The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-06-25
Our Washington Letter.
Especial to The Republican Journal ]

Maine coast towns anC, alike, MasSd-
cbusetts coast towns, are having occa-
sion lust now to lament the "war" with
Mexico. The Fourth of July industry
will suffer appreciably. For even better
than battery of rafting good orators
is warship or two in the offing when
these coast towns have their "celebra-
ton" Ever since the new navy became
a reality New England Congressman at
about this season of the year have been
descending upon the Navy Department
and asking whether a battlecraft could
not be detailed. Indeed, the Maine and
Massa chusetts coasts have become so
accustomed to the presence Of Navy
ships in their vicinity on the Fourth that
they plan their exercises on the basis
of Navy Department favor in this re-
gard. Local committees accordingly have
learned to prefer their requests early and
are sorely disappointed when the war
ship feature has to be eliminated. These
two coasts could come close to using all
the ships there are in the Navy on Fourth
of July, if every town that wanted one
could have it.
The Department is glad to accede to
such requests. The officials have much
more sympathy with these Fourth OF
July programs than with the detail OF
zvarships to summer resorts for the bene-
fit of hotel keepers and of fashionable
folks who frequent the waters. And it
has come about that whenever warshlp
is at all available the Department will
send her along the New England shore
to help the local people properly observe
the natal day of independence.
But this year there will be few war
ships at celebrations, because SO large
part of the fleet will still be off Vera
Cruz Some days ago Senator Burleigh
of Maine saw Secretary Daniels person
ally about ship for Winterport, whose
citizens are planning an observance. The
Secretary said he was very sorry but he
feared he would be unable to comply. He
would put the application on file, how
ever, and if matters came about so that
it could be granted, well and good. Then
came Bucksport, but few miles away,
with similar application. There is
some chance that one ship may be de-
tailed for both celebrations and to divide
slime between the two towns.
Maine people would oppose, of course,
any proposition to close the Soldiers
II ONE at Togus, and there is no prospect
that 1t will be attempted for the present.
But there is no misunderstanding a GER
transfer will gain strong force within
few years, with such men as eX-Repre-
sentative Wadsworth, chairman of the
board of managers, openly favoring it.
mttee recently that the homes Gin a
moderate climate are much more desir-
a BILE than those in cold climate (mean-
ing Maine especially and are more eco
nomical to care for from every point of
view" He not only favors closing the
nome at Togus, but that at Marion, Ind,
and possibly one or two others. CAN of
the administrative expenses, including
the household, farm, etc. he added,
would be saved. We would simply have
to have additional subsistence at the
homes to which you transferred the
members. You would have to feed and
clothe them. About the time the Sher-
wood bill was passed it was claimed that
the increase Of pensions would have
tendency to take men. out of these homes,
and it does have that tendency. That
decrease, together with the increased
mortality rate, has served to decrease
the population of the homes. The aver
age age of the Civil War veterans is
over Y years.
Major Moses Harris, the National
Treasurer, testified before the appropri-
alton committee that the average cost
of subsisting persons at the Togus Home
is 23.4 cents day. ''There may be
difference in the cost of feeding the
men," Major Harris testified, when the
question Of comparative costs of SUBJ
sistence was raised. "Some commissary
off GERS can make ration 60 farther
,tban others can, and at some of the
homes they think it necessary to feed
more literally than at others. It is
largely a question of the personnel Of
the officers"
The larger cost of coal for the Togus
Home was cited by Major Harris, who
spoke of Togus as having "a very un-
favorable climate. They have long,
cold winter there" He said the cost Of
coal at the Northwestern Branch, located
at Milwaukee. was So. 10 per ton, where
at the Eastern Branch at Togus, it was
S4O3 ton. Last year 2,O75 tons of an
thracite coal was used at Togus. The
cost of water at Milwaukee for the
Home is $4,000, while at Togus it is
- $40, 900 year. Mr.. Wadsworth told the
committee he thought the cost of water
at Togus was very high.
Heroic work is being done at Washing
ton to pacifY hungry Denocratice office
avs =, Mar, Eprlop1 Tho raoopf