Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-17
Maine Men Keep Eye Out
For Appropriations.
Omnibus Public Building Bill
Being Put Into Shape.
Maine Representatives and sena.
tors Take Active Part In legislation


not asking much this year, outside of
appropriations for the usual federal 0p-
erations within the state. The MAINE
men, as usual. are keeping Il sharp eye
out for hose appropriations. The leg
islative appropriation bill, which the
House is just disposing of, carries very
little for the Pine Tree State but the
Sundry civil Bill, which the House
Com.nittee OF appropriations is now
framing, win have several large Maine
items.
one Of these will be for the Soldiers
Home at Togus. Representative Bur-
leigh always looks out for that and
makes number of visits to the Ap-
prOpri1ti"ns Committee to see that the
veterans are getting as much for thu
maintenance Of the establishment a.
can be had. The same bill this yeai
will also carry some items for the fish
hatcheries in Maine, which have be-
come important institutions for keep
ing the ponds and streams of the state
stocked with good game fish. There
win also be some good items for the
Z continuance Of work now i'm progress
on public buildings within the State.
it is quite generally known that the
River ana IIarbor bill this year will
carry several Maine items
With these and other items a pretty
round total of federal money will be
disbursed within the old state during
the twelve months beginning July
next. 1t VIII be pretty generally paid
out. however for the same projects
and along the same lines of activity as
IN recent years. With the enforcement
Of the economy programe under this
administration not many new and ex-
pensive projects are being undertaken
anywhere.
The four Maine Representatives and
the two Maine Senators by nomeans
( confre themselves at Washington to
! local matters, They are taking an ac-
tive part in general legislation. which
Is now keeping both the Senate and
the House very busy. and will keep it
very busy for several weeks to come
and well up to the hour of ADJOURN
mont.
Nj four Maine Congressman arc
busvmg themselves with something of
legislative importance at this busy
jrncturc of tn" session. It NAV be Of
most interest i'm the Thild Maine dis
trict that Representative PurIeiRh is
bending to the bic task-whic,I il ,su-
ally an annual task--of helping oct the
Omnibus Public Building Tin into
shape. Not many DAYS ago. resident
Taft gave out the word that he thongnt
the governments interests required
the enactment of a small publin build
in ~ "a
of economy. of whom the President is
ono. had hoped such legislation could
be deferred till another year. when the
revenues would be larger and there
would be more money to spare.
But the governments business is
constantly growing and the demands
for adequate quarters for post-offices.
custom houses, and courthouses. in
growing towns pile up from many
quarters congressman get clamorous
that something be done to meet these
demands for buildings and the Presi-
dent and the Speaker have come to
believe that it may be in the interest
of real economy in the long run to
enact some building legislation forth
with.
III OitIiiIDuS puIIunlS DIlI dlNd VI
lsinates in the House. The Committee
on public buildings aud grounds. Of
which Gov. Eurl. igli is the second Re-
publican member, gets busy" as soon
as the word goes forth. The subcorn-
nittces thereof mt once enter upon an
examination Of the public building
bills that have accumulated from many
districts. These are gone over care
'snIlt. referred IL the Treasury De
partnent for examination and report.
as the construction OF public buildings
belongs to Il bureau Of the Treasury
Department. The governments bust
ness in tho towns and cities where
buildings arc proposed is scrutinized
and. with all the data and the recon-
mcndations Ct the Department on
hand. the subcommittee undertake to
decide whether any appropriation shall
lie voted. and. # so. how much
The subcommittee. of which Gov.
Burleish is chairman. has an allotment
of states. including all of the New
England states. 1t is probably the
most important of the subcommittee
in that it covers more populous terri
tory. where many of the larger public
buildings projects originate.
Senator Hale has been bearing q
hand in recent days at Strengthening
out the Legislative program. After
matters had drifteG along for several
weeks and there had been much op-
portGnity for discussion anC the de-
vclorment OF individual opinions. he
advised n meeting of the Steering Com
mittee. Of which he is chairman.
1t is not often that the steering COM
mittcc of the Senate meets. This COM
mittce. composed entirely Of Republic
cans is in the last analysis the gov
ernng body of the Senate. If it de-
,cides that such and such bills should
DE considered. the Republican MAORI
ty invariably sets itself to getting
those bills up. If it decides that such
and such bills can well be left alone.
those bills have no chance of becoming
law. And sometimes the Steering
committee decides that it will take no
action regarding given measures
which then are allowed to drift along
in the legislative channels.
The Steering Committee is composed
entirely of brigadiers. Nearly every
member is a chairman of some impor-