Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-02-24
CAPITAL CHAT.
A5Busy; Time Fdr Maine
Men in Congress.
Nj. Hale Clearing the Decks
for Appropriation Bills.
Gov. BurIsigh Giving Much Time 10 The
Public Building Bill.

Washington, d. c. Feb. 23.-(Spcc-
| iaD The busy season for the two
Maine senators and the four Mallie
representatives in Congress is now at
| its height. Every man of them is at
work at least one measure which Con-
Sress is to take up at some date, pre-
sumabiy not far distant. AS the pro-
gram for the session is now pretty
well outlined and the time for general
| legislation is becoming limited the
hurry to have measures ready against
the hour when the Senate or the House
wants them is great.
The two senators are always busy
when Congress is here, because they
always have bills of Importance to look
after in committee as well as in the
Senate. Mr.. Hale is now clearing the
decks for the appropriation bills,
which will be coming thick and fast in
his quarter before very long. III the
meantime, besides keeping Il general
eye out on the business of the Senate
as the leader in that body must do, he
is fighting the Philippine tariff bill.
Mr. Hale has been attending most Of
the hearings in the Philippine commit
tee and putting the witnesses for the
bill under close cross examination, in
Guiding Secretary of War Taft. The
senior Maine senator may not be abe
to defeat the bill. But there are many
Republican senators. who think as he
does that it is unwise to tinker with
the tariff even for the benefits any of
the insular possessions and they will
work with him to prevent its passage
by the Senate at this session.
Both Mr.. Hale and Mr.. Frye took an
active interest in the Shipping bill
which passed the Senate few days
ago. Mr.. Frye especially watched it
carefully during the long debates in the
Senate. Both of the Maine senators
made strong speeches in favor of the
measure on the final day. Just now
Mr.. Frye is giving some attention also
to the case of Collector E. S. Crosby
of Bath. Me-, whose confirmation, at
Mr.. FryeS request. was held up till
charges could be forwarded here. The
nomination. as executive business was
referred to the commerce committee. of
W hich he is chairman. There have al
so been many nominations by the
President during this session, referred
to Mr.. Frye's committee for consider
alton. The scrutinizing of those nomi-
nations, including large number of
collectors of customs all over the
country has taken no little time Mr.
Frye has also been helping along in
the preliminary campaign in the House
to awaken interest in the shipping bill,
working there in conjunction with Rep
resentative Littlefield, who is a MEM
bcr Of the committee on merchant
marine where the shipping bill will be
considered.
All the Maine members of the House
have been working to help defeat the
bill for the consolidation of customs
districts throughout the country, as the
enactment of that bill into law would
strike at several collectors in Maine.
Representative Burleigh did some very
effective work i'll organizing the oppo-
Sit1On to that. He worked as thorough
II and successfully as when he organ
lied the fight against reducing Names
representation in the National House
few years ago and viewed with no
little satisfaction the results of his eff
fCrts when the vote on the considera-
tioIi VI tIlc oIOuSll by Sna1f-
man Payne of the ways and means
committee. was announced. That vote
in reality killed the bill, although
Chairman Payne made two or three in
efGectual attempts subsequently to have
it taken up.
Further than that Gov. Burleigh has
been much occupied of late with the
preparation of that omnibus public
building bill. which it has now been
decided shall carry at least $4,000, 900.
AS the Republican member thereof,
next 10 the chairman. a large share of
the work has fallen upon his shoulders
and the hearings which have been go
ing on for several weeks are now num-
bering two or three daily. Gov. Bur
leigh has held several conferences with
the Speaker on the preparations of the
bill. Nearly every member of the
House is pressing for some item and
it takes long time to properly deter
mine just where the money can best be
spent and who shall be turned down.
The Sd District representative said to-
day that the bill would probably be
completed about the middle of March
Representative Powers is also one of
the Maine men who have been working
effectually, against the customs re-or-
ganization bill. He used to be tide
waiter himself and knows by person.
al experience what the collectors IN
Maine have to do. Gov. Powers helped
in lining up the Republicans. and
Democrats, too. and subsequently made
a speech in the House setting forth
how the bill would accomplish no
economies in expenditure. Gov. Pow
ers is also working on a number of
bills in the House committee on terri
tories. where hearings are being con-
Quoted almost every day on some
measure of interest to the territories.
Representative Littlefield has his
hands full with the anti-pilotage bill
which he has especially championed all
most ever since he was in Congress.
At first it seemed almost a hopeless