w. RlchaF1''
elected state regent OF Iowa. Shc y IN
daughter Of the late Maj. y. X fieic''
Of Belfast, Me. and the wife Of ne PIT
Vatc secretary of Speaker iieAdcfS"h'
If an extra session Of congress Is c9i'ei
for carly i'm March, as seems SoHle"i"'
probable. although not certain. II i iih'
w that the Maine members VIII Hedt'!
Ali so home for short stay IN the III
tcr:ia. No one is predicting that the eA''
session win be called earlier than MIDI =,
1S ard perhaps not 80 early as tha''
il Is called it may not be I'll the = Is
Jart Of March or carly in April. As -
as can be learned there will not De US
rucil Of Maine people to WashinS'o" IA
lusrration week. Something or Il va
parN is expected to come aloES W.T. mr.
contingent Of Maine troops. H 'io
Joseph Maniey comes down here ne
have a nice free seat To observe tie pa
c,ss:on. as chairman If the rationai o'
mi.ter Mari. Hanna has provide" ~
Continued on page 81