The Republican journal., 1914-04-02
Our Washington Letter.
rspecial to The Republican Journal ]

are lOOkluS LOluCW 0Ao AMY 49,
watching the newspapers for tidings OF
contests in the cities and waiting for WIS.,
iting Congressman to return and tell
what was going on in inside political cir
cles. The Republican contingent in the
delegation has been sticking pretty close
ly to the job. Representative Peters
went home for a few days to give atten-
ton to his affairs, but returned here to
look after the interests of fishing con-
stituents in measures before Senate and
House. Senator johnson, Democrat,
went home to help out in the fight for
the mayoraIity of Waterville.
Others of the Maine delegation in Con-
gress, however, will soon be trekklng
back because the State conventions are
not far away and the Congressman have
a lively interest in the Inauguration OF
the State and Congressional campaigns.
It looks as though Congress would be IN
session this year we'll into the summer.
probably we'll into July, if not well into
August. This is little disconcerting to
the Maine Senators and Representatives
of both parties, who want to be back
there in time to bear hand in the strug-
ole which eliminates in the September
election.
All the four Representatives will be
candidates for reelection. Representa-
tive Kinds, of the first district, who an
nounced few weeks ago his withdrawal
has now decided to stay in the race, this
being at the solicitation of his constltu-
ents who believe he will be stronger than
any other Republican candidate who could
be nominated. However, he has con-
sented to run again only on condition
that he be not required or expected to
give of his time or strength but be al
lowed to seek the recovery OF his SHAT
tered health.
resentativeGuernsey recently made
a speech in the House favoring Nation
al Forest Reservation in the Mount ka-
tahdin region of Maine. He has had
bill for such a reservation pending in the
House for some time.
Representative Feters of the Third dis
trict has been keeping lot of Demo-
Gratis stirred up here in Washington OF
late over the so-called Flood bill for
regulation of fishing in international
waters between the United States and
Canada. On the table in his Office Mr..
Peters has big chart of Passamaquod-
DIV Bay, which he obtained from the
Coast ard Geodetic Survey. He wants
TO know the definition of territorial
waters" of Passamaquoddy Bay, as used
in the Flood bill. To this end he has
been poking questions at Representative
Flood, of Virginia, whose name the bill
carries, Mr.. Flood being chairman of the
Foreign Affairs Committee which re-
ported the fisheries bill to the House.
When Mr.. Peters demanded to know
of him what was meant by the terri
torial waters" of Passamaquoddy Bay,
Mr.. Flood admitted he did not know and
suggested that Mr.. Peters consult DR..
Hugh M. Smith, United States Commits
sioper of Fisheries. Mr.. Peters went to
DR.. Smith, who looked wise for few
minutes and suggested that the congress
man run over to the Coast and Geodetlc
Survey and inquire of the government
geographer, Dr. Tittman. Well, the
same thing occurred there, except that
DR.. Tittman could not refer Mr.. Peters
to anybody else, but drew down a chart,
suggesting first that all north Of Deer
Island was territorial waters and then
that probably the territorial waters"
would extend down to Quoddy Head
AS Mr.. Peters was disposed to poke
some of these questions to Chairman
Flood on the floor of the House, the latter
slowed up little in his plans to present
the bill there again for consideration I'M
der special rule. Chairman Flood knew
he could not answer the questions and he
knew also that Mr.. Peters had written
to the State Department for information
about the definition of territorial waters
and had letter from the department,
which conveyed mighty little informa-
ton. In the meantime Mr.. Peters OBJ
tanned small concession from Chairman
Flood, to wit; that the regulations Tor
fishing in those international waters
should not go into force until March l.,
1915. This will be some satisfaction to
Che fishermen along the northeast coast
of Maine who have been concerned lest
they be deprived of rights now enjoyed.
The Coast Guard bill, which has just
passed the Senate by a practically unan-
imous vote, is of great interest in Maine.
It would transfer to this service all the
force of life savers and consolidate them
with the revenue cutter service. The
life guards would become enlisted men
and be given privileges Of retirement on
part pay after a period of service, just
as now applies in the Revenue Cutter
service and in the army and navy. The
bill provides that keepers of the life saw
ing stations shall be warrant officers and
that number l surfmen shall be petty