The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-01-22
Washington Letter.
Department of Commerce. Suspension of
Duty ON Goldfish for Somerset Lakes
and Ponds Roberts,
The Cuban Treaty.

congress now has little more than
five weeks to remain In session and
nearly everybody is working to get
everything completed before the end
comes, 40 a. TO be in good shape TO- The
long summer vacation.
Representative Burlelgh, who looks 80
diligently after third district interests In
Washington, has been giving much at
tention In the last week or two to the
bill, creating new department OF Com
merce. He has urged the enactment of
such law and was of no small assist
ance to the House organization in bring
Ing about favorable consideration of the
measure. "phs is an era when COM
MERGE and industry are making rapid
strides,' said the Governor recently
before the bill had come to a vote. THE
recent years OF our great prosperity
under Republican rule have been due In
good part to the enterprise OF our bust
ness men. That such a department of
activity and of prestige Id our national
development should be Represented by a
seat In the cabinet Is patent to those
who give the subject attention. Agri-
culture, one OF the leading pursuits of
our people, has been represented by q
portfolio for some years. We are all
aware OF the vast good the farmers have
received from the administration of that
department. No man In public life to-
| day, who cares for his fame, would dare
recommend the abolition OF that depart
ment. venture the prediction that, if
we establish department of commerce,
II Will be but few years before its
work Will be quite DIS popular with the
business men of the country as our
Agricultural department is with the
farmers"
There was no more earnest worker in
behalf of the abolition of the coal duty
than Gov. Burleigh. Even before the
recess OF Congress for the holidays, he
counselled with members o. the WAYS
and means committee that it would be
best to abolish the duty and that the
protective principle could suffer nothing
from the change, which a very large
part Of the urban residents Of New Eng
land were demanding. 81 am much
gratified at the action of Congress in
suspending the duty says Gov. Bur-
leigh. 81 only wish it might have been
done before the holidays. 1t Is plain, OF
course, that the suspension Of a duty of
81 cents ton will not directly cause
much reduction in the total price of coal
but | am sure the benefits which will
| ultimately ensue from the reduction will
be considerable, especially In view of the
shipments of coal from Canada and New
England, which should come in and thus
help supply the present demand for
fuel"
The numerous lakes and ponds In
Somerset will receive good consign-
ment Of fish from the United States Fish
Commission this year. A number of ap-
plications from different residents, ad-
jscent to Somerset waters have been
received and Representative Burleigh
intends to comply with all those requests
just as far as IL is possible for him to do
so. FOR several years" he says "Som-
erset has been receiving quota of fish
from the federal commission. The county
is one of the best in Maine for the fisher
man, as well as for the sportsman and |
am aware how important it 10 to keep
the preserves of fish well stocked. |
would like to see the lakes of Somerset,
without exception, so well supplied that
they would furnish excellent sport for
all the fishermen from far and near. 1t
10 ia 3 n Ill
my quota | can possibly spare to Somer-
set county and this year | shall try to
send more fish to Somerset than | hay
ever before sent there In one year. Ii is
popular, Just now, to replenish the coast
fisheries of the state. That is a splendid
thing but we must not neglect the in
land waters, where so many thousand of
our own people, as well as visitors from
out of the state find recreation and re-
juvenation.'
Representative Ernest w. Roberts of
Chelsea, Mass, a native of East Madison,
is furnishing here this winter. His wife,
who is Nermonter, and their little
children, have been here with him.
They did not go back to Boston for the
comfortably settled at their hotel. the
Hamilton, decided to remain there and
not expose the children to the sudden
change of climate, which would have
been imperative, had they returned to
New England during the cold season.
Mr. Roberts is member of the House
Naval Committee and is now working Oh
the annual appropriation bill He is as
great a hustler as ever came out OF Som
erset county and probably no native son
Of Somerset, who ever got to Congress,
has filled his place more acceptably
The Charleston Navy yard comes under
his immediate supervision and adds to
the volume of his Congressional work,
especially around the departments.
Senator Hale, who is member of the
steering committee of the Senate. a
Republican organization committee
which controls the programme at that
end of the Capitol, is trying hard TO
h Up the President out by having the
Cuban Reciprocity treaty ratified. BE.
cause of the necessity of getting a two
thirds vote for ratification, the admin
istration has encountered much opposi-
tion. Almost every day when the Sem
ate is 10 session one can see Senators OF
the steering committee gather around
Mr.. Hale's desk, where they have little
informal talk about what the latest de-
velopments are. The reealcitrant Re-
publcans were brought around in due
season, but now it is the Democrats who
are giving trouble. -