The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-04-08
Letter from Washington.

Tariff Talk. The Maine Delegation. Maine
Woolen Men at the Capitol. The Pulp
and Paper Making Industry. High School
/ Visitors. Gov. Burleigh's Busy Days.
Correspondence of The Journal.[
WASHINGTON, D. c., April s. The Maine men
IN Congress are not doing much talking on the
tariff bill, although tariff talking is now very
much the style in Washington. In fact, there
is little else just now for talking Congress
man to make speeches about. Some of the Con-
gressmen have to make speeches to square
themselves" with their constituents. The
Maine men, of course, do not have to do that
sort of thing. Their constituents know they
are acting for the interests of the State. There
is no necessity for explaining, and then voting
the other way because the House leaders think
the best interests of the party require it.
"Unce john Swasey of the second district
got under way for while the other day, but he
is new man and wanted to see how it seemed
to make speech in the hall Of the House. He
gave very interesting talk and had good
audience, considering that only about forty or
fifty members stay in the House these days to
hear the speeches.
| The Maine woolen manufacturers are having
an inning here this week. Some of their Of
ficials have been before the Ways and Means
Committee and were in con ference with Repre-
sentative Burleigh and others about the situa-
ton and the prospects. They are making their
final appeal this week before the Finance Com
mittee, and Senator Hale is going to try to help
them out some in getting changes in the duties
on WOOL Twelve years ago when the Dingley
law was passed, which so well suited the Pine
Tree State, all six of the Maine men in Con-
gress worked effectively together for the
schedules that would most encourage the in
dustries at home. Most of that good work
was done in committee rooms. No speeches
of note regarding Names interests were made
upon the floor of Senate or House. The same
program is being followed this year. The Maine
Senators and Representatives are hopeful that
the results will be fairly satisfactory
1t seems good as settled that the interests
of the pulp and paper making industries in
Maine will be taken care of adequately in the
revision of the Payne tariff bill by the Senate
AiiS poeIC HeS IloC Uecu eHClICly 4OuSuI OuC
yet but the indications are clear. Senator Hale
has been actively engaged IN forming the lines
so that the duties which are needed to protect
Maine from Canadian competition can be con-
tinued. He has enlisted the aid of other New
England Senators-infiuential Senators like
Senator Lodge and Senator Crane of Massa-
chusetts and Senator Aldrich of Rhode Island
| Thav will al lSfa hv tba of OH NJ
New Hampshire and every effort will be made
in turn to secure for Massachusetts, certain ad-
vantages in the matter of raw materials. With
the pulp and paper schedules adjusted to the
satisfaction of Maine and New Hampshire,
there will be help forthcoming for Massachu-
setts in obtaining free hides for the manufac-
ture of shoes and some help also in retaining
something of duty upon shoes, even though
the West would take all the duty off shoes, if
the hides therefore are to come in free.
The matter has progressed sufficiently far to
make the provision for pull, and paper in the
bill, as it will be reported to the Senate, fairly
safe. The case for the pulp and paper mills
in Maine, New Hampshire, northern New
York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Washington, Ore
gon and California, was promptly and effective
ly made up soon after the Payne bill had been
reported. Senator Hale lost no time getting the
Senators and Representatives from those States
together and the progress has been harmonious
and determined. The officials of the pulp and
paper making companies came on to Washing
ton with complete data for the information of
the Senate Finance Committee, and their state
ments were well presented. The fight will
have to be made anew, of course, on the floor
of the Senate and probably in the conference
of the two houses. So it is yet too early for
any jubiation. Senator Hale is paying special
attention to the pulp and paper schedules and
will not relax his vigilance till the last possible
action in the shape of a finality has been taken.
The spring visitors from the third congress
sional district continue to come and Represen-
tative.. .Burleigh is becoming something of vet
eran in showing them around the Capital, es-
corting them to the White House, and doing the
honors generally for High school parties. As a
matter of fact the High school tourists from
New England have exceeded all previous rec
ords in the last two or three weeks and Repre-
sentative Bureigh is not alone in finding him
self occupied with the pleasant duty of trying
to make Maine students at Washington feel at
home. He has had his picture taken with
several of.the parties of Maine students, most
of whom find it pleasant to congregate on the
Capitol steps and have group photograph
taken as souvenir of their visit to Washing
ton.
There has come to be something of rivalry
among the New England members of the house
over persuading President Taft to receive the
visiting High school students from their dis
tricts. The President is so busy these days.
and the number of high school excursions has
become so great, that he has had to refuse
some requests to appear in the East Room and
shake hands. The students from the third dis
trict, however, have Jared very well, for Gov.
Burleigh's requests for receptions for them
have all been honored Occasionally there has
been wait in the East Room until the Presi-
dent could get away from his visitors, but his
courtesy in receiving the Maine students al
ways compensated for the delay in his appear
ance.
Representative Burleigh has been directing
little Congressional housekeeping, as the
spring appears. Every year there is quota
Of government publications. These the Gov
ernOr has heen HAVING sant Out tn constituents