Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-30
Interesting Gossip Of the
National Law Makers.
Burleigh Likely 10 Go on Sen
ate Public Buildings Committee.
Johnson High on Finance--What
Other Maine Men May Get.

Washington, ID. c., Jan. 29.-(SpeciaD.
Postmaster General Hitchcock's an
nouncement that there must he addi-
tons and other architectural changes
in many, if not most post
office buildings throughout the coun-
try, to accommodate the growing pos
tai business. incident To the establish
rnent of the parcel post, is significant
to Maine. The records show that
Maine people, who were quite as in
sistent for years as any in The Union
fer n parcel post. are using it extern
sively. But it also means that sex-
oral postoffice buildings in The Pine
Tree state must be remodelied in some
degree and that considerable appropri-
ations for that purpose viii be requir-
ed.
In that connection II Is fortunate
for the State that Gov. Burleieh comes
to the Senate, on March 4. No man.
who has been in Congress from Maine
in many years, did more or was more
successful in getting appropriations
for public buildings than he. All his
experience Ia that line will now be
for the advantage of the State. Re-
publieans of the Senate will undoubt-
edly try to make place for him on
the public buildings committee He
served on the corresponding commit
tee in the House and for years head
ed the subcommittee that had charge
&of public building legislation for all
EpfsaNew England. His assignment to
|xthg@Senate committee en- public build
Kings and grounds VIII depend upon the
}nhmper of places which the Democrat
&c me jority claim there and also much
to arrangements which can be made
with older senator's who may be will
ing to take service on other commit
tees.
There are several pubic building
projects in Maine, yet uncompleted.
which Gov. Rurleigh got through
while he was a member Of the House.
He will soon be in position, accord
ingly. to take those cases up again and
urge the necessary appropriations
thesefor Skowhegan and Gardiner
Instances in point. both located in the
district that Coy. Burieigh long repre-
scented in Congress Probably little
can be done al the extra session of
Congress, which VIII last through the
spring. and wen into the SUMMER, bu.
Gov. Burleign will undoubtedly find on
portunity to clear UP some prelimina
iFcSs 81 tiiFal5 Atit ftAbJtEts YAH 'si1tSh-
ed along when the regular sessiens Of
Congress convenes. next December.
Maine Republicans in senate and
House, of course. can not DE for
many committee positions of import
arce in the next Congress. az ii will
be dominated in both branches by
Democrats Their assignments will
none the less be of some moment as
advancing them toward positions OF
advantage whenever the Republicans
may again regain control. There will
probably be n terrible tug of war two
years from now to determine whether
the Republicans or the Democrats
control the Senate, during the last half
of the Wilson administration 1t viii
be a toss up then whether the Demo-
Gratis retain their Senate majority or
whether it will be a Republican ma
jority.
Senator Johnson, Democrat, OF
Maine. viii sit high up on the finance
committee after March 4, although he
is now at the foot of the Democratic
list. But the committee now consists
OF five Democrats, and nine Republic
cans. When the new Congress assem-
bies and the Senate is reorganized ii
will consist Of something like . Dem
ocrats and 6 Republicans IL is GER
tain that SENATOR Johnson will he fifth
on the Democratic list and that he
will head some of the sub committees
that have TO do with the Forthcoming
revision. He will have a good place al
so on the naval affairs committee and
on the pensions committee and fur
thermore will be chairman OF some
Senate committee to boot
Republicans of the House will be in
a great minority. of course, but a
member of the important ways and
means committee must be chosen for
the next Congress from New England
That place will go either to Repre-
sentative Kinds of Portland. or to
Representative Gardner of Massachu-
sets 1t is probably only for Repre-
sentative Kinds to say the word tor
it to be given to him. His health is
improving materially and it is reeog
n,ze6 that he would be a very vaiua-
bic Republican member of that COM
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