The Republican journal., 1906-03-22
Letter from WASHINGTON.
Governor Burleigh's Legislative Work
Senator Hale on the Statehood Bill
The Snip Subventi0n Bill.
Correspondence of The Journal. |

| 1 ne snip SuDventlOn Bill.
Correspondence of The Journal
| WASHINGTON, d. c., March 10, 1906
Ex-Gov. Burleigh continues to be one
of the busiest men in the House. be-
cause Of the work thrust upon him in
connection with the omnibus public
! building bill. Several members of the
committee have been here and there on
! trips of inspection, but the Governor
rarely if ever goes on such trips. He
thinks they may be well enough oc
; casionally, when the House committee
really needs enlightenment upon the
needs of given locality; so while
some of his colleagues have been trav-
elling around to different cities Gov.
Burleigh has remained here in Wash
| ington, familiarizing himself with the
| figures of government business in this
city and that city which is asking ad-
ditional public building facilities. He
! is now recognized as the best informed
man on the House committee about
the public building business, simply be-
cause ne has made it a business to
gather the data and to talk with mem
beers of the House and others about
what the buildings in their respective
localities are, and what the government
should legitimately do for the enlarge
ment of present facilities. In this way
l "a l, 70, t;.>,,
than by going on junkets, attending
dinners and receptions. Because of his
knowledge of the situation he will have
very influential part in finally making
up the omnibus bill. The subcommit-
tees have already nearly completed
their work and Chairman Bartholdi
and Gov. Burleigh will soon begin to
revise what has been done and lick the
bill into shape. Because of the press
of this work Gov. Burleigh has had
little time for anything else, except to
attend to his large daily correspondence
and to look after the errands Of his con-
stituents. These latter always receive
his close attention. He is never so
busy that he cannot make trip to the
departments in behalf of any third dis
trict man who has any legitimate re-
quest to prefer. Gov. Burleigh is try
ing to take care of as many public
building projects in Maine as possible.
While what he can do will not be deter
mined just yet, it is certain the bill will
carry some good Maine items.
Senator McCumber of North Dakota,
paid forcible tribute to Senator Hale
the other day in the course of debate on
the Statehood bill. Something had been
said about statement by Senator
Hopkins of Illinois, "belittling the
future prospects Of Arizona and New
Mexico. AT that point i'll Senator
Hopkins argument" said Senator Nc
Cumber, senator Hale of Maine, who
/ has the smoothest way of boring right
! to the center and getting to the meat
of proposition of any senator on this
! floor, Immediately rose, and | want to
quote a portion of the dialogue which
ensued:
"Mr. Hale Has it occurred to the
Senator in what lie is saying, that the
logical conclusion is that we ought not
to admit these two territories at all.
We are going very far, and am afraid
too far, considering all the conditions,
in admitting these two territories as
one state. | think the wiser thing
would be to let them remain where they
are"
1t was this view of the senior Maine
Senator that prevailed with the Senate,
when it came to final vote, and divid-
ed the bill, keeping i'll it only provision
for the admission of Oklahoma and
Indian Territory AS the Senate adopt
ed that view by a strong vote the fight
between the Senate and the House in
the conference over the bill will hinge
on that view, advanced by Senator
Hale.
1t is claimed that the ship subvention
bill which the Senate passed a few
N0chS hSU. anu w IllCl Vic 1OuoC lo"
being urged to consider, will not be OF
any help to the sailing vessels along the
Maine coast which are engaged in for
elgn trade. This statement is based on
the insertion into the bill, at the last
moment, by Senator Allison of Iowa. of
provision restricting the payments of
subventions and also making annual
appropriations by congress necessary to
meet the subventions due.
There is yet ample time to correct
any such effect of the Allison amend
ment and it will be given attention in
the House Committee on Merchant
Marine and Fisheries, where the bill is
to be given consideration this week.
Considerable has been heard here from
Maine ship owners on the point in ques-
ton.