The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-03-07
Letter from WASHINGTON.


President Roosevelt May Visit Maine Next
Summer. Gov. Burleigh's Congressional
Duties. Senator Hale's Work.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. %. Presi-
dent Roosevelt may 60 to Maine again
before the close of his present term.
He has recently stated that he hoped to
make something of an extended trip
into New England again within a year
or two, although he is unable to say
definitely when the time will come, if
at all. The President has stated more
than once the satisfaction he always
had in visiting Maine. He would like to
60 into the northern section of the State
for little outing. which would re-
mind him of his younger days when he
roughed 1t up there with "BllP' Sewall.
On his last visit to Maine, when he spoke
at Bangor, the President enjoyed him.
self immensely and has not forgotten
it. Probably he will make several trips
this summer, but he has been too busy
to decide where they will be. 1t is his
intention to remain in Washington I'M
til sometime in June and considerable
OF his summer, between July and Oc
tober 1, will be spent at his country
home at Oyster Bay. After Congress
goes away next week, the President will
have at least three months to give to
purely executive business and will have
Congressional troubles in that connec-
ton. There are many matters for him to
take up and dispose of. When Congress
ic haro hn
callers in the forenoon. Usually his
time between 10 a. M. and noon is in
large part occupied with the visits of
he has to do his heavy work in the after
noon and evening. These days the dis
position of bills, enacted by Congress,
alone take up much OF his working DAYS.
In the last week of the session Of Con-
gress the President will have to sign at
least 1000 bills, sent to him from the
Capital. The most of these are private
pension bills, but nevertheless require
his signature before they become law.
Representative and Mrs. Burleigh
will remain here for week or two
after the session. Mrs. Burieigh's
health has been poor of late and they
probably will not go North till after
the Maine weather is little more sun
ny. Gov. Burleigh will call to see the
President before he leaves for Maine
and will also look after some Maine
matters pending before the Depart
ments.
Gov. Burleigh has had an important
little bill to look after in the closing
days of the session of Congress. 1t
came from the committee on public
buildings and grounds, of which he is
leading member, and is designed to ad-
just the prices to be paid for sites for
publlc buildings in several parts of the
country. 1t corrects some of the de-
fectS OF an omnibus public building
bill that passed the House and Senate
last year. The bill was framed under
the immediate direction of Chairman
BarthOldt of Missouri and Gov. Bur
leigh, and both of them have been much
occupied in getting the bill through the,
House and in seeing that it was dis
posed of in the Senate.
The Governor has also been one of
the Steadying forces in the House dur
ing the last few days of the session and
at the request o. Speaker Cannon has
been on guard most of the time to help
stop improper legislation and also to
help push along the biils which the
House organization wants completed
this spring. Gov. Burleigh has been
great help to the speaker in getting the
appropriation bills passed expeditions
ly. He is one of the members who
stay around to help make quorum
and keep an eye out on the amend
ments that are brought forward.
Speaker Cannon has great confidence in
Gov. Burleigh and relies much upon
his Judgment regarding matters of
legislation.
The third Maine district member
likewise had prominent part a few
days ago in having the House pass
provision for an investigation of child
labor, which the President had urged
be done. 1t came up on an appropri.
alton bill but had been considered in
the Census committee, of which Gov.
Burleigh is one of the first members.
Gov. Burleigh believes the federal
government should take all possible
reasonable action to inquire into this
subject, which is becoming of very
great Importance in the industrial
world. What it will be possible for the
federal government to do in the matter
Of legislation is uncertain, but the
President is asking that Congress 20 as
far as the Constitution warrants and
with that Gov. Burleigh is in complete
accord.
Senator Hale has been blowing
through lot of work of late. He be-
came tired of the endless talk-talk in
the Senate on an appropriation bill the
other day and went to his residence to
spend the afternoon. He had a bad
cold and thought it would be good
opportunity to rest. The word went
around the Capital that at last the
Senior Maine Senator had given up
and that probably he would succumb
to the grip as so many Senators and
members younger than he have done
at this session of Congress. But there
was where Mr.. Hale fooled them all.
He was back in his seat next day and a
very lively sick man. For he warned
the Senate that it must be prepared not
only to sit days, but also to sit
nights to get the appropriation
bills out of the way. Mr.. Hale never
asks the Senate to do anything he
is unwilling to do himself. He was
ready to work night and day because he
realized the necessity of giving the ap-
preparation bills careful consideration.
If the Senate had not loafed so much
earlier in the session and had not talk
ed so long on other matters-much of
the talk probably having been unnecess-
ary-Mr. Hale would not have needed
tn DrO0 his cOllaapuac tO action