Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-01-31

Representative John A. Peters, of
the Third Congressional district is
getting his stride at Washington, He
| finds 1t "a little irksome, to be sure
serving as a minority member of the
House and observes that he can do
more back home at Ellsworth than he
can get done at Washington under a
Democratic administration. But that
is the experience of minority mem
bers generally. None the less Mr..
Peters is doing well and, ifSthe Dem
ocrats were giving Republicans a
chance, Mr.. Peters would be doing
great deal more than he is now.
Mr.. Peters recently took up in coop
Grafton with Representative Allen
Treadway, of the westernmost district
| of Massachusetts. the case of Fred T.
Mccarthy a misguided but we'll mean
ing young man who was trying to get
place as governor. Young Mccarthy
lived in Helyoke. Mass, but came
down to Washington some months ago
| for temporary service in the Census
office. He fell in here with a man who
claimed to be able 70 get men perma-
nently into the government service
First Mccarthy, who is deaf and with
out many friends, paid this man $40
and was told If he would pay him 800
more a permanent clerkship could be
obtained. Thereupon Mccarthy told a
government chief he would pay $3.50
if he could have a 5000 clerkship.
Nothing was heard of this for a time
and Mccarthy went back to his home
in Holyoke but his statement was
hyn,, 20 fln of
authorities. 1t is violation of fed
eral statutes to make such a proposal.
! Finally United States deputy mar
shall got Mccarthy at Holyoke and
brought him on to Washington where
he is held pending trial. AT first he
was put into Jail but is now released
on bail, largely due to Mr.. Peters eff
forts.
The Third District congressman took
pity on the young man and has visit
ed the United States district attorney
here in his behalf Mr.. Peters pointed
out that Mccarthy had promised the
$3.50 without any idea that it was
criminal offense and that Mccarthy
had already been punished sufficient
ly, because the Civil Service Commits
sion has stricken his name from the
eligible list so that he cannot here
after get a government clerkship.
Maine folks have been visiting
Washington much of late. The Maine
visitors have included recently Gov.
William T. Haines and ex-Gov. Bert
NJ. Fernald Both of them were on
errands of Importance to the State.
Senator Burleigh and others of the
Maine delegation in Congress Coop
Grated in helping along. Ex-Gov. Fer
nald, as president Of a canning assoc
citation, was interested in opposing
the so-called Lafferty bill. which
would require most of the packing es-
adjustments in Maine to maintain a
small printing plant for labels, giving
the date and other information about
the contents of each can. Senator Bur-
leigh had inquired about the bill be-
fore ex-Gov. Fernald arrived and had
ascertained that it had small chance
Of enctnent in the House. Ex-Gov.
Fernald saw some members OF the
House interstate commerce. committee
regarding it.
Governor Haines and a number of
officials in Maine employed by the
government and several dealers in
fish from Portland and Rockland were
In The city several days ago. On their
arrival they were met at their, hotel
by Senator Burleigh and the next day
were accompanied to the Office of the
commissioner of fisheries by Senators
Burleigh. and johnson, and by Repre-
sentatives Guernsey, Kinds and Nc
GilIicuddy.
A hearing was held before Commits
sioner Hugh w. Smith relative to the
continuance of the governments pol
icy Of purchasing seed lobbsters. "a
Governor Haines made very able
argument for its continuance at least
until after the next meeting of the
Maine Legislature. The result was
that the Maine men departed with the
assurance that nothing would be done
to the injury of lobstser industry.
Candidate Fossett OF Portland, who
came here hot-footed the other day
after the United States marshalship
Of Maine, appears to have departed
empty handed. He obtained no en-
couragement that he would be nomi-
mated and, indeed. 1t is quite certain
that he will not get the plum. Sen
ator Johnson has not indicated yet