Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-04-21
spIing eaglam IS Def
all!ls|y Outlined.
There Is, Hgellub in .lasuIge q
Camp Again This Week.
()uasiion Over Ex-Presldent Roose-
yeit's Attitude Looms Large.

and humping, which resounds daily
throughout all Washington nowadays
and reverberates to remote corners OF
the land. really demonstrates how
public business is forging ahead.
There IL progress somewhere every
afternoon before the sun goes down.
The ponderous equipment, by which
the peoples will is put into execution,
is wofking to its capacity. The spring
programme Is definitely outlined IN
the minds OF men in the responsible
stations. The big legislative measures
are advancing. The Presidents pom
cles are being emphasized In a stem
torian way. az the masses cannot IAN
to realize. The carpers are being
forced to one side. The administra-
ton IL taking On more than eyer
positive character
Somehow or other, the enactment OIL
the Naval Appropriation bill by the
House a few days ago Is being inter-
preted as one Of the notable al
vantages the administration has gain
ed IN recent days. There is some
thing more concretely interesting
about battleships and guns and fleets
and Jackies than about railroad
amendments and postal savings banks.
The Naval appropriation bills are i'll
teresting In retrospect for number
of years. The interest quickens when
the word goes forth that another
naval bill Is on the legislative ways,
creakIng and grooming over the tim
bers, but none the less steadily Gid
ing along through the Congressional
channel
The bill was enacted in the House
about as the House Committee framed
it and about as the President wanted
It, The annual conflict over the con-
struction program was spirited. 1t
always is. Many honest men with
honest differences of opinion spring to
the fray when this annual bill is
brought out. 1t was TINS last week
and there was square and deter
mined contest again to determine
who should have the victory. 1t rest
ed with the two new battleship advo-
Gates, as 1t has for several years.
That was what the President and his
Secretary of the Navy wanted and
what the House Naval Committee
recommended.
Another contest Is in prospect be-
fore the Senate. but 1t probably will
not be prolonged. The House gave a
large majority for two battleships
That will have weight with the Sen
ate. Some very wise men about
naval matters there, including Sena-
tor Hale OF Maine. will contend for
less ambitious program of building.
They will have something to say on
the subject, which the country un-
doubtedly will find worth reading.
The consideration of naval \appropria-
ton bills always affords opportunity
for the taxpayers to find out some
thing definite regarding the Navy.
Senator's and Representatives drive
away at the subject from different
angles They ask questions on
hundred different points. They dwell
upon cost and utility and bring out
ideas which are not emphasized so
much at the other end of Pennsyl-
vania Avenue. All that is asked and
all that is answered is taken down by
official stenographers and printed in
the Congressional Record. Much OF
1t gets into the newspapers and is
circulated broadcast and thus con-
tributes materially to the popular
education. Those who protest against
the enormous expenditures for mill
tary establishments get their opinions
before the public and those who be-
lieve such expenditures we'll worth |
while have a like opportunity.
Secretary Meyers reorganization
plan for the management of the Navy
yards and for the conduct of the De-
partment in Washington was given a ,
stunning blow. The provision au
thorizing trial OF this plan for a
year as approved by the Naval Com
mittee. was knocked out on a point of
order. But it was only Il technical
victory, won on a resort to parlia
mentary prohibition of legislation
upon an appropriation bill But the
House will probably find way to ac
Complish the same result in moro |
direct way, by a single bill and. in |
the end. it will probably be quite as
satisfactory.
There is hubbub in the Insurgent
camp again this week 1t is due to
the straightforward policy of the adj
ministration In forging ahead and to
the imperative demands that the ma
5ority party line up and move upon
the opposition works. President
Taft's speech before the League of
Republican Clubs In the District oil
Columbia sounded a keynote. He i'm
proved the occasion to reiterate that
he did not want to read anybody out
of the party but the Republicans had
made certain pledges to the people
and these must be fulfilled. Stern
work might be necessary here and
there to clear away distractions but
that was what the people had a right
to- expect.
Attorney General Wickersham.
speaking the same night at Chicago,
outlined the idea in somewhat more
vigorous terms. The Insurgents in
Senate and House are for the moment
training their guns upon him, because
he was more positive in his utter
ances. few days Of these rejoind-
ers will probably find the Insurgents
in better mood, 1t is already plain
that they are disposed To accept the
disciplinary measures as for the good
of the party and. on the whole. the
plain speaking of the President and
his Attorney General will prove to he
mot only wholesome but helpful.
The get together" idea is gaining