Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-11
CAPITAL CHAT.
Continued from page ID

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|, buy suitable site either in Bar Har-
Dor or Augusta and that instead OF
$4,000 for each as Governor Burleigh
had at first requested, $4,000 We're
really necessary. He therefore asked
that both those increases be included
in the original House bill, which was
done.
There was still another project for
Maine. in which the Governor was in
terested. Representative Allen had
introduced in past Congresses bills for
a court house at Portland. The Gov
ernor tried to help Mr. Allen with that
when the public building bill was
drawn last year, but found he could
not take care of the project at Augusta
and the projects in the eastern part of
Maine. also looking out for Portland
Therefore Portland was left out and
the Governor set about having a start
made for Portland this year, knowing
that once site was purchased by the
government it was comparatively easy
later on to get appropriations for the
structure. But the general under
standing had been that only uncom
pleted projects We're to be cared for on
the omnibus bill of this session and the
at Portland and elsewhere in the
Governor Burleigh arranged Il scheme
by which several new projects were to
be authorized and got Portland into it
for $4,000 for a court house site.
| In that shape the bill was reported
cut of the House Committee on public
buildings and grounds. 1t was believ-
| ed that it could be gotten through the
House readily but unexpected opposi-
ton developed. Speaker Henderson
and Uncle Joe" Cannon. among others
declared their unalterable opposition to
the passage of the bill at this session
They argued that if it went Though
| the House with the new sites it would
| be loaded down with amendments in
the Senate and that the total of the
bill would reach appalling figures
which the treasury could not we'll stand.
| They also We're generally opposed to
| the legislation at this session. as the
| rule has been for public building bill
only once in two years.
| Thereupon Gov. Burleigh and other
| leading members of the Committee held
| a consultation and decided that the
| best way was to get the bill first
| through the Senate. Then it began to
| look as though the Portland item would
certainly have to go out of the bill. for
Senators We're convinced that Speaker
Henderson and Mr.. Cannon would not
stand for any of the new sites. The
| bill was reported out of the Senate
Committee on public buildings and
grounds with the sites eliminated and
promptly passed. the other three Maine
| items being retained. The House COM
mittee Went to work again. and instead
of reporting favorably the Senate bin
as it passed over there, amended it so
as to read exactly as their original bill
had read. The fury among the House
leaders was pretty strong but just then
the Democrats had begun filibustering
and some amendments to the rules
were necessary to get the imperative
business of the session transacted be- |
fore March 4. The public buildings
Committee, and their friends. a decided
majority of the members on both sides
of the chamber. talked strongly of
refusing the new rules unless the
Chairman of the Committee should be
recognized to call up the omnibus bill |
for consideration.
The bluff worked and permission for |
the passage of the bill was given and |
not many days afterwards it passed |
the House by a very large majority |
with all the amendments made by the |
House Committee.
In the conference. however. a new |
battle had to be fought, for the Sena-
tors claimed they had been tricked and |
given no chance to put on amendments |
for the sites they would have liked |
The two Maine Senators, Mr.. Hale and |
Mr.. Frye. We're entirely satisfied. for |
Gov. Burleigh had cared for every |
thing wanted in Maine. However the |
fight became SO severe as to threaten |
the success of the bill. One OIL the |
most vigorous of the Senate confer |
ees was Mr.. Warren. of Wyoming, who |
declared at first he would never allow |
the bill to become law and would never |
sign the conference report. The Maine |
Senators promptly trained their bat |
teries on him but at first without effect. |
Senator Frye brought all the influence |
to bear he could command upon this |
Wyoming Republican. He saw him |
twice one day and as Mr.. Warren still |
persisted in hanging out. Gov. Bur
leigh suggested to Mr. Frye that he see
him once again, and he did. Finally |
through the persuasion of Mr.. Hale Mr.. |
and the conference report was agreed |
to, adopted by both houses. signed by |
the President, and is now to be carried |
into execution by the Treasury Depart
Iment.
The Maine men. who We're instru-
mental in getting the legislation for
that section of the country. feel as
though they had been through stiff |
ioht bllt are ppynrtbaIaSs apfiral1- f |
istied with the results
Congressman Bureighs nephew
from Houlton. Me-. Parker P. Burleigh |
and his wife. Mrs. Burleigh, have been
in Washington for some days, leaving,
Saturday. for a visit in Philadelphia |
and New York. Mr.. and Mrs. Burleigh |
We're presented to President Roosevelt.
Saturday, by Congressman Burleigh.
AMERICAN ICE CO.