The Republican journal., 1903-02-05
Letter from Washington.
Maine Men and Matters in the National
Capital.

Sdpltdl
TSnecial Correspondence of The Journal
WASHINGTON. d. c., February ,. An
increase from S270, 900 to $500, 900 in the
appropriation for seeds was made in
the House late last week when the
agricultural bill was passed. Governor
Burleieh favored the increase in the
belief that the money was we'll eX-
pended for the benefit of farmers all
over the country Il am aware that 1t
is popular in some quarters to sneer at
the distribution of seeds by members
of Congress- said Governor Burleigh,
but that kind of talk comes chiefly
from the large city population which,
of course, are not interested directly in
agricultural matters, except as all of us
are. in way, inter-dependent upon one
another The farmers get little enough
anyway in the shape of benefits from
the government and my experience has
been that this seed distribution is, in
the long run. of much value. 1t enables
the farmer. without cost to himself and
at i comparatively small cost to the
ovevnment, to secure small quantities
of new kinds of seed, and in many in
stances the varieties. transplanted to
new kinds of soil. flourish splendidly.
Nova DAYS the Agricultural Depart
ment exercises the greatest care that
good seed shall be purchased and that
it shall be intelligently distributed.
There may have been negligence i'll for
mer wears in the purchase of seeds, but
those times have gone by. have reason
to know that hundreds of farmers in
nv district have tested the government
seeds with good results
Many northern visitors are coming to
the capital these days to witness Con-
gress i'll session, to see their friends, or
Ell route to the resorts in the South.
The travel southwark through Wash
inrton has never been heavier than at
the present time. The trains are all
going south heavily laden with passen-
gers. Within a month or two the tight
n0rthWard VIII begin, as these sojOurn-
ers return to their northern homes. AS
the railroads run, about the only access
ible route from the New England and
Middle states to the South is through
Washington, which makes this city q
sort ot barometer OF southern travel
as a large portion of the tourists break
their journey by stopping over here.
Almost surprising is the amount of
money which these tourists spend. 1t
illustrates the prosperity that has been
abroad over the land. 1t is no longer a
subject of local comment at the hotels,
as a guest who, accompanied by shis
family, spends 500 day for his run
ming expenses. 1t seems to most peo-
pie like a pretty large sum to get away
with for hotel bills, cafe charges, car
riages. and theatres, but there are hun
dreds of hotel visitors in Washington
dalv WHO are living at that rate.
Judge Clarence Hale of Portland,
Maine was in town recently, following
cane 10 visit his brother, Senator Hale.
The Judge was at the Capitol, where he
and The Senator lunched together. He
haQ a Testful visit. before returning to
take mp the preparation of law de-
cisions which he has in hand.
There seems to be good prospects Of
file new revenue cutter along the Maine
coast III the course of a year or two.
Senator Frye has had passed in the Sen
ate a bill appropriating 500, 900 for the
construction Of such a cutter, and the
outlook is good for its becoming a law
before the end of the session. Towards
the end Of a Congress it is always easier
to get appropriations through the House
because members who come from doubt
tuI districts and from districts where ro-
tation in office is practiced not only fear
the criticism that may be made in un-
friendly quarters. but also the great
aggregate of appropriations which will
be sWelled by every item added The
Maine members, of course, are not
affected by such consideration, as they
are elected by their constituents for
efficiency and kept in office for the same
reason, but the same rule does not
apply by any means to any large por-
tiop of the House
Governor Burleigh was recently call
Ing the attention to the growth of bust
ness before Congress, even during his
comparatively brief service of over five
wears. I'm that PERIOD" said Governor
Burleigh, I'VE have acquired our island
possessions, which have added immense
lv TO the volume of business before
Congress and also to the cost OF our
government annually. Now we are ap-
propriating we'll on towards billion OF
dollars a session. 1t was something
near that last session and will be some
thing less at this session.
Nevertheless, l suppose 1t will not
be many years before our legitimate
government expenses will be quite as
much as a billion of dollars, and in time