The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1902-12-25
out wa-I,ingtan Letter
National o#4fst.si ~ hIH fzrte R~Ff.iaa.
tara Ffs- Bsllvvrg IN r-einr o-b . .
aaIns nst~xztien st Home.

sfsslsl 10 the Reporter
sashios .ou. b. =, Dee % 4 new
organization e. tie militia. 1r National
Gaardamen II Il H. st,tes. sbleh
esBIa be ii xfsat Interest. ~ aaine and
hseNlse - the gaArdsmsa ia 7kosho
ga. # enacted inta lsw Is hung up "a
the senate II seemed nat II would
ass there without say trouble but some
u the southern Senators have become
apprehsnslvo about tie constitution.
Therefore they are talking. The vote
cannot be had nutlI they are through.
4 mas be they sIa ne finish taking
TIL after the session is near close The
militia BIZ has been warmly champion
ed by the National Guard officers Of tue
state u Maine. Of ~nom the Adjntant
0eueral has been here TO or three
mes 10 meet with he National Guard
Association II it should become law,
al the gusrdsmen 10 Maine would DE
armed with modern wespons, the organ
izatioa would be under federal super
vision and there would be drilling under
competent army authorities with maneu-
other stAtes--iu the case OF Maine, prob
ably, with Maine and New Hampshire
senator dale has defended bill on the
flor several times during the desultory
discussion before the holidays He be-
iieves the bill Is a good one aud did not
hesitate 10 present the arguments for II
In opposition to senator Bacon OF Geor-
ga, senator Pettus Of Alabama, aud
~ A.
showing great deal OF misinfofmation
about he measure.
The tarif revision talk, which WAS so
frequent IN Washington during the
weeks between election and the assembl-
log of Congress. has died ont complete
~ When he came 10 town Senator
Hale delivered the revision propaganda
staggering blow, pointing out that 1t
came from free traders and week -kneed
Republicans Since that time the tide
has been reeeding 1t became apparent
that no revision of schedules would be
toleratedhy sound minded Republican
senators, That checked revision talk
and It is doubtful If much more is heard
Of II ia Washington till the next election
except for an occasional blast from men
OF Democratic propensities who are
searching for party issue. ongress-
man Burleigh has consistently opposed
the agitation for revision which he was
saying at the session of Congress last
summer, could result IN no good TO the
country AS whole, aud particularly to
the interes In the third Congressional
district
The rush Of holiday tourists to Wash
lngton began even as the exodus of
tougre ssmen Was under way Follow
Jog period Of veritable London fog
ghe capital las again been blessed with
weather such as gives the South repu-
tation as = sunny cline The hotels,
lsmeutng the departure of their
Cong guests, were gladdened
by the coming Of these thousands of
visitors, who, however, have much
cheaper accommodations than the
Republicans aud Democrats who are
90 The government pay roll for the sum
OF - 600 annually and who are thus draw
ing check Of s4l6 monthly from the
government Hut the tourist business
10 Washington Is increasing year by
year A. the Capital grows Ia attract
ness Tor the entire American people.
The appropriation Of $4,000 for
additional rural free delivery routes
WAS passed by Congress before adjourn
ment, which means that more routes
can be authorized between now and
January. It was the special appropri.
alton IN which GOV. Burleigh was
deeI ~ interested and the passage of
which he urged He now hopes to
secure the establishment of several new
routes Ia tho third district, between
nov ami next July, and is urging
Superinte ndent haohen Of the free
delivery division OF the post, flee
department to take up some of his
petitions as quickly as possible SOmer-
set county will be included in the
benefits of the appropriation, Which
will become available at once, rs soon
"a President Roosevelt signs the bill.
Gov. Bnrleigh - firm believer In the
wisdom of extending rural free delivery
Just 40 rapidly as the government can
reasonably act, AS il is one of the ways
by which the farmer eau be brought
10 share In the advantages of the postal
service The governor declares that
there is every reason why the farmer
should have bis mail delivered at his
door, provided II can be done without
TOO great expense, just as much as
there IA reason for The delivery of mail
tO The door Of residents OF large cities
Within two or three days there will
be cable connection between San Fran
cisco and the Hawaiian Islands, which
more than fifty years ago were settled
by New England missionaries, many of
whom came out of the Kennebee valley
aud some Of the most prominent of
them from Skowhegan. Gov. Dole,
whose parents came from Skowhegan,
viii be able to communicate almost in-
Simultaneously with President Roosevelt
1900 miles away. The opening of the
cable will mark an era in the history
of the Islands of the Pacific.
Names foui members of the House
have all returned to their homes but the
two Senators are spending the vacation
here, with a visit to New York or ada.
cent cities for few days Senator and
WIS Hale are, as usual, occupying their
ashington residence aud Senator Frye
Is comfortably enscoDsed in his apart
ments at the Hamilton. Senator and
Mrs. Hale we're among the guests at a
state dinner at the " hite House a few
nights since.