Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-12-19


The Senate has already realized the
wisdom OF his attitude from the start re-
garding insular possessions, and therefore
republican senators fiocked to his stand
ard when he insisted on saving clause in
this treaty that affects our commercial re-
lations with Morocco. SO strongly did he
present the case, that 1t was shown The
treaty could not have been ratified unless
his provision for non-interference had
been accepted.
The session thus far has been full of gin
ger, although most of the prophets
thought it would be decidedly dull. The
Senate and House have been engaged upon
interesting debates, and the outlook now
is for plenty of politics, which always
adds to the interest here. Both parties
are sparring lively for political advantage.
The Maine men in the House are much
discouraged over the prospects of the ship
subvertion bill, which, as passed by the
Senate, would have been of some benefit
to the sailing vessels along the Maine
coast. The cargoes those vessels carry in
the foreign trade would have come within
the terms of the Senate bill. But the
House is plainly determined to eliminate
cargo subsidies entirely. Representative
Littlefield, who is member of the mer-
chant marine committee, has been work.
ing with his colleagues around the COM
mittee table in the hope OF having some
feature that would help Maine vessels re-
tanned, and Gov. Burleigh has been work
ing with the general membership of the
House. The hostility OF Speaker Cannon,
who comes from the Mississippi valley,
where, OF course, there is no shipping,
except what goes up and down the river,
has been the chief obstacle to the iegisl. =
tion.
Gov. Burleigh has been one OF the most
earnest friends of shipping in the House,
and. in his effective way, has co-operated
in urging every important shipping meas
ure that has come before the House dur
ing his service there. He believes that
there is as much reason for building up
the ship building and the ship-saiiing in
dustry of the United States as there has
ever been for building up almost any
other industry that now contributes to
country's prestige and prosperity. The
Senate bill would probably have helped
the Maine ship builders materially.
They may gain something from subsidy
bill, such as is now contemplated, but it
will be in only minor way.
The principl. of the subsidy now pro-
/. 4 e., nf n, 10
supporters is for payments solely to ves-
sells carrying mails and by the speed pre-
scribed, and those vessels must be steam
vessels. As the subsidies proposed are solely
for lines to South America, on both coasts,
and to the Orient, it is improbable that
any OF the ships would be built on the
Maine coast, unless it should be a ship or
two for service down the Atlantic coast of
South America.
Maine has had fight, extending over
many years, in behalf of better conditions
for American ships. Most of the ship
ping legislation of the last twenty-five
years that has passed Congress has been
largely the work of Maine men. They are
not likely to give up the fight, whatever
the result this session with the ship sub
sidy bill. They would like to see another
race of sea-captains along the Maine
coast, such as there was half century
ago, and believe that proper encourage
ment OF our merchant marine would in
crease Names prestige on the ocean.
The advent of a session of Congress al
ways brings renewed interest for the peo-
Pile of the third Maine district, for 1t
brings Gov Burleigh back here. The
Governor and Mrs. Burleigh came few
days before the session opened. By the
time the speakers gavel fell in the House,
the governor had settled down to his
work. He is now regarded as one OF the
experienced members, knows everybody,