Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-01-11
FROM WASHINGTON.
Apportionment Bill Reciprocity
with Canada end Maine Interests.

Apportionment Bill - Reciprocity
with Canada end Maine Interests.
WASHINGTON, d. C., Jan. 9 Especially
The thing in Washington this week is the
apportionment bill, in which Maine is
probably more keenly interested, at least
in Q sentimental way, than in aught else
that Congress will do this winter. The
| fight which is to determine whether
Maine will have four representatives in
the national House during the next ten
years or only three is on, and may be de-
cided now almost any day.
Representative Burleigh, Of the third
Maine district, came to town right after
the holidays and has been up to his ears
in this superintendent fight. The first
skirmish was won on Friday in the House
census committee, where Gov. Burleigh
was one of the members who voted to
present a bill to the House providing
for 433 members. He has not rested on
that, however, for the big tussle will
come when the House votes to accept or
| reject the committee report.
| And in the meantime Gov. Burleigh is
and has been hustling for votes. He is
pulling after democrats as well as repub-
licans to vote with him, for the apportion-
| ment bill is not q party question. There
| are democrats for and against it and re-
publicans for and against it, Many OF the
older members of both parties are unalter-
ably opposed to increasing the size Of the
House. But it has generally been that
way and the older members have almost
invariably been defeated. 1t is difficult to
fight against measure which retains the
present members OF state delegation, as
far as it's number is concerned, or that in
creases the size of a delegation.
Thus far Gov. Burleigh has been sue
cessful in winning many, probably most,
Of the New England members of the
House to support the. proposition that
Maine favors. Hardly any other New
England state is very much interested
directly in increasing the House member
ship, but there is very general willing
ness to 'help Maine out'. Gov. Burleigh
has also been invading the haunts Of the
UlS 4NcW dAu uCACko-
tions and getting some help from that
quarter. He and all the Maine men at the |
capitol are now very hopeful Of winning
the superintendent fight.
A notable son of the Maine sescosst is
sojourning here this week in the person |
of Pearl Wight, OF New Orleans. He is |
erect as a schoolboy, although crowned |
with the SHOWS Of many winters, and |
looks quite like the conventional and |
courteous Southerner. He is none the less |
native Of Rockland, and very proud OF it. |
When he comes to Washington he |
invariably seeks out Maine people OF his
acquaintance, and makes occasional |
journeys to Boston. Last summer, while |
he was up there, President Taft asked him
to come out to Beverly for talk. He is
staunch, oldtime republican, and has
held up the party banner in Louisiana for
years in spite of discouraging odds.
Some years ago Mr.. Wight was in
Washington for a time as commissioner |
of internal revenue, which is an import
ant Office under the treasury depart |
ment. He has long been q member OF the |
republican national com nittee from |
Louisiana and had attended a number of |
national conventions. Now he is one OF |
the substantial business men of New |
Orleans, who have come here to boom the !
location OF the Panama canal exposition |
in that city, as against San Francisco. He |
has been around to the Maine members OF |
the House for aid and support in that re-
gard.
1t goes without saying that the re-
Spouse of the Maine men to his request |
will be cordial. The House will vote upon
the claims Of the two cities now in q few |
days. Washington is waiting with no
little interest to see what the outcome |
will be.
The visit of the Canadian cabinet at OF |
tawa to Washington this week has q bear |
ing upon topics OF Maine interest. One OF
the errands has to do with Canadian reci-
procity, and it is supposed that the negoti-
alton of reciprocity treaty is not far
distant. Presumably such q treaty, il
negotiated and ratified by the Senate,
will have some effect upon the du-
ties on agricultural products. This con-
Germs people in Maine different ways. The |
city populations, in some degree, argue
that the removal OF part Of the duties on !
potatoes, eggs, vegetables and the like
might make those articles cheaper to the |
consumer. The farmers of the State have |
been on the alert regarding such action,
lest it might result in encroachments upon |
their market.
No details are yet available regarding
the prospects, but it will undoubtedly be
a subject OF discussion. II there should
be any agreement that struck too hard at
the agricultural interests Of Maine her
senators, along with other senators from
New England, would make it exceedingly
difficult to ratify such an instrument.
The manufacturers OF agricultural imple-
ments are urging Canada to make a con-
cassiOu in the dufiea inposad hv tho