The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1906-12-20
Gov. Bur|eigh in Washington

THE SHIP SUBvENTION BILL. THE
HOLIDAY ADJOURNMENT. SENATOR
HALE AT THE HELM.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. IT, The advent
of a session Of Congress always brings re-
newed interest for the people of the third
Maine district, for it brings Gov. Burleigh,
its representative for the past ten years,
back here. The Governor and Mrs. Bur-
leigh came this year 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 re-
garded as one of the most experienced men,
bers, knows everybody, and was welcomed
by Democrats and Republicans from every
section of the country on the opening day.
Gov. Burleigh looks upon his work in the
House as only part of his duties as Con-
gresham. Officials in the departments
know him as well as do Senators and men,
bers. He cultivates their acquaintance
quite as much, for a large part of his activi-
ties are among them. The Governor became
aware, soon after he reached Washington
as new member of the House, that one
can do as much for his constituents outside
of the Capitol as he can inside of it. Many
members regard the forenoons as their
leisure time. They take things easy until
noon, the hour when the House convenes,
and instead of attending the sessions of the
House devote most of their afternoons to
correspondence and other business which
happens to be pressing.
1t has long been Gov. Burleigh's pro-
gramme to rise early, get his correspond
ence out of the way by the time that many
lawmakers are getting their breakfasts, and
then start off for round of the depart
meIss to execute the errands his constitu-
ents have entrusted to him. He is one of
the most frequent of Congressional visitors
to the pension Office, which is bureau of
the interior department., and to the post
Office department, where there are always
many little matters affecting the conven-
ience of third district people in securing an
efficient mail service. The governor
brought big bundle of pension papers
from Maine, which he has been presenting
of his time since he reached Washington in
disposing of these pension cases and in
forming the Maine applicants what success
he has had.
Many in the Congressional circle were
very glad to welcome Mrs. Burleigh, who
was seriously i'll during most of the last
session. She has host of Washington
friends, who were gratifed to know that
she has well nigh recovered. The greetings
she and Gov. Burleigh received at the Rich
mond Hotel, where they spend their win
ters in Washington. was especially cordial.
The Maine men in the House are much
discouraged over the prospects of the ship
Senate would have been of some benefit to
the sailing vessels along the Maine coast.
The cargoes these vessels carry in the for
eign trade would have come within the
terms of the Senate bill. But the House is
plainly determined to eliminate cargo sub
sides entirely. Representative Littlefeld,
who is member of the Merchant Marine
committee, has been working with his col
leagues around the committee table in the
hope of having some feature that would
help Maine vessels retained, and Gov. Bur
leigh has been working with the general
membership of the House. The hostility
of Speaker Cannon, who comes from the
is no shipping, except what goes up and
down the river, has been the chief obstacle
to the legislation.
Gov. Burleigh has been one of the most
earnest friends of shipping in the House
and, in his effective way, has cooperated in
urging every important shipping measure
that has come before the House during his
service there. He believ ves that there is as
much reason for building up the ship build
ing and the ship sailing industry of the
United States as there has ever been for
building up almost any other industry that
now contributes to the cOuntry'S prestige
and prosperity. The Senate bill would
probably have helped the Maine shipbuild-
ers materially: They may gain something
from subsidy bill, such as is now com
templated, but it will be in only minor
way.
The principle of the subsidy now pro-
posed by Speaker Cannon and some of his
supporters is for payments solely to vessels
carrying mails and by the speed prescribed,
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 ship or two for SER
vice 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 shipping
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 re-
suit this session with the ship subsidy bill
They would like to see another race of sea
captains along the Maine coast such as
there was a half century ago and believe
that proper encouragement OF cur mer
chant marine would increase Names
prestige on the ocean.
Congress, which is always the big event
of the yer in Washington, has hardly
come before it is about ready to go again
for the holidays. 1t will come back again
after the New Year, but then there will be
only two months left,as the present Congress
will expire by constitutional limitation
March 4th. With the activity that now en-
cages the national Capital during session
two months fly by almost like so many
weeks.
At the very outset the House defeated the
pilOtage bill, which is a bit of legislation
the State of Maine, with its many sailing
vessels, touching at Southern ports, wanted
badly. If the old adage about a bad begin
ming presaging good ending holds true,
Maine ought to get something pretty good
within the next two months.
Hole nf of ho holu