Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-21
CAPITAL CHAT.
The Favorable Chances Of the
Root Militia Bill.
Rural Delivery Appropriation Will Be
Very Large.
Maine Visitors to Washington-Work
Of Our Members.

Washington, d. c., Jan. 20.-(SpeciaD
Although there are some marked diff
ferences between the militia bill, as it
passed the House and as it passed the
Senate. there is little doubt that the bill
will speedily become law and that it
will be possible at an early day to in
form the legislatures of the various
states as to what the prospects are for
a reorga aized militia force. The belief
is that the House will concur with the
Senate in striking out the provision for
a reserve force of 10000 men.
If the session had been longer Sena-
tor Proctor of Vermont, who has been
in charge of the militia bill on the floor
of the Senate, would have insisted on
keeping it in. The trouble was that
the Southern senators, who are eternal
ly talking about the constitution,
thought they saw great opportunity
for a constitutional discussion on that
paragraph. for a reserve force. When
they get started ON that tack, no one
can tell how long they are going to
talk. But there was an added difficulty
in that several of the Democratic SEN
ators who insist on discussing that
feature of the bill are away from Wash
duties. Therefore it would have been
an act of discourtesy to pass the bill
with that feature in until they had re-
turned.
Accordingly, as the session was fast
slipping away it was deemed advisable
not to lose the excellent provisions of
the bill for the sake of one paragraph.
The passage of the bill is one of the OBJ
jects for which Secretary Root has been
aiming many years and which he has
held as second in Importance only to
the general staff bill, which has been
passed by the Senate and now is pend
| ing before the House.
The Maine delegation in Congress has
been very busy since the beginning OF
the session Of Congress, following the
holidays and their work is increasing
| in volume almost every week. They
all voted for the Department of Com
merce bill, which was completed by the
House last Saturday. This was a
| measure for which Governor Burleigh
toiled very industriously, as he be-
lieves it is a step towards the proper
recognition Of the commercial and abor
interests of the United States. Agri-
cultural interests now very properly
have a representative in the Cabinet
and world of benefit has resulted to
/ the farmers of the country, who could
now hardly do without such an aid in
their business. But, as Governor Bur-
| leigh reasons, our development, par
ticularly in recent years, has been
| phenomenal along lines of business
and industrial activity and those inter-
l co In y,cgx-
that they are fully entitled to a seat
| in the cabinet and Il special representa-
tive who in all matters of legislation
and administration programs shall
| be able to keep an eye out for the best
| interests of those industries.
Mr.. r. w. Dunn of Waterville, Me-,
who has been at the Hamilton Hotel
| for several days. awaiting the arrival
of the remains of Col. A. f. Buck, late
| minister to Japan, is returning to Maine
early this week. He is accompanied by
| Mrs. e. c. Dudley of Augusta, sister
| of Mrs. Buck, but Mrs. Rice of Rock
| land, another sister, is going to Atlanta,
| Ca. to remain with Mrs. Buck for Il
time. They had a tedious time here,
| awaiting the funeral. The war de-
lpartment several times sent detach-
| ment of soldiers to the depot, as al
escort and several men, prominent in
public life and eminent army officers
were also waiting that the remains
might be conducted to Arlington,
which is two or three miles distant
across the Potomac, with due honors
But twice this retinue was compelled
to disband because of the delay in the
trains and the inability of those at
tending Mrs. Buck to get telegraphic
word to Washington.
Mr.. Dunn remained in town over
Sunday, visiting a niece, and left here,
Monday. He was at the Capitol. Satur-
day, and paid his respects to some
friends there.
Governor Burleigh has had several
conferences with Representative Loud,
chairman of the committee on post
Offices and postroads, in which he has
urged large appropriation for rural
free delivery during the coming fiscal
year. Mr.. Loud has always beer,
somewhat disinclined to appropriate
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