Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-18
CAPITAL CHAT.
A Large Falling Off in the
Flood of Petitions.
Senator Hale and Gov. BurIeigh Look
ing After Maine Granite Contracts.
Prospect Of .coniederates in National
Soldiers Homes Is Very Small.

| Washington, d. c., Jan. 11.-(Spe-
ciaD There has been large falling off
this winter in the usual food of petit
tions that come down upon Congress.
Maine has participated quite extensive
| ly in this sort of activity the last few
years. Numerous as the leaves in VAL
| lambrosa have been the fiuttering of
pamphlets in petition form from many
sections and towns of the Pine Tree
State. This sacred right, for which
John Quincy Adams fought his memoir
able fight in the House of Representa-
tives over half a century ago, has de-
veloped greatly in its scope. Multiple
| city of printing presses, rapid means
of communication. and organization in
all walks of life have increased the ia
cility of petitions. not only to Congress
but likewise to other official bodies.
There have been comparatively few
petitions to Congress from Maine this
year. Very many of those have been
from different labor organizations ask
| ing Congress to authorize the construc-
| ton of war vessels in government
navy yards. These come not only from
Maine but from nearly every state in
the union and from many branches of
1organized labor. Like the great bulk
of modern petitions they are uniform in
their wording, following printed forms
in fact, and of course are largely formal
| in their requests. The Maine Senators
and the Maine members always present
them gladly. as they perform any Of
flee, they can gladly for their constitu-
ents.
The habit of petitioning Congress for
mally in this way Is probably on the
decrease. A year or two ago a bureau
in this city sought petitions on many
questions, involving public morals, re-
ligion. and the like. There was a sys-
tematic crusade for these petitions,
different religious and beneficent in
situations being made the channel of
communication. They filled every nook
and Granny Of committee rooms, that
had the topics in question to deal with,
two or three broad columns or the
Congressional Record were occupied
every morning with the simple recital
by name of the organization of the pc
titions filed. and that was all members
ever saw of them. This year this class
of petitions has dwindled Maine has
been sending few petitions for the
adoption of constitutional amend
ment TO prevent polygamous marriages.
All these questions are SO fully dis
cussed in the newspapers of the day
that public men are generally pretty
well Informed on popular sentiment be-
fore the petitions can be secured and
forwarded on to Washington.
1t wasn't many years ago that many
strikingly peculiar forms of petitions
were sent on here to impress Congress-
Some We're ornately arranged, in richly
bound books and otherwise. Neverthe-
less the day has not passed when the
force Of petitions. drawn by earnest |
men and women and setting forth with |
individuality views on matters Of legfs-
lation. go UNDECIDED. There. are hun |
dreds and hundreds of these documents |
which come to Congress from many To-
Continued on page 6.)