Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-05-16
Naval Legislation Leaders.
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close upon 500, o0o, 900, or, to be exact, 500
7s4, 215.77. This represents reduction
from the departmental estimates OF nearly
SO. 900. The recommendations OF the
committee, together with the comments
from that source. are printed elsewhere.
The text of the bill, as originally drafted,
was printed in our issue of March 81.
The legislation is in the hands, prinei-
palIy, of two men Representative Foss in
the House and Senator Hale in the Senate.
AT this time something of these leaders
is OF interest.
Senator Eugene Hale, chairman OF the
Senate naval committee, is one of the
ablest and most prominent men in public
life. No senator is more influential, more
trusted or more effective in the committee
room or on the floor Of the Senate. His
advice is much sought in legislation, not
being confined to matters Immediately
under his control. He has gained mer-
tied reputation for managing bills in the
| Senate He seldom makes what may be
| termed speech, but often courts inquiry
| from other senators in relation to bills IN
1 his charge.
| His language is scholarly and choice.
/ He speaks without notes and his remarks
do not need revising. He has marked
self-control and is at his best in colloquial
! debate, when extraneous matter is sud
denly sprung upon the Senate. A short
I time before be died, Senator Hanna took
him to task for not talking more. The
business men OF Maine look to no enc
more than to him for help when matters
of importance to them need able handling
in the departments or in Congress.
He is criticised, both at home and
throughout the country, for his position in
regard to Cuba and the acquisition OF the
Philippines, but the honesty of his pur-
pose and the wisdom of his conservative
course, recognized by many prominent in
his party at the time, are more generally
accredited now. The senator's brief
speeches ON appropriations for the 18th
milan canal and the Morocco conference
created marked impressions, as have the
few suggestions he has offered on the rail-
road rate bill.
Senator Hale's prominence in matters
relating to the navy is familiar TO all who
follow congressional proceedings. He has
the honor of having reporte in the Sem
ate every naval appropriation bill for the
/ building of the new navy, from 1881 to the
present time. In naval legislation, having
become thoroughly familiar with this
branch of the public service, he has at
times differed with prominent naval Of
fcers as to legislation to be enacted. and is
now opposed to q majority of the board
(Which recommends as TO the vessels TO be
constructed by our navy as TO the change
of the battle ships at the head OF our
naval program.
His speech ON the naval appropriat ion
bill in the last Congress is pronounced by
Legislators and others familiar with the
subject as one of the ablest and most
thorough which has been made since the
new navy was begun. 1t covers all the
phases of the question and shows that we
stand, in reckoning all vessels built and
building, nearly abreast of the other great
naval powers OF the world, and the COM
parison given in this speech with the
other navies of the globe has been often
quoted in congressional debate.
/ OF late, Senator Hale, outside of his
work on the committee on appropriations,
OF which he is the second member, and on
/ the committee on naval affairs, of which
: be is chairman, has devoted consider
able time to the subject Of the United
States carrying supplies for the army and
navy in ships owned by the United States,
and successfully conducted through the
I Senate bill accomplishing this purpose.
I He is also much interested in beautify-
/ ing the city of Washington and in having
public buildings placed on the triangle
below Pennsylvania avenue, between the
Botanic garden and the treasury, and in
the last Congress led the opposition to
Senator Fairbanks bill which seeks TO
place some of the public buildings else
I where.
OF course, Senator Hale's long service
has given him advancement which comes
from seniority of service, but this alone
could not have given him the share of
friendship and the confidence of the body
which he possesses; il would not make
him one of the leading members next to
the chairman of the steering committee,
or have given him the Craftsmanship OF
committees, which he has held during the
two last reorganizations of the Senate
committees.
Mr.. Hale has no aspirations beyond the
Senate. He has been twice offered a cab
met position and prominent metro
poiitsn journal in suggesting him for
consideration as candidate for President,
said: ''Mr. Hale's career has not been a
meteoric one-a fash, a report and dis
appearsnce-briiliant for years. il has
been ever of distinguished merit, and,
while the entire republic has had the re-
suits OF his unceasing work, Maine has
acted with the rarest wisdom in giving the
country such q SENATOR