Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-04-01


Maine Students at Capital.
Senator Burleigh has received many
Of the high school students mere from
Maine this week. Washington IS
thronged with these students, who
come on several tours from practically
all the New England states this week.
The Cony high students from Augusta
have been among the visitors Of the
week, being accompanied by a num-
Der Of friends. Senator Burlelgh ar
ranged at the White House for Pres
idert Wilson to receive these Maine
Young people and shake hands with
them.
The Skowhegan high school students
were shown special attention here by
DR.. George Otis Smith, director of the
geological survey, who is himself from
Skowhegan. He gave the visiting SUI
dents a reception at his residence on
Bancroft place Tuesday evening. Sen
ator Burleigh, Representative and Mrs.
Peters were invited and dropped in
during the evening and gave them a
hearty welcome The late Hon. Joseph
O. Smith, father Of Hon. George Otis,
was Senator and Mrs. Burlelghs ola
school teacher The Maine students
have had a gala time sightseeing. They
explored the Capitol from basement to
dome, saw the Senate and the House
in session, and observed many Of the
prominent leaders in both bodies.
The worst setback the visitors had
was on account of the weather AL
though the week started off balmily, it
soon began to rain and there was a
good thunder storm Monday evening
Of the variety that the young people
from Maine will hardly see at home for
a couple of months yet.
Hon. and Mrs. John w. Fogler OF
Skowhegan have been tarryirg in
Washington for a few days this week
on their return from Florida, where
they passed the winter months. Maj.
Fogler called on Senator Burleigh and
had quite talk They also attended
the reception at the residence Of Hon.
George Otis Smith.
Anti Ship Purchase Resolutions.
Senator Burleish has presented in
the Senate resolutions Of the Maine
Board of Trade relat to government
owned ships which resolutions were
adopteG at the recent annual meeting
at Lisbon Falls. The resolutions were
referred to the commerce committee,
where the ship purchase bill, which
the administration favors, will be con-
sidered later in the session. Notwith-
standing similar protests from many
commercial bodies, Democrats seem
r-I,s Is,
bill to passage. There seems no ques-
ton that it will pass the Senate. if
pushed to a vote, but this will not be
till late in the session, probably not be-
fore June or July. Senator Burleigh will
do all he can at the north end of the
Capitol to defeat the legislation but the
Democratic majority is very large and
there appears to be no question about
the result.
Senator Burleigh came here after
several weeks illness but has so rap
idly improved during the past month
that he is now in perfect health. Some
of his Maine friends told him that they
had not seen him looking better for
ten years. At present he is giving the
closest attention to all the details Of
his public business and frequently WIS.,
its the pension office and departments
to give personal attention to matters
in which his constituents feel an in
terest.
Among the recent visitors of Sena-
tor and Mrs. Burleigh were Hon. and
Mrs. Byron Boyd and children, Mary,
Richard and Burleigh.
In the House the situation is a little
more hopeful for opponents of the leg
islation For many weeks the admins
tration bill has been before the mer-
chant marine and fisheries committee.
Extended hearings have been had and
the opposition has voiced its opinion
of the bill in no uncertain terms There
seems some doubt whether the bill can
be brought out of this committee with
a favorable vote, even though Demo-
Gratis are a big majority in the COM
mittee. Three Of these Democratic
members at least are lukewarm but
two Of them will probably be brought
around, so that eventually a favora BILE
report can be had. Shipping men from
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts are
fighting the measure as vigorously as
they can. Maine has a representative
on the merchant marine committee,
Hon. Asher c. Kinds, who will cast his
vote against favorable report The
real struggle will come little later in
the House. when the bill is brought up
there for a vote. A few Western Repub-
licans, from states in the Mississippi
valley will vote for it and there is con-
siderable doubt whether these will be
numerous enough to overcome the
Democratic detection.
The House has been tagging over this
ship purchase bill, because SO many
Democrats think the legislation unwise,
but the President has recently writ
ten a Letter to Majority Leader Kitchin,
urging that it be disposed of expedi-