The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-12-15
Letter from Washington.
SAYINGS AND DOINGS AT THE M.
TIONAL CAPITAL.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. IL. Legislative
interest is not at high pitch at the Capitol
this winter, although there are one or two
questions of importance to the Maine coast.
The unusual dullness is due to at least two
causes. One is the overwhelming Republic
can majority and the other is the growing
treasury deficit, which makes retrenchment
In legislation imperative. When 80 senators
and 1856 members come to Washington, all
looking for legislation that will carry ap-
preparations of benefit to their constituents,
and find the public funds low and economy
the watchword on every hand, they quickly
but buckle down to transacting the business
which constituents have before the depart
ments and consent to wait for the bigger
things, like river and harbOr appropriations,
public buildings, and other improvements.
We're 1t not for the deficit and the fears
that it may become larger, there would be
an aggressive sentiment here this winter
for the encouragement of American ship
ping. No subject of legislation is of more
vital Importance along the Maine coast. A
commission has been sitting in the beau
tifully frescOed committee room of Senator
Gallinger of New Hampshire for two or
three weeks, taking testimony and consid-
ering methods of reviving the ship building
industry. Not few prominent men in pub
lie life, including Senators Hale and Frye of
Maine, have had strong hopes that out of
this investigation might result in some ac-
ton by Congress this winter. But lack of
ample funds is a pail over Congress, as
much as a lean purse curbs private citi-
zen, and SO every day it has become more
and more doubtful. 1t is plain that Speaker
Cannon, who lives in an interior State, will
fight any such appropriation as stoutly as
he can.
One other shipping measure, which would
be of greater immediate benefit possibly to
Maine, is that to extend the coastwse ship
ping laws to the isthmian canal strip. Sena-
tor Hale has earnestly championed that.
He said a few days ago he expected the
Marine Commission would recommend it in
pected early in January. eff they do re-
port in favor of it," said the Maine Senator,
"we shall try very hard TO put it through"
The presence of the President-eect and
Vice President-elect in Washington all of
the winter prior to their Inauguration in
March, is an unusual thing. Presidents,
who were Presidents elect, have often lived
here, of course, but their running mates
have not often been men in official life here,
as is the case with Senator Fairbanks of
Indiana. Since the four years of Vice
President Adlai E. Stevenson, who served
during the second Cleveland administration,
Washington has seen but little of Vice
Presidents. Vice President Hobart of New
Jersey lived only two or three years of the
Roosevelt was Vice President only few
months before he became President. Of
those few months he only spent week or
two in Washington, while the Senate was
in extraordinary session. So it comes about
that Vice President-elect Fairbanks is quite
lion here this winter. He is well liked in
Washington, as is his estimable wife. They
have big house ON Massachusetts Avenue,
that the family of Chief Justice Fuller,
native of Maine, once occupied, and they
entertain extensively. Mr.. Fairbanks has
now been here almost eight years as
Senator and knows practically everybody in
official life. When he ceases to be Sena-
tor March next by resignation, his salary
of $1,000 will be increased to $4,000, which
is the same as the speaker and as the sew
eral members of the cabinet are paid.
1t used to be an adage in Washington
that President and Vice President could
not expect to be friends. Many have dis
liked each other cordially. Cleveland and
Stevenson had no strong affection for on
But Mckinley and Hobart were the closest
of friends. Mckinley was known to have
little cordial feeling for Roosevelt, but
there never was much opportunity to show
whether this would have continued Ac-
cording all appearances, Roosevelt and
Fairbanks are to be good friends The
Vice President-elect is now on intimate
terms with the occupant of the White
House. They are both very pleasant gen
tlemen personally, as the writer knows
from more or less extended acquaintance
with both, and there is no good reason why
they should not get along together well dur
ing the next four years.
Ex-Governor Burleigh, in whom there is
more interest around Belfast than in any
other member of the National House, came
to Washington little later than usual this
year, but, nevertheless, several days in ad-
vance Of the opening session. He and Mrs.
Burleigh took apartments at the Raleigh
Hotel, where they expect to be until March
4th next. During the recess of Congress,
beginning next week, however, they will go
to New England. The Raleigh is modern
hotel, on the European plan, located in the
heart of the business section Of the city,
and therefore convenient of access for Gov.
Burleigh in his work about the Depart
ments. This feature of his activity as a
member of the House has so increased in
recent years that he feels like economizing
time to the utmost possible. Now he is To-
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