Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-30
CAPITAL CHAT.
Continued from Page One.)

but he held that this should be done
and legally and constitutionally be-
longca to the states in which the coal
ri!neS are located. The amendment
passed, which means that PennSylva-
mia and Indiana and Ohio and a con-
siderable numberl of other states where
coal is mined in great quantities will
be able to Shift over to the government
considerable expense that as many
believe, should be assumed by these
states themselves. Maine, of course
has no coal mines. but as things stand
now Maine must help pay for these in
vestigationS. which the separate states
could conduct more economically and
quite as effectively on their own hook
II have made myself very uncomfor-
table and unacceptable to the commit
tee on agriculture" said Senator Hale
in the course of the debate on this item
''in opposing the divers encroachments
of the federal government upon
the state domain. 1 have done it
early and late, until 1 have recognized
myself that l have become a sort OF
nuisance to the people who want to do
those things. I have never consented
to them, and have opposed them, and
generally have been beaten.
81 do not know that it is useful or
that it accomplishes anything con-
tinued the senior Maine senator, "to
make any resistance against this
breaking down of state lines. I do not
know but that they are all to disappear
before the resiStleSS tide of federal
aggression. I do not know but that
the demarcatiOns which the fathers
established and that some of US believe
in and waEt to maintain and perpetu-
ate are to disappear like the shifting
sand before the rush of the incoming
waves of the mighty sea. I am afraid
they are"
AS the champion Of this idea Senator
Hale probably stands at the head of
all men in the Senate and House.
Speaker Cannon has been quite as ag-
gressive about it. but. since he as
sumcd the gavel of the presiding Of
ficer. his work has been done through
his floor leaders and he has no. spoken
about it during the House proceedings.
because the Speaker rarely participates
IN debates. The veteran members of
the appropriations committees of the
two houses have been especially inss-
tent about it. because they see anOth-
er side of the questionable appalling
growth of annual appropriations, mucil
of which comes from federal operations
that it is claimed. should be state oper-
atoms. While the Senate ard the
House are often very tenacious of diff
ferent ideas about things. this idea is
one on which the committee. that have
to vote money, stand together on all
the time
Outsiders have little realization of
the tremendous pressure brought to
bear from many quarters to secure
federal appropriations. States arrange
combinations with sufficient votes to
override the committees. Although
the appropriation leaders plead for
economy. point t" the imminence of an
embarrassing deficiency in the treas
ury and succeed for a while in holding
back the forces of larger expenditures,
before the session is over the total
grows beyond expectations. In spite
of all these watchdogs of the treasury
can do, many people and many inter-
ests have a hand in the money vaults
before the adjournment comes.
Senator Hale is one of the staunchest
and most effective of the watchdogS
at that end of the Capitol, but he has
never teen a cheeseparer or petty |
obiector He fights the big things with
all his strength and in accord with an
nounced principles. The little treas
ury grabs he eliminates as far as he |
can from bills in committee and aids
those who fight them on the floor. In