Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-17
CAPITAL CHAT.
Continued from Page Onc.)
;tration, the cost would be burden

istration. the cost would be burden
some
The House navy committee has kept
the cost this year down to about $780,
600, 600 for the maintenance and up
building of its naval force, which IS
approximately what it was last year,
but Mr.. Hale believes it will be only
4 question of time when the cost of
the navy will be I'D to $4,000, 900 and
even more. The army remains at near
ly stationary force, as to men. but the
navy IS BEING constantly increased
Every yeor n few more thousand Jack
les are authorized to man the new
ships and it seems that at no very dis
tent day there will be $4,000 enlisted
men in the navy. 1t costs a lot of mon
ev-many. many millions-tc feed and
clOthe them. and to pay them and it
costs many. many millions more TO
buy coal for the ships and to main
tain these fighting craft atioat The
money, of course. has to come out of
the pockets of the plain people, as well
as tn. wealthy people. for the indirect
taxes by which the government is sup
the flag.
The habit has been for the House to
shirk the duty of keeping down navy
expenses, in the knowledge that SEN
ator Hale stood guard and therefore
could be depended upon to do his whole
duty. He has committee that stands
snuarely behind him and was there
fore in a position to protect the treas
ury. The change of attitude this WIN
ter will lift 4 great burden from his
shoulders.
Hon. j. X. Taylor, supervising archi
tect of the treasury department. at the
request OF Governor BurlciGh, has in
veStiSatcd the matter of the probable
cost of Il postotlicc building at Gar
diner and has reported as follows:
From computations made at this
Office IT appears that a one-story and
basement building of 10000 square feet
of ground area are sufficient. Such Il
structure of fireproof construction will
cost $4,000; non-fireproof. 100000. The
estimate includes the cost of a site Of
sufficient size to provide for 4 fire.
limit on all sides including streets
and alleys
Among the minor things that have
recently been undertaken by Congress-
man BurleiGh is an attempt to secure
an increase in the salaries of the labor
ers at the fisheries stations at Craig
Brook and Green Lake, Me. 1t is be-
lieved that there should be more money
paid these men, and although it will
be an uphill fight to secure an in
creased expenditure of money at this
session. Mr.. Burleigh vii make q
strong effort in that direction.
Among the recent bills introduced
by Senator Frye is one appropriating
not over $4,000 for the establishment Of
a fish cultural station in the State Of
Maine. lat some suitable point at or
near Gardiner. on the Kennebec river.
to be selected by the secretary Of COM
merCe and labor
Representative Burleigh has again
been reelected member of the Re
publican Congressional committee.
House Republicans recently had a eau
Gus and designated member of that
committee for every state which has Z,
Republican Senator or Representative
in Congress. Gov. Buricigh has been
the member of the committee. ever
since the lat" Representative Boutelle
retired from the House and FOR :: con-
siderable part Of that time has been a
member of the executive committee
which has to do With the more i'm
portant part of the preparations for the
campaign throughout the country
Maine will lead off this year in the
election of Republican members of
Congress. excepting only Oregon, where
the state and Congressional elections
are held in June, and i'll Vermont.
where the election is one week earlier
than iii Maine. AS none of the four
Maine districts are regarded as close
districts, the Republican Congressional
committee does not give the state as
much attention rs might be. Its work
is chiefly in the close districts, of which
there are about 80 or IS throughout tine
country. But the Maine campaign will
be closely watched this year in the
hope Of rolling up good majorities The
Congressional committee will help, as
usual, in the distribution OF good cam