The Republican journal., 1914-01-22
Our Washington Letter.
Especial to The Republican Journal. ]

| WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 10, 1914.
The yield of customs receipts at the Bel
fast customs district during the last fis-
cal year was 81, 949 IS, according to lat
est figures given out at the Treasury De-
partment. These were for the closing
/ period, before the consolidation took
| place, when central authority in customs
matters was transferred to Portland,
where the collector now sits for the en-
| tire State of Maine district. But while
this sum of 81, 949. IS went into the Fed
eral Treasury, more than that came out
of the Treasury to pay the salaries of
the customs employees and other ex-
penses. Indeed, the total expenses for
collecting customs in the Belfast dis
trict for the fiscal year were So, 473. %.
Of course lot of this expense was in
preventive work, especially in keeping
smugglers at bay. There were only 46
entries of merchandise in the entire dis
trict during the year.
Of these % were from the port of
Vinalhaven, yielding s1,649.89. on which
the cost of collecting to the government
was SCOPE This was the only SUPPORT
in the district where receipts exceeded
expenses. Belfast had but five entries
of merchandise for the year, yielding
1924 in revenue, where the collection
expenses were $1,537.68 Rockport did
the second largest customs business in
the district with 16 entries of merchan-
disc. on which the revenue was $73 46
and the expenses of collecting 81, 026. 80.
Stockton Springs, however, with only
two entries of merchandise, yielded more
money, the amount of customs collected
there having been $213.54, and the COL
lection expenses standing at $500 even.
There were similar records at numer-
GUS other small ports along the coast of
Maine and there were also some ex.
ceptions. The Bath customhouse, for
example, turned in little surplus reve-
nue. to the Treasury on Y entries of
merchandise. The value of customs
from this merchandise was $13, 515. rs
and the cost of collecting Sc, 351 .65.
But Maine ports were by no means the
only ones which cost the government
lot of money to run. There were others
all up and down the Atlantic coast. The
port at Beaufort, N. c., had two entries,
on which the customs duties were 80
cents and the cost of collecting 81, 4O9. 80.
Maine folks, who have official duties
at Washington, are now treking in this
direction The days of the Congression-
al vacation must give way to industry
and application at the Capitol. Ever
since last April, the chief effort has been
toward passing some one special measure
in which President Wilson was particu-
larly interested. Now there is to be full
and fair opportunity to take up those
things in which senators and representa-
tives are especially interested. A very
great number of these have to do with
local matters. Much time has been
spent in paving the way for this legisla-
ton, in which only certain localities are
concerned.
The Capitol will hum for while with
the activities of congressman in having
these little bills attended to. There
must be committee meetings and favor
able reports before the bills can appear
upon the calendars Of Senate and House
and thus be started on the road to con-
sideration. During the long summer
and autumn much of this preparatory
work could have been done, but it is an
established policy that during extra ses-
sions of Congress such business shall be
tabooed. Otherwise it is almost impos-
sible to concentrate upon the big things,
for which an extra session is assembled.
Then there are other good and sufficient
reasons why much of this smaller work
should 60 over till Congress is upon it's
long, regular session.
Maine has not q great deal to ask in
this line. The small local bills come
more from the newer States. A score
or more of private pension bills for Maine
veterans are pending, but the pension
committees Of Senate and House are Civ
ing them confederation There are mat
tiers of appropriations to watch, such as
appropriations for the branch Of the Sol