Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-31

Washington, d. c., Dec. sO.-(Spe-
cial )-Secretary of Commerce Red
field who is very active in persuading
Congress to vote moneys for better
aids to navigation on both coasts, has
written Senator Burleigh to help as ne
may be able in the passage of an ON
nibus lighthouse bill. This, intro
duced by Senator Pomerene of Ohio,
at the beginning of the session, car
ries a number of improvements, one OF
which is $500 for light at or near
Dog Island entrance to st. Croix
River Maine. Secretary Redfield
writes that several wrecks have oc
portance of this proposed improve
ment can not be oyerestimated."
The navigation of the st. Croix is
being improved by appropriations
both at Washington and from the
Dominion of Canada These are cal
culated to augment the river traffic
and are an additional reason for the
establishment of a lighthouse at the
mouth of the waterway.
Senator Burleigh of Maine is re-
manning at Washington over the holt
DAYS. He was one OF the first New
England senators to arrive here for
the session and is devoting himself in
dustriously to the interests of his con-
stituents. Senate Republicans of re-
-esas.ssAsaks,-sisse the tSessanber elec-
zion, have been girding themselves for
vigorous opposition to many phases of
the Democratic administration, and
are having a reorganization for this
purpose. Senator Burleigh, with his
long political experience and his stand
ing as a business man, is taking an
active part in this Senate work. One
of the important missions of the Re-
publican opposition will be to prevent
any more disastrous legislation by the
administration.
In this connection particular efforts
will be directed against the Presidents
ship purchase bill. Senator Burleigh
believes this very undesirable legis-
lation. 1t would commit the govern
ment to the purchase and operation OF
ships to a maximum of about $780,
600, 600. Such operations would De
largely to South America and would
come in competition with Maine built
and Maine operated ships Senator
Burleigh believes the Republicans Will
be able to prolong consideration Of the
appropriation bills sufficiently to leave
no time for taking up the ship pur-
chase bill. Democrats are very averse
to an extra session of Congress next
spring and summer and to prevent this
they must pass the appropriation bills
before March 4 next.
Senator Burleigh has had a mass II
correspondence from Maine at this
session of Congress. People from all
over the State are writing him on a
wide variety of subjects. He has re-
ceived very many petitions in behalf OF
national prohibition but the contest
over this issue has been chiefly before
the National House. Efforts will
probably be made to get the Hobsor
resolution, or one like it, before the
Senate this winter but with small
chances of success. The junior sena-
tor has had a lot of business before
the departments which he has beer
clearing up as fast as possible. the
holidays have given him a chance tc
get a lot of Maine matters off his desk
Senator Burleigh is one of the busiest
minority members of the upper legis-
lative branch"
Quite a number of Maine veterans
of the Civil War are on the way to
increased pensions by enactment OF
Congress at the present session. The
Senate has Just disposed of consid-
- vartU "a
bills and the House will consider them
In due season. The name of Rufus N
Brown of Swanville, Maine, private oil
Company G, First Maine heavy artil
Iery. is on the list at $40 a month. -Ir.
F. c. Small of Belfast wrote letter
to Washington telling how Brown is
totally disabled by rheumatism.
The name of John A. Patterson OF
Belfast is also on the Senate list for a
pension of $40 month. He was in
Company III, Twelfth Maine volunteers
DR.. f. d. Tapiey of Belfast wrote t.
Washington in Patterson's behalf. tell
ing how he is Sc years old and total
~ disabled.
Jonathan S. Nickerson Of Searsport
Maine, n years old and once of Com
pany d. Nineteenth Maine volunteers
is another uf the Pine Tree State vet
Grams down on the Senate list for a
pension soon of $40 month. He was
a prisoner Of war in the hands of the
enemy for a little over three months
He has many inf1rmities due largely tc
old age and war service. The Senate
committee on pensions was Informed
that Nickerson is now totally unable
to perform manual labor.
James S. Crockett. 50 years old u
Frankfort, Maine, is the subject o.
the following report from the pensions
committee of the Senate: In view Of
this roldiarrs advanced age his faiph.