Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-17
CAPITAL CHAT.
Maine Items on Public Build
ings Bill Are Safe.
Col. D. S. Alexander After Court of
Claims Judgeship.
Maine People interested in the Omni-
bus Claims Bill.

Washington, d. g., May 1G.-(SpeciaD
The omnibus public building bill
which has 2 lively interest for Augusta
and for other Maine cities, is now be-
tore the Senate public buildings COM
mittee, of which Senator Fairbanks OF
Indiana. is chairman. There have
been two or three meetings Of the com
mittee for the consideration OF the bill
which the Honse passed, bat no
definite conclusions have yet been
reached. As mas been stated hereto
fore. there is no doubt Of the passage Of
the items relating to Maine.
The Maine contingent here are deep
~ interested I'M the prospects Of COL
y. s. Alexander Of Buffalo y. y. for
getting judeaship on the court Of
claims. He is Il graduate of BoWdoin. q
veteran Of one Of the Maine volunteer
regiments, ana = native of Richmond,
Me. The colonel has been backward
in acknowledging his candidacy for
fear Of the effect il would have on his
denomination for Congress in the
event that President Roosevelt did not
appoint him. He is m intimate friend
Of Senator Plat who went to the
White House ana secured an agree
ment from the President to appoint
Colonel Alexander. unless unexpected
conditions should arise. Since then
Colonel Alexander and Senator Plate
have made two u three visits to the
White House to talk The matter over
with the Frcsil mt At this time 1t is
by no means certain what the outcome
will be. Colonel Alexander's friends
fear that he may be led into trap
ana eventually be thrown for the re-
nomination to Congress, 50 treacherous
are the conditions by which men sur
yive III New York politics.
The position as judge Of the court Of
claims is very desirable one. The
duties are not ardu0us, the salary is
the same rs That Dc z member Of CON
gross. $1,000 annually. ANA the appoint
ment is for life. 1t also carries certain
social hOnors ana all in Ill is q very
desirable place. Colonel Alexander
would be welcome addition to the
permanent Maine residents of Wash
ington. In fact he used to live here
permanently having been one Of the
auditors Of the treasury department.
during which time he was commander
If the department Of the Potomac. q.
a. II. He is very pleasant hammered
man is liked as web here as in Maine,
where he makes frequent excursions.
Maine has long been well represented
here on the bench. The pre-eminent
position of Chief Justice Fuller is
widely known. But for several years
one Of the Judges Of the Supreme Court
Of The District Of Columbia was Hon.
c. e. Cole. native of Hiram. Ne, and
a lieutenant in one of the Maine volun-
teer regiments. He came here from
West Virginia some fifteen years ago
and was appointed United States Dis
trict Attorney for the District Of
Columbia and then as judge by the
late President Harrison. Judge Cole
resigned his life position on the District
bench about year and q half ago to
resume practice OF Law here III the Dis
trict. Judge Ivory G. Kimball of the
Police Court, a native of Jay, Me-, is
another example of the manner in
which Maine men flourish in judicial
positions here. He went 10 Indiana in
early life and was appointed to the
police court bench by President Harri-
son, q position that he still retains.
having been twice reappointed. 1t is
interesting to notice that Colonel
Alexander was also the close friend Of
the late President Harrison, for he
used to live in Indianapolis and en-
ioyed confidential relations with the
late chief magistrate such as no other
man enjoyed. He could have come
here as secretary to the President had
he desired the office but instead went
To Buffalo. where he was soon appoint
ed United states District Attorney by
President Harrison.
Something near $4,000 in claims of
Maine people is carried on the omnibus
claims bill. which is now in confer
ence of the two houses of Congress.
There are two of these Maine claims.
One Of them is for S11 ,70S.97 for Amos
J.. Allen Of Bath, and Edward Wells
Larrabee executor, of Bath. on ac-
count of money due for the construc-
ton Of the double ender gunboat
Iosco back in Civil War times. The
claim has been vigorously contested for
years. as well as several others Of like
character. 1t is thought doubtful by
some whether they get through this
Congress as the House is very hostile
to them 1t is claimed in reply that
the government has already paid all
that was due these companies for con-
structing the double enders. However
some Of the companies have in recent
years been paid extra money and that
Continued on page 5.)