Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-02-10
CAPITAL CHAT.
No Further Armament on
Cushing's Island
Extension Of Rural Free DeIiv-
cry al Plttsadd, Me.
Senator Hale Back at Work AheI
Attack Of the Grip.

Washington, D. c., Feb. 9.-(SpeciaD. 9.
When Gen. Alexander Mckenzie,
chief of Army Engineers, was before
the House subcommittee on appropria-
tions. which framed the fortifications
bill, the other day he had word or two
of interest about the Notifications of
Portland harbor. Every year for al
| most ten years there has been some
thing before Congress about the pur-
chase of land on Cushings Island. The
government now refuses to make fur
| ther purchases, although an estimate
was made for it, which the House has
| turned down. 1t came out during Gen.
| MckenZie's testimony that there will
| be no further armament on Cushings
| Island.
| The testimony on the situation there
is as follows: Representative Walker 1.
Smith Of Counsel Bluffs, Iowa, chair
man Of the subcommittee leading in
the questioning:
| Mr.. Smith-There has been favored
| the purchase Of land on Cushings Is
land. What is the emergency at Cush-
ings Island. General?
General Mckenzie-We are not an
| ticipating any more construction on
| Cushings Island-any emplacement
| construction. This amount is claimed
to be Eeeded for post purposes and al
SO to remove the hotel which is di-
rectly behind the battery. and, of
course, which would be uninhabita
in case OF the use of the battery.
| Mr.. Smith-Yes; that is of deep in
terest to the hotel people, but is it of
deep interest to the United Staes?
| General McKenzie-I have not had
| very much to do with this matter
| think this comes through the quarter
masters department or directly from
the secretary.
Mr.. Smith-Indirectly from the
quartermaster's department through
the secretary. I understand you to say
that you do not contemplate erecting
| any further defences there?
| General Mckenzie-NO; the former
project did contemplate some more
| light guns-rapid- guns
| Mr. Smith-Bur that part has been
| abandoned?
General McKenzie-The report of
| this Taft board will recommend no
more armament on Cushing's Island.
| That question has given considerable
trouble to us sometimes in determining
the question as to where we would put
a battery and as to whether we are
responsible for property in the vicin-
ity which may be damaged, or whether
| there is property from which they can
overlook a fort and as to how far we
should go. We rather felt that those
matters were post matters. rather
Quartermaster matters than fOrtifica-
| ton matters.
Mr.. Smith Was this hotel built there
before any government land was ac-
quired?
General Mckenzie-Oh, yes: and of
| course. think there is no question that
it has been very materially damaged as
a hotel property.
year Of two?
| General Mckenzie-Yes.
| Mr.. Fitzgerald--Where is Cushings
Island?
| Major Abbot-Near White head.
Portland harbor. White head is that
very bold cliff as you enter the har-
hor
| Representative Burleigh has re-
ceived from Oramel Murray, pOstmas-
ter at Pittsfield. Me-. letter enclosing
a petition for the extension of rural
| free delivery route No. 3 and asking
that the petition be placed in the hands
of Inspector E. P. Boutelle. of Bangor,
| Maine. for investigation and report 1t
| has been forwarded by Gov. Burleigh
of the poStOffice department with a re-
quest for compliance with the request.
Postmaster Murray points out that the
route is now d short one and that the
proposed addition makes about one and
4 half miles and return. The extension
would accommodate about 40 persons
| Hon. George M. Seiders and DR.. KIM
ball of Portland have been among the
Maine visitors in Washington during
the past week. Many Maine people are
| tarrying here on their way South to
the warmer climate of Florida. Many
others are coming here for a few days
look at the city when Congress is at
| full blast The city is now very inter-
esting. because Of the general activity
Of all departments Of the government
Six months from now, when the sum-
| iner in on. the city will probably be
half deserted by officials off for a rest,
where now everybody is working 1t be-
ing the governments busiest season.
Besides the usual routine of depart
ment work, there is a vast amount to
be done in connection with the pres
ence of Congress. The Senate and the
House are constantly calling for infor-
nation Of one kind and another. Then
Senators and members are constantly
going 10 the bureaus and departments
for information and on various errands
that keep the clerks and officials hop
ping.
| Furthermore it is an important time
of year because the department is now
looking to Congress to get money with
which to run during the year that be-