Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-04-03
CAPITAL CHAT,
Maine Men Affected by
Consular Bill.
Petitions from Maine for the
Grange Good Roads Bill.
Prospects Of the Shipping Bill Maine
People in Washington.

Washington. d. c., April 2.-(SpeciaD
several Maine men i'll the consular
service will be affected financially by
the consular reform bill, which was
agreed to by both Senate and House
last week and now goes to the Prcsi-
dent for signature. 1T is not believed
that amy of them will be extensively
affected i'll their compensation, how
ever. But all fees are abolished un-
der the new law and all consuls and
consuls general vii. be put on definite
salary.
The consulate at st. Stephen New
Brunswick. which is just across the
line from Maine, now becomes Il con-
sulate of the eighth class. All consulS
serving in that class receive the same
salary-$2,000 a year. The present
United States Consul at st. Stephen is
Charles y. Mccullough, who was ap-
pointed by President Mckinley. back i'll
1897. He has been drawing a salary Of
$1,500 a year and fees that amounted
generally to about $500 a year in addi-
ton. Accordingly Mr.. Mccullough
will profit slightly by the new law.
II. w. Metcalf of Maine. has one Of
the best consulates at Newcastle on
Tyne. held by any Maine man. 1t is
in class six. where the salary is $4,000
His aggregate compensation will be
reduced somewhat. as he has been re-
ccivinS a stated salary of $1,000 and
fees that made his salary almost $1,000
more Harry 2. Dill, another Maine
consul, stationed at Port Hope,
Canada, where he was appointed in 1900
creased his salary by about 5000 more
will after June 30 next, when the new
law goes into force, receive a salary of
$500. He came near being candi-
date for transfer, for the consular
reform bill, as it passed the Senate
abolished the cor25lllssse at Port Hope.
Senators found that some provinces of
Canada had more consuateS than the
business warranted and nearly a dozen
Of them were abolished. But the
House found a better arrangement by
which Port Hope was restored to the
bill and it is also in the law.
Ernest 4. Wakefield. consul at
Orillia, Canada, since May. 1900 WILL
beginning with the next fiscal year
have a salary Of $1,000 which is about
what he has been receiving under the
salary and fee system.
These instances illustrate fairly well
how other Maine men i'll the consular
service come out under the new law.
/ is unlikely that any of them will lose
their places. for it is proposed to trans
fer the men. who are legiSlated out of
office by the measure. into new con-
sulatcs created by the same law. pro-
vidcd. they have had an efficient
record.
Senator Frye. rs II member Of the
committee on foreign relations, had an
active part in framing and amending
the consular bill 1t was drawn by
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts. and
approved by Secretary Root. but the
work Of those two was all concurred in
by Senator FRYE. who was consulted
whenever any important step was tax
en-. Senator Lodge wanted To haN"
Mr.. Frye with him on the conference
committee. but Senator Cullom was
chosen instead.
Representative Burlcigh mas received
4 petition from several citizens "f
Main" for the Granger good roads bill
These petitions have been presented by
him to tho House and referred 20 the
committee on agriculture of Which
Representative WadSWorth Of New
York is chairman. The members Of
the House Committee on Agriculture
do not offer much hope for the favor
able consideration of that bill at TINS
session Of Congress. Many Of us
members are opposed to good roads
legislation and furthermore the COM
mittcc has been dcvOiinE the time At
most of its meetings this session To
hearings on the annual appropriation
bill. 50 that practically little legislation
will he attempted by Chairman Wads-
worth. except the annual appropriation
bill
O1litc - number of petitions are COM
ing in from New England for the bill
to remove the tax from dcnaturallZcd
alcohol. That has already been re-
ported favorably by the House Com
mittce on WAYS and Means and will
nroboblv he nassed by the House be-
fore Congress adjourns. The enact
ment of the bill into law would prob
ably be Of some benefit to the farmers
of Aroostook who raise potatoes, as the
decayed potatoes and potatoes other
wise unfit for market could be used in
making alcohol fit for use in the arts
and as fuel for running motors. such
as those in motor boats and automo-
biles.
The Vermont grangers are taking
more interest just now than the
grancers in any other section of New
England in the success of the so-called
free alcohol bill. It is said that other
vegetables except potatoes can easily
he manufactured into alcohol for use in
the arts and at a cost which makes the
process profitable
Representative Alexander. of Buffalo
and C-oI Stanley Plummer. of Maine. |
former classmates at Bowdoin. and old
time friends. are hobnobbing much to-
satner here in the last few days They
have been intimate for many years.
<oon,;rued on Page Seyen.)