Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-24
CAPITAL CHAT.
Maine Man Pleads Cause of
Late Fitz-John Porter.
Vaccination Wanted for People from
North New Brunswick Shore.
Senator Frye Warmly Congratulated
on Success of Ship Subsidy Bill.

Washington, March 23.-(SpeciaD.-A
tall. slender man, well advanced IN
years but of urbane and soldierly bear
ing, appeared before the House COM
mittee on military affairs few days
ago to plead the cause of one of his old
comrades in arms whose services to
the Union caused the entire country to
ring with his praises 40 years ago, es-
pecially Maine and New Hampshire. 1t
was Gen. c. G. Sawtelle, u. S. A., re-
tired, a native of Norridgewock and
former uuartermaster general of the
army. He appeared to say word in
behalf of Gen. FitZ-John Porter, a ma
tive of New Hampshire, whose court
martial and subsequent efforts to re
move the stain from his record, because
of conduct at the battle of Bull Run,
became very notable in military annals.
One of the members of the committee,
who listened to the appeal for pay
ment to Gen. Porter's widow and three
children of allowances amounting to
some $1,000, was Representative F. C.
Stevens, who has just returned from
Maine his former home. Although
Cen. Porter is now dead and the efforts
to revoke the sentence of the court
martial were partially suspended, so
that he was restored to the retired list
of the army, his friends are trying to
have the government do all that is pos
sible to make the justice to him COM
plete. Many of the Maine soldiers were
under his command at the battle of
Bull Run. Gen. Sawtelle was an officer
in the battle and said all he could to
the committee of Gen. Porter's gallant
conduct. .
There has been some talk here about
trying to persuade Gen. Henderson to
appoint one of the Maine delegation to
a place on the committee on appropria-
tions to the vacancy which will be
made by the resignation of Representa-
tive Moody of Massachusetts, from the
House, but it has been abandoned be-
cause it seemed plain that Massachu-
sets would bear away the plum. 1t is
probable from present appearances
that Representative F. II. Gillett of
Springfield, will go on the committee.
Both Gov. Burleigh and Mr.. Littlefield
were mentioned. Both were regarded
as good men for such an important
berth. but Massachusetts was reluctant
any of her influence on committees and
then Mr.. Gillett has had a much longer
| service in the House than any of the
present Maine delegation. 1t is rare
that a man is appointed to the appro-
priations committee till he has served
several terms. Sometimes one of the
| far Western sections of the country
gets a comparatively new member
there because they change their repre-
sentation so often.
very strong on the important appropri-
atoms committee, having had Senator
Hale there as a member. ranking next
to the chairman. Mr.. Perkins of Cali
fornia, Maine man, is also a member
of the same committee. When he was
member Of the House Mr. Hale also
served on the appropriations committee
and attained to much influence there
The last Maine man to serve on the
House appropriations committee was
the late Representative Dingley, who
took an. assignment there during the
SD Congress, which was Democratic
so that Mr.. Reed, then an ex-Speaker,
might be assigned to the head of the
ways and means minority. For some
reasons the ways and means commit
tee assignments are preferred by MEM
bers. They carry the honor and pres
tige without entailing great amount Of
work, except when tariff bills are be-
ing framed, but for real usefulness to
ones constituents and for having an
influential place as far as legislation is
concerned there is no committee that
outranks the appropriations commit
tee.
The acting assistant surgeon of fhe
Marine Hospital service at Vanceboro.
Me-, has informed the bureau here that
during the past week he inspected APP
proximately 500 passengers, of whom he
vaccinated 50, chiefly second-class travel
from the north shore of New Brunswick.
which is now about the only portion of
New Brunswick afflicted with smallpox.
DIR. M. l.. Young. the acting assistant
surgeon there, says that st. john None
ton and Baillie or Lyndfieid, are now
practically free from the disease. Some
new cases have developed about Camp
bellton and Bathurst. hecessitating the
quarantine and disinfection of railway
Continued on page g.