Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-04
The Prospect for Public Build
ing Legislation.
A Big Claim for Maine Before the
Court of Claims.
Representative BouteIIe's Resignation Raw
ages Of the Grip in Washington.

duced his omnibus bill. authorizing in
creaSes in cost of various structures.
That bill does not help Maine projects
at all, because there We're no Maine
public buildings authorized in the last
batch of two years ago. 1t is altogether
probable that the omnibus bill will be
passed by the House and there is no
doubt then of its passage by the Sen
ate.
But the prospects for new public
building legislation, in which Maine is
interested. at this session is not rcas-
surfing. Speaker Henderson has put
both his shoulders to the wheel to stop
the rush of bills carrying appropria-
tons, because the totals have already
reached appalling proportions. If he
should decide to allow any new legiS-
lation at this session Augustus post
office addition would probably be cared
for. However, Chairman Mercer will
give no sign of what the program l.
except that the increases necessary
for projects already authorized will
probably be taken up. He shakes his
head obviously when other bills are
mentioned and leaves the impression
that the bars will not be taken down
before March 1.
A decision has been expected for
several days on claim before the
court of claims to pay Maine consd-
cradle sum of money on account of i'll
terest on money advanced for equip
ping troops during the Civil War. If
the claim is decided in favor of the
State. the Pine Tree treasury will be
enriched to the extent of either $780,
HpDpndS II
on an Interpretation of the law which
the court has to make. The law firm
of Cotton & White of this city, com
prising Gen. John Il. Cotton and Mr..
William Frye White. both former Lew
iston men. have the claim in charge.
Mr.. White said, Friday, that he rathcc
looked for decision in the case, Mon
day next.
There are four of these claims, said
Mr.. White. for the states of Maine,
New Hampshire, Rhode Island and
Pennsylvania. aggregating over $1,000
600 What we fear most is that the
court may have received Il hint from
Congress to go slow with its decisions,
SO that Congress may not have to APP
propriate large sums for their payment
at this session. If it is true that such
Judges we may he disappointed in on"
hopes for decision. next Monday.
The cases were argued before tn"
court two months ago and of late the
attorneys have been pressing eagerly
for an early decision in the hope that
the amounts awarded could be includ-
ed in the general deficiency appropria-
ton bill, which is passed by Congress
t,,,, = ,1I
ago it was expected that the decision
would certainly be received in time for
that deficiency bill. 1t does not LOOK
so certain of late
There was an interesting story cir
culating about the Capitol, this week.
to the effect that capt. Boutelle's
resignation as Il member of Congress
had been written and was in the pocket
of one of the employees of the naval
committee of the House to be handed
in whenever he thought it prudent to
do so. The story turned out to be in
correct but it stirred up considerable
comment. 1t is pretty generally under
stood that Can't. Boutelle will resign
about March T. in which ease his
resignation viii cover only his cleo
ton to the 57th Congress.
Notwithstanding his recent letter on
that subject, some commu nicati"ns have
been received hero in Washington from
Maine. asking the opinion of members OF
the Maine delegation AS to when 1t was
regarded as advisable that the resignation
of the member from the ith Maine dis
trjct should be rendered. AS far as Known
no opinions were given on that TOPIC a.
the policy all along has tech 70 AVON
auy acknowledgements with Congressional a. +
fairs in that section of the Stat" Mr.
George A. Curran of PASSPORT, COZ eHt
OF customs for the PassamaquGddE diS-
trict was here carly in the week. but ne
brought no news of the political dtNelo. ,
nlents in the ith District.
1t is said that capt Boutc!ie $ clerk ;
in the committee on naval affairs Will atl
he displaced at the end of this session OF
Congress. as Representative f3sS, tne
chairman, now has complete althorltH :
nut i'm his own men for those places. That
il the rule always followed in the House
Willis Wing If Manchester. had to give
way as clerk OF the committee on pupnc
buildings and grounds. III the congress
following the death Of ReprcsehtatiEc
Alilliken. and Herbert NJ; Lord ct Rock
land. had to yield his place as clerk OF
the ways and means committee, the con
cress following the death of R"pieSenti-
five Dingley. Capt. Boute'c had Joseph
r.. Hail o. Bangor. as clerk OF me ma
affairs committee. and he stu rataihS the
place but it is altogether probable that
he will be superseded after March T. ~
the beginning of this session. when capt
Mr. Halls son. Joseph T. Hall Jr.. was
the assistant clerk. but after Mr. Foss
was named as chairman he displaced the
younger Hall and put in his stead as as
sistant clerk Fred l.. Whitney. II is SAID
that Mr.. Whitney will eventually he
made clerk The ClCrkShip pays Il salary
of $1,000 annually.
Although absent. capt. Boutelic'S vote
still counts on many Questions that come
before the House. A! the last session OF
Congress. when there were many close
fights on, the Democrats would not max
pairs with Capt. Boutellc, as they insist
cd that he could not present to vote II
any event and, if they could pair theii
own absentees with other Republicans
his vote would be entirely lost and ac
cordnGly represented clear gain Il
them. But at this session Capt. Boutele
vote has been paired most OF the time
Representative Bradley of New York
was taken i'll along about the holiday:
and has not since been able to come IL
Washington. y standing pair was ar
ranged between him and Capt. Boute;lc
which figures in all the votes taken in tn
House these days.
Washington has had quite a touch %
real winter. this past week. but. stranS'
as ii may seem. it has proved terTifyin:
weather for MANY New Englandtrs VIII
have been sick here. While able to on
dure severe cold, the people from tina
seton Of the country are unable to stan,
the remarkably sudden changes 50 Wei
as those who ire Injured to them by Ion,
residence. There have been two Shor
nnN ram lft,G l,