Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-10
CAPITAL CHAT.
Senator Frye Complimented on
Shipping Bill Work.
Gov. Burleigh by Personal { ffort, Sc
cures Another Carrier for Gardiner.
Senator Hale Hard at Work en- the Al
preparation EiIIs.

/ Washington, March 9.-(SpeciaD.-
The past week has been another very
busy one for the Maine delegation in
Senate and House. Mr.. Frye has prob
ably been at the fore, beyond all others
Of the delegation in the past seven
days, with his ship subsidy bill. which
he mas been pressing to a vote. The
opening speech which the senator made
on that bill was generally conceded to
have been one of the ablest and most
convincing he ever delivered during his
long public career. He has handled the
bill in the Senate with his usual skill
and has received many congra tula tions
on having been able to secure an agree
ment TO vote.
Last session, Senator Frye had a no
table battle on this bill, which attract
ed the attention of the entire country
The measure dragged along for weeks
but Mr.. Frye was never able to secure
an agreement to vote. The real reason
was that several prominent Republi-
cans We're opposed to the bill, especially
in the form then presented. The bill
is of great interest to the people along
the coast of Maine and its fate in the
House will be watched with much anx-
ieety. Representative Littlefield has
made an exhaustive study of the ship
subsidy question and is, member Of
the committee on merchant marine and
fisheries. which will begin consideration
of the bill as soon as ii has passed the
Senate. 1t was long ago conceded to
him that he should make the closing
argument in the House, when the bill
is taken UP there.
Senator Hale is working along on the
appropriation bills, which take much
of the time of members of the appro-
priations committee at this stage of the
session. He has charge of the consular
and diplomatic appropriation bill,
which was reported to the Senate few
days ago. The senator will manage the
bill on the floor of the Senate when it
is taken up there.
Gov. Burleigh has taken a lively. in
terest in the defeat of the Loud BILL
providing for the classification of rural
free delivery employees and the placing
of rural carriers under contract sys-
TEN. somewhat similar to the terms for
star route contractors. AS soon as it
got in the wind that such bill was in
prospect the Governor started in for
against IL ana Dy the
the bill had reached the House he had
formidable following organized
against 1t.
All the Maine delegation in the House
feel that it would be unwise to make
any changes in the present admirable
rural free delivery service. The car
riers are giving satisfactory service al
most without exception and rural free
delivery is being constantly extended
on economical lines SO that it in large
part pays for itself Wherever the
routes are established the amount of
mail received and sent constantly in
creases, the postal receipts are CORE
spondingly swelled, and thereby the
government profits. Then the estab-
lishment of these routes often results
in the transfer of the salary from n
small post Office or a star route con-
tractor. to a rural carrier, who is in
reality travelling post office.
For these reasons and others il
seemed, to the Maine delegation that it
would be unwise to undertake policy
that might cheaper the service by al
lowing men who could bid the lowest to
carry the mails. The defeat Of the bill
bate, which occupied the most of last
week. begun.
Gov. Burleigh has been promised an
additional letter carrier for the city of
Gardiner. beginning April /. The matter
was first brought to the attention of the
post Office department, Feb. II, and re-
suited in letter from First Assistant
Postmaster General johnson. saying that
the carrier could not be granted because
the entire appropriation for the main
tenanee of the free delivery service has
been apportioned and no additional ex-
penditures can be granted any Office at
the present time for the extension of
the service.
Included wi. the request for an adj
ditional carrier 1T Gardiner was a re-
quest that the carriers be allowed to take
mail to Alfred b. Hutchinson. The post
Office department investigated and ascer-
tanned that Mr.. Hutchinson lived about
a mile beyond the present free delivery
limits. The postmaster was unable to
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