Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-26
Maine Matters in Washinqton.

Maine Matters in Washington.
correspondence of Ellsworth Amer
ican)
The dollars will not come juggling
out of the treasury in any profusion
this winter for projects of any char
scter along the Maine coast. There are
always some harbor improvements, or
some river dredging or some contracts
for building materials which the gov
eminent has To use, or some shipping
legislation that CONCERNS the numerous
small craft plying along the Maine
coast, which the delegation from the
Pine tree state always stands ready TO
help along for its constituents
But the doors of the treasury were
never shut any more tightly than they
seem TO be this winter. Senator Hale,
as one of the great appropriation chiefs,
is helping keep them shut. And While
Maine may fare badly in the matter
of federal appropriations, all the other
states have similar complaints, and
there is no discrimination. There is
still mountain Of surplus revenues in
the treasury or available in time of
need, but the leaders in Senate ana
House are toiling with all their might
to keep this mountain from being
whitfield away.
Senator Hale will get a few Maine
items upon the appropriation bills pro-
baby. He generally manages to do
that at every session by hook or by
crock, but he will ask for 10 large
sums this session. He is a man who
practices economy for his own con-
stituents when ne breaches. it for the
country.
Maine congressman have received
many inquiries in regard to positions
in the public building work that is to
be taken up this spring at Calais, Au-
gusta, Bar Harbor and elsewhere. 1t
should be said, however. that all these
positions are entirely under civil ser
vice, and that they will be in no cases
under charge of local men.
Representative BurleiSh, seeing how
hopeless it is to persuade the House to
make any considerable appropriations
for Maine projects this winter, is pro-
ceedirg upon a new tack. He is lay
ing pipe" for the future. For instance,
one of the governors lines of activity
is puoiic buildings. Very quietly,
but none the less effectively, he has
been at work for nearly ten years pro-
viding Maine cities and the larger
Maine town with adequate public
buildings. When the late Representa-
tive Milliken was i'll Congress he made
great progress in that direction.
Gov Burlcigh took up the work, and
has secured government appropriations
until at present Maine is probably bet
ter provided with government build
ings than any other state in the Union.
And yet that does not mean Maine
has all the government buildings the
federal business there warrants. Some
of the wiSeSt men in Congress have
long advocated that every poStollice OF
the presidential class should be housed
in a government building. The colin-
try is still very far from snch Il condi-
ton of affairs, but Governor Burleigh
is doing his utmost to bring about such
Il condition in Maine.
Every little While he sends up to the
little basket on the desk of the clerk
of the House a sheet of paper. He has
writer bill for a new public
building at some town in the
third Maine district.It is printed
in due time, and copy sent
over to the public buildings COM
mittee, of which he is member.
About that time he finds the oppor-
tunity tc go up to the treasury depart
ment and to consult with the building
officials and to acquaint them with
the condition in that particular Maine
town.
Sooner or later, Congress refers the
bill there for recommendation and re-
port. The governor also gathers the
statistics of pnstoftice and other public
business in that town and gets thai
where ii can be had. He is doing a lot
of this work this winter. although the
word has gone around that there is to
be no public building legislation. But
there will be such legislation peXt year.
Then Gov. Burleigh will be all ready
to get few items for 100000 or $4,000
or more, or perhaps less, into the law.
Thus, by easy but sure stages, he is
bringing the government around to
erect many building in the State.
Among proposed legislation Tor the
benefit of the men who fought the Civil
war that Congressman Burleigh has
been favoring this winter is a bin
| which provides for more generous
recognition of the volunteer officers Of
the war, now on the retired list. Gen.
John c. Cobb, of Portland, has recently
been III town, in behalf of such a
| measure, in which a number of Maine's
| volunteer officers are interested. Gov.
| Burleigh accompanied him much
| around the the capitol, introduced him
| to members. whose influence would be
helpful and otherwise did much to
start that bill along toward favorable
consideration.