Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-21
CAPITAL CHAT.
Activity in Congress Regarding
American Shipping.
Senator HaIs's Arduous Labor for His
Constituency.
Maine DcIeg alton in Congress Has
Been Successful.

"A close. although generally denominat-
ed a do-nothing Congress. has been re-
marksble for the activity i'm behalf of
American shipping. In this particular
the ship owners along the Maine coast
have received not a little benefit and
the work done, this winter. promises to
be but starter for what will be done
later on. The secretary of the Atlantic
Coast Carriers Association, T.. G.
Plummer of Bath. has been here good
part of the session, constantly urging
shipping Legislation. The members of
the Maine delegation have been alert
to such legislation and have really done
vast amount of work in the direction
of henefitting shipping.
The bill, requiring army and navy
supplies to be shipped in American bot
toms, when this can be done at reason
able rates. has become law. 1t was
introduced and urged by Senator Frye
and it is already assured that this bill
will become law. The bill requiring
all shipping between the United States
and the Philippine islands to be in
American bottoms after July 1, 1908.
was pressed in the Senate by Mr.. Hale,
to whose activity teh enactment of the
bill into law is very largely due. Then
there are the fights which the Maine
men have been making against the adj
mission of foreign built ships. which
have been wrecked and repaired in our
yards, to American registry. This fight
has not awaited in the House. but there
are prospects that it will avail in the
Senate. to the extent. at least. that the
bills for several such ships. which
would come Immediately into compe-
titiOn with American built ships. cannot
become law ut this session. 1t is not inn
probable that the enactment of these
bills will be defeated in the Senate al
together.
Furthermore Senator Hale made Il
fight for the amendment to the canal
bill. requiring all materials. supplies
and men for the construction OF the
isthmian canal to h, carried in Amer
lean built ships. Because of opposition
and the lateness of the session. Mr..
Hale felt constrained to withdraw that
amendment, after it had been debated
somewhat. but he has given notice of
his intention to press it vigorously at
the next session Of Congress. At the
same time, he felt that another amend
mont. which was adopted, to extend tina
coastwise laws Of the United States to
the Panama canal strip. would. for the
present. fairly well satisfy the wishes
of American ship owners.
So all in ALL it will be seen that the
campaign in the interests OF American
shipping has been very successfully
prosecuted at the present session of
Congress. There is not man i'm the
Maine delegation but what has helped
it along. but Senators Hale and Frye
have done the lions share OF the work
because Of their influence on legisla-
ton at that end ot the Capitol.
The Maine members of the House
who attended their nominating convcn-
tons last week, are back here now
Representative Littlefield, not only at
tended the convention at Lewiston
where no was rcnominatcd. but ne also
attended the state convention at Port
| land. and coming still farther back
towards WASHINGTON. attended the
state Republican convention in Massa :
chusetts for a while. So that he heard
the argument Of Mr.. Eugene Foss in
behalf of Canadian reciprocity, and
likewise part Of the reply of Senator
Lodge.
The clamor heard in some quarters
for Canadian reciprocity. does not meet
with much 90 u response among tho
Maine Senators an,i members. Mir Hale
voiced the general sentiment the other
day when nc declared that the modern
! reciprocity idea is for reciprocity in
competing products. when the reciprOci-
| ty of Blaine was for reciprocity in
non-competing products. In his recent
talks with the President on tho sub
Jet Mr. Hale has stoutly emphasized
| his hostility TO anything s:caCking of
this modern reciprocity. While it might
result in some advantage to small sec
tons OF the urban population of Main"
it would be very deleteriOus to the
farming population. a similar view has
| been expressed hera in influential quar-
ters of late by Senators and Represen-
tatives from other states along tho
borders and it is certain that there
will he no declarations in the Chicago
platform that will encourage this mod
crn reciprocity at the expense of the
farming population.
The success of the Maine delegation
In congress tEtS NiItt't III SctuiiitS bp-
propriations which will aid the fisheries
industry in the state in years to come
and make Maine the headaIarters Of
the hatchery work of the federal gov
eminent is not to be overlooked in a
summary of the session. The appropria-
ton of $4,000 additional for the further
equipment of the new cod and lobster
hatchery at Boothbay harbor is al
ready assured. as well as an appropria-
ton of 80. 500 for Craig Brook. 1t is al
SO probable that sum OF $4,000 will be
appropriated for the Improvement of
the water supply at Green Lake. al
though that item has not yet passed
the final test. senator Hale and Rep
resenta,ive LittIeield have been chief
ly instrumental in bringing about
those appropriations but they have had
the support of all the Maine men in
Congress.
Some work has been done in behalf of
the hi, for the determination of dogtish
along the Atlantic coast. that bill pro-
vidine for a bounty of two cents for ev-
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