Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-03-24
FROM WASHINGTON.


Names Delegation Busy.
WASHINGTON, March y Especially The
Taft administration is we'll under way.
This week it has started of with the three
branches of the government in full swing.
1t has all come about so easily and so
smoothly there has been so complete CO.
ordination between Roosevelt, retiring.
and Taft entering upon the stage, that it
has almost been as though there had
been no change. About the same people
are crossing the threshold OF, the White
House offices, day by day, except that
members OF the Ananias club are return
ing to obtain their oid-time favor.
Many have come, OF course, to pay their
respects to the new President. The Maine
mer have not been behind in that regard.
Senator Frye dropped around early.
Senator Hale was away in Maine, breath
ing in the invigoratiug March air, which
is very restful and wholesome to him after
winter of srduous effort at the capitol.
He did not get around to the White House
offices till little later, but the glad hand
was outstretched for him there, as il is Tor
all the Maine men in Congress.
Representative Burleigh was the first
member OF the House from the Pine free
State to pay respects to the incoming
executive. Representatives Allen and
Swasey have also greeted the President.
Representative Guernsey fastened out OF
town Immediately after the Inauguration,
planning not to return till just before the
new Congress assembled.
And the new Congress is swinging of in
right encouraging fashion. There are a
few new faces here and there, but the same
leaders are in control. The republican
voters OF the country did not turn out
many of their congressional servants. OF
course there is no change in the Maine
delegation, either in Senate or House. 1t
does not often happen that . new admins
tration begins with the executive, Judicial
this is az extra session Of Congress-the
first to be held in the spring for twelve
years. The supreme court is always sit
ting At this time Of year and has at its
head Maine man. Chief-Justice NJ. W.
Fuller. Advancing years have not lessened
his industry.
Maine will probably find something Of
interest in the national waterways COM
appointed in the very closing days Of
the session that ended March 4. 1t was
given comprehensive powers, especially
with reference to the nsvigable rivers
where there is sufficient water to turn
large wheels. Primarily its duties are to
inquire about the navigability Of rivers
and to investigate the possibilities Of
water borne commerce. But in the meet
ings which the members OF the commits
sion have already held, considera BILE
attention has been given to water power
and the storage of flood waters which
could develop water power and also en-
nance the navigability OF rivers.
As there are two loyal Maine men on the
commission Representative d. s. Alex
snder, OF Buffalo, a native Of Richmond,
and Representative Frederick Stevens, OF
st. Paul, who came from Bangor, they will
not overlook such big rivers rs the An
droscoggin, Kennebec and Penobscot.
The possibilities Of water power develop
ment are great on all three of these rivers,
especially on the Kepnebec and Penobscot.
And this development would spell great
industrial growth. 1t might mean the
building of more Maine cities and towns
eventually. 1t would certainly mean more
mills and the attracting OF q larger indus
trial population to the Pine Tree State.
he kriI ~
purposes would also increase the CONNER
cial importance Of those rivers.
1t is hardly to be expected that the fed
eral government will build storage reser-
voirs at the head of Maine rivers, but the
waterways commission will proba bly,
bring out deal of interesting informa-
ton on the subiect which will be impor-
tant to the State authorities.
Along the Maine coast the government
has constructed many turning basins at
divers ports. The government dredges
these turning basins as they fill with silt
or other debris. 1t is claimed by some
that municipalities should do that work.
The commission will investigate and re-
port upon the question, as applying to
basins in Maine and elsewhere.
Representative Burleigh filled in the
days between the two sessions of Con-
gress with some hard work. He has been
visiting his Office in the new marble build
ing daily, to dictate letters, and has like
wise been tramping around the depart
ments doing errands for his constituents
with his old time industry IncidentsIlv