Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-04
CAPITAL CHAT.
How Maine Won a Fioht
in the House.
Cleveland Public Building to Be
Made Of Maine Granite.
An Incident That Strengthened the
Bonds Between Ohio and Maine.

Washington March 3-(SpecialD-
Maine had a good fight on the floor of
The House and won It Il few nights ago.
Representative I.it,lefield was the hero
q: the victory. 1t was over the con-
9truction of Il public building at Cl.va-
land. Ohio, AMI rs tar as outward ap-
rearances were concerned and as far
as the reading public generally knew.
ii Seemed TO be d fight in which Repre-
sentative Burton. of Ohio. was chiefly
concerned.
1t was. however. much more than
that. The question involved was
whether the nubiic building at Cleve-
land. which is Mr.. Burton's home
town. should he construct ed of sand
stone or of granite. /: happens that if
he building is q granite as it will be
h1 material is to Come from Maine
under bids already made. John Pierce.
formerly OF Name and largely inter-
rsted in Maine nuarries. being the sue
"eSsful bidder for that kind of ma
terial The fight. which started a long
time ago, was renewed in the public
buildings committee. as already told in
the Journal. Ex-GOv. Err,eigh had
sandstone construction, including
Secretary of the Treasury Shaw, down
and out. The vote i'm committee was
upon the question of Il favorable report
upon the RuTtOl resolution that the
cleveland building should be construc
ted OF granite. The "Otn stood eleven
to three. Representative Burton re-
Moved the fight on the Sundry Civil
Bill. During his absence from the hall
his enemies Slipped a provision for
sandstone through but when he re-
turned he found Representative Little
field preparing the fight 10 undo that
action.
The press dispatches have already
outlined what happened in general
way. There were. however. many in
teresting details th1t have not been
told. Mr. Littleteld. alert to what was
Going. took hold with will. When he
and Mr. Burton started to force q
motiOn through TO racur to the objac-
tionabi" paragraph. Mr.. Littlefield ex-
:lorted Republicans 10 stand with him.
On the first vote there were only nine
Republicans rising. Among them was
Representative Alexander, Of New
1tTk. WHO Is Il Mulll'' man. VII VP
Alack." sail Mr. LittleGeld. looking
around towards Alexander as the vote
VAS about to be taken. Alexander
afterwards said it was as though his
body had been of lead. for he disliked
go against the appropriations Com
mittee. but he Oheyed knowing what
the fight meant to the Maine men.
TIE few Republicans and the Demo-
Gratis made 4 majority OF the committee
% the whole. for thu attendance in the
House was very lean at tie time. 1t be-
ing along in the shank OF the evening,
when many had hurried home to din
ner.
After a long hard fight. full of par
liamenta:y knots. the paragraph was
reconsidered ard Mr.. Eurton's pro-
vision for the constru ctinn Of a granite
building went through. This was done
in spite of Speaker Cannon and the APP
rropriatiOns committee. some Of whom
FASTENED away from thu Capitol in tho
hone of breaking = quorum. Tho
House eventually voted for a granite
building and there is now no danger of
that being undone in the Senate.
A. a matter Of fact Senator Hale. al
most rs soon az the House fight was
over. bad taken Steps to assure the en-
Il, t,nent of tn, .,rovisiol into law. He
is an influential member Of the Senate
approximations committee and does not
propose that big contracts for granite
shall he taken away from Maine men.
Mr.. Hale will SEQ to it that the House
provision stays in the hill. which will
preclude any possibility of its being
changed or stricken ont in conference
The members of the Maine delegation
have been in jubilatiOn ever since the
victory was won 1t was n splendid
victory al! along the line and especially
so because of the strong forces ar
rayed in opposition. The secretary of
the treasury, the speaker. and the ap- |
prnpriations committee. and other in |
f1ueniial men make a strong combina- |
timl. which il is rot easy to beat in |
these DAYS when the House is splendid |
" organized and Republicans are well |
discinlined Poth Of the scrimmages
over the Cleveland public building mat
ter illustrate better than anything
which has happened in this Congress
that Maine is still strong in the popu-
lar branch.
At the dinner of the Rowdoin Alumni
Association Tuesday evening many of
the facts regarding the fight were
rehearsed around the tables and Repre-
sentative I.ittlefeld was praised for the
effective way in which he came to the
front Had it not been for him the
fight won,d have been lost and a sand
stone quarry out near Cleveland. Of
which Representative Reidler of Ohio.
is president. would have secured a fat
contract.
The effects of the victory will also be
GOOD because Of the gratitude Repre-
sentative Burton feels. He had en-
tsrad into the controversy with great
sn;r;t 81 want this public building in
cleveland said he to Governor Bur-
leigh "as a sort Of monument to my
CONTINUED on Page seven.)