Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-02-24
FROM WASHINGTON.
Waiting for Inauguration Day-Pass-
ing of the Dfngley Tariff Law.


ing of the Dingiey Tariff Law.
WASHINGTON, ID. C., Feb. p Especially
Everybody now at the capitol-the Maine
people among them is looking over into
the next administration. The inauRura-
tion OF President-ele Taft is now so close
at hand that everybody is counting the
days till the fourth OF March. Senator Hale
more than anybody else, is making an
other daily count. That is the number of
appropriation bills he has yet to pass.
Then he takes the number of those bills,
net vet enacted by the House or the SEN
ate, as the case may be, and figures how
many times it will go INTO the number OF
days of the session of Congress remain
ing.
1t is a feverish problem at division, for
to Senator Hale the quotient is an ex-
tremely interesting figure. A few days
ago the quotient was most discouraging,
but it has been growing gradually smaller
and smaller, and what wise men said
few days ago was likely to be impossible
is really proving to be possible.
Things are going along so nicely.
although busily, and the days till WASH
ington blossoms ous in her beautiful deco
rstions OF red, white and blue, and till the
hosts come to acclaim the new one in the
White House, are so few that the Maine
folks are already making their plans for
the time that intervenes.
From the moyning after Inauguration
till the Monday morning when the first
session of the new Congress comes to-
gether, it will be eleven days. A lot can
be done in that time. Very few of the
Maine people will stir out of town. It is
too cold to 60 back home at this time of
sunny climate of Washington. 1t would
hazard severe cold and the consequent
discomforts.
Some OF the Maine delegation will 60 TO
the inaugural ball. Representative Bur-
leigh, the dean of the House delegation,
has been named q member of the recep-
ton committee at the ball, and will 20
thither to be one Of the committee to ex-
teno q glad hand to the new President
when he has driven down from the White
House with Mrs. Taft and been. ushered
into the magnifcently decorated court Of
the pension ONCE building.
For few days after the inaugural,
Washington will seem 9 very quiet viii
lage. But Congress will be at it again,
and the city will once more seem like it,
self.
Gov. Burleigh has been enjoying . joke
with Chairman T. e. Burton, OF the river
and harbor committee, over . Maine item
in the river and harbor bill, just taken up
by the House. 1t il the item providing
for the survey OF q harbor of refuge at Isle au
Haut, Of the Maine coast. The island has
no more public-spirited citizen than Miss
Teresa Damon, of New York. She spends
several weeks of every summer at her
cottage there. Furthermore she owns an
adjoining island, where she maintains .
large flock OF sheep and other domestic
animals.
Miss Damon has consistently urged
various federal improvements in that
vicinity, and Gov. Burieigh has done all
he could to help her program along. She
was one of those who urged the esta blish-
ment Of lighthouse on Isle au Haul.
Gov. Burleigh secured the passage OF
bill, appropriating 100 for that purpose
year or two ago.
Usually Mise Damon comes to Washing
ton for a spell during the winter. On one
OF those visits some years ago, Gov. Bur-
leigh took her around to see Represents
I i've Burton, who is bachelor. The latter
was interested in the representations Miss
Damon made about the island, and ever
since then has been making occasional in
quiries about her. Meanwhile Gov. Bur-
leigh has been seeking the establishment
Of a harbor Of refuge there. But year
after year Mr.. Burton has been doubtful
about putting it into q river and harbor
bill, because a survey was once authorized
whereupon the army engineers reported
that the expense was not warranted by
the benefits that would accrue.
This year Gov. Burleigh again asked that
the survey be authorized, reminding
Chairman Burton that Miss Damon was
one of those who recommended the public
work.
"But the engineers may report against
you," replied MIR. Burton. "You know
Miss Damon told YOU" SAID Gov. Bur
leigh, THAT after eight or ten years it
would be worth trying again, when the
engineers might be favorable. The eight
or ten years have now passed"
swell, 1 guess we will put the Isle au
Haul item into the bill, and see what
happens" said Mr.. Burton, after pause,
and it is i'll the bill.
The Maine men here to a man regret to
see the fine old tariff law that the late
Representative Dingley built destroyed.
Most Of them have vivid memories of the
days and nights that the eminent repre-
sentative from the second district, then
chairman of ways and means, put in, not
only to frame a good tariff law for the ma
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