The Republican journal., 1909-03-25
Letter from Washington.
The Waterways Commission. Representa-
tive Burleigh's Busy Days. The Taft
Administration.

Correspondence of The Journall
WASHINGTON, D. c., March %, 1909. Maine
will probably find something of interest in the
National Waterways Commission, which Con-
gress authorized and appointed in the very
closing days of the session that ended March
4th. 1t was given comprehensive powers,
especially with reference to the navigable
rivers where there is sufficient water to turn
large wheels. Primarily its duties are to in
quire about the navigability of rivers and to
investigate the possibilities of water borne
commerce. But in the meetings which the
members of the commission have already held.
considerable attention has been given to water
power and the storage of flood waters which
could develop water power and also enhance
the navigabiity of rivers. AS there are two
loyal Maine men on the commission-Repre-
sentative D. S. Alexander of Buffalo, native
of Richmond, Me-, and Representative Fred
erick C. Stevens of St. Paul, who came from
Bangor-they will not overlook such big rivers
as the Androscoggin, kennebec and Penobscot.
The possibilities of water power development
are great on all three of these rivers especial
ly on the Kennebec and Penobscot And this de-
velopment 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 larger
industrial population to the Pine Tree State.
The building of reservoirs for storage purposes
would also increase the commercial importance
of those rivers.
1t is hardly to be expected that the federal
government will build storage reservoirs at the
head of Maine rivers, but the Waterways Com
mission will probably bring out deal of inter-
esting information on the subject which will be
important 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 report upon the question, as applying to
basins in Maine and elsewhere.
Representative Bureigh has been filling in
the days between the two sessions of Congress
with some hard work. He has been visiting his
office in the new marble building daily to die
tate letters, and has likewise been tramping
around the Departments doing errands for his
constituents with his oldtime industry Incl
dentally he has h zen getting acquainted with
some of the new cabinet officers. Postmaster
Genera; Hitchcock, however, is an old time
friend. Gov. Burleigh has had many meeting
with him in the earlier days, when Hitchcock
was First Assistant Postmaster General, in
charge of matters pertaining to postofices of
the different classes. Gov. Burleigh used to
have two or three sessions week with him
about the offices of the Third District-secur-
ing more liberal allowances for the postmasters
and their clerks, asking for better mail service
here and there, and otherwise adjusting postal
details so that the offices could serve patrons
more eXpeditously.
The recess has also given him time to dis
cuss lot of matters with the Treasury author
tiles. In the big Treasury building are the
offices of the Supervising Architect, who has
charge of the building operations, and also the
offices of the Assistant Secretary of the Treas
ury, who keeps general supervision over the
construction work. There are now half dozen
public building projects under way in Maine.
Gov Burleigh was instrumental in getting the
appropriations for these projects. But that
was only part of the work. AS far as his own
district is concerned he keeps in close touch
with the progress toward purchasing sites, ad
vertsing for bids and awarding contracts, to
the end that the building may be completed
speedily as possible. Every city of public
building size in his district has numerous
errands of that character before the Treasury.
The Taft administration is well underway.
This week it has started off with the three
branches of the government-the legislative,
executive and judicial-in full swing 1t has
all come about easily and so smoothly; there
has been SO complete 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 returning to obtain their old
time favor. Many have come, of course, to
pay their respects to the new President The
Maine men have not been behind in that
gard. Senator Frye dropped around early.
Senator Hale was away in Maine, breathing the
invigorating March air, which is very restful
and wholesome to him after winter of ardu-
Gus effort at the capitol. He did not get
around to the White House offices until little
later, but the glad hand was outstretched for
him there, as it is for all the Maine men in
Congress
Representative Burleigh was the first mem
ber of the House from the Pine Tree State to
pay respects to the incoming executive. Rep
resentative Allen and Swasey have also greet
ed the President. Representative Guernsey
hastened out of town Immediately after the in
auguration, planning not to return until just
before the new Congress assembled.
And the new Congress is swinging off in
right encouraging fashion. There are few
new faces here and there but the same lead
ers 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 Sen
ate or House. 1t does not often happen that
new administration begins with the executive,
judicial and legislative departments active
But this is an extra session of Congress-the
first to be held in the spring for twelve years
The Supreme Court is always sitting at the
time of year and has at its head Maine man,