Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-02

such a club and improve themselves in
the use Of shooting irons. The govern
ment likes to encourage such qualities
among its citizens.
Gen. William CroZier, chief of ord
nance in the army, has notified Sena-
tor Burleigh that under the act Of Con-
gress of April q, 1914. rifles and am
munition will be furnished the club, if
1t will meet certain requirements as to
target practice and also as to provid
ing target range. 1t is understood
here that the Old Town people are at
tempting to meet the requirements in
this particular.
A Variety Of. Petitions.
Senator Burleigh has presented petit
| tons from Rumford and Lewiston
against legislation looking to a re-
/ striction of the freedom of the press.
He has also presented resolutions from
the central labor union Of Portland in
favor Of the Heating child labor bill,
, which recently passed the House and
which, it is thought, may come to a
| vote in the Senate this session. The
senator has received a large number of
letters from all over Maine, particularly
| from women's clubs, in behalf of this
! legislation. The greatest opposition to
! 1t comes from the cotton manufacturing
| sections Of the South. They fought it
vigorously in the House and presuma-
bly,, will continue their opposition when
the bill comes up for consideration in
the Senate. There were protests
against features Of the bill from GER
tain sections Of New England but it is
understood that the Senate interstate
commerce committee modified the
measure so as to meet these objec-
| tons in good part. The most objec-
'. tionable clause was one which did not
| make adequate provision for determin-
| ing what products We're in intrastate
commerce and what products were in
interstate commerce.
For Better Horses.
AS one of the successful states in the
production of fine horses Maine will be
interested in the efforts before Congress
! to improve the standard Of horses
throughout the country. Senator Pitt
man, of Nevada the one state of the
Union in which wild horses are still
found, has introduced a bill as an
amendment to the agricultural bill to
provide an appropriation Of 5000 900
for the extension Of the so-called army
remount system.
| Officers at the War Department, who
are interested in an adequate supply of
good horses in war time have had a
census of horses in the United States
taken. Two leading bankers in every
county of the United States, including
| the several counties of Maine, were
asked to furnish the Department with
a list OF horses in their communities
suitable for military purposes. 1t is
| claimed that the figures were quite
surprising. For while there are said to
be 24,000,O00 horses in the United
states. there are less than 225OO0 Of
these that would do for the army. That
would be sufficient in peace times but
not If the country were forced into war
This is said to represent a woeful de-
cline Of the animal that, more than all
others. is the friend Of man. 1t Is
charged that the indifference Of the
breeders of horses has been very mark
ed throughout many states, but not in
Maine so that the average horse. par
| ticularly in the West( is not as efficient
an animal as was the case ten years
ago.
The Western states are breeding
plenty of heavy draft horses according
to Senator Pittman but the breeders
| there have not given attention to a
type Of horse fit for other work than
heavy hauling. 1t is desired that the
scrub stock of this country, millions
and millions in number be replaced
through the use Of selected stations
and sound mares without expense to
the owners of such mares. The gov
eminent now owns 35 selected stall
lions, which have been distributed in
several states and it is the purpose to
vote appropriations for an additional
number.
Maine People In Town.
Mr.. ]. Wesley Dunn Of Waterville
called at the offices of Senators john
son and Burleigh few days ago.
Mr.. Robert Newbegin, lawyer, Of To-
ledo. Ohio. is in the city attending