Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-01-30
Editorial Correspondence.
STATE House. AUGUSTA.
JanuarY p. lS12.

apartment. A wood fire on each side of
the Presidents chair gives an air of COM
fort to the whole.
| The material of the Senate is not much
| different from that of the House. The
members are neither older nor more grave
! than those Of the lower branch The
theory Of the Constitution Is. that they are
wiser. aud We will make no inv idious com
parsons on that point. They are more
| quiet aud orderly, and appear more like a
| deliberatiye than debating assembly.
! Our own Senators enjoy "A good reputation
here for sense and discretion aud are faith
ful servants of the people. | have not
! space 10 notice in detail the other Senators.
but without meaning to ignore others
can mention one or two with whom nave
come in contact. chaplin of Oxford is
chairman of the Judiciary Committee and
is solid, clcar-headed lawyer, whose
opinions have great weight. jeremiah
Dingiey OF Androsco.gin. the chairman of
the X. II. Committee is one of the weighty
men Of the Senate, Butler of York and
Kennedy of Lincoln are younger men but
already have position and an influence.
Hon. John b. Foster. the President, is adj
mirably qualified for his position. lie is
disniied and yet prompt and ready, and
carries on the business evenly. without a
jar.
There have been no debates in the SEN
ate. but in the House there have been at
least two field days when lances were
splintercd without stint. The first tonrna-
ment Was upon the Education Bill proyd-
la. for seven Commissioners over a. many
districts. No sooner was the measure in
PRODUCED into the House. than numerous
haiden lances We're laid in rest for a tilt at
1t. Treworsy of Surry. mounted his hob
by horse @. local independence and
Selling the lance of ''indciinirc postpone
ment." charged vigorously. and swiftly
Corthell of Calais came To the rescue, and
with sword and bucklcr of "recummit,al''
resisted the onset. The bout between these
two caused a great deal of merriment.
Others mingled IA the melee with various
weapons. and there was >hirmi-,,iny all
along the lire. Dingley of Lewiston, the
author af the Bill. fought bravely ia de-
fence. but became little heated at the
attacks. observing which Lew Barker re
marked Spt3 recf. That i no way to be
Governor. Another incident was the
maiden speech OF henni>,on OF Bouthbav.
Ia the midst of il he stopped short, and
a
Cd he faced the House and SAID. You " ait.
| have got something 10 say and mean TO
say ii r. soon a. can think of it," Down
he sat amid the cheers OF the House. and
other speakers took the floor. Soon up
rose Remission again and said. Il have
thought of my point, aud now mean TO
maze it" And make it lac did in the midst
Of applause at his irankncs> and pluck.
Another field day was over an order pay
Ing an unseated member, Johnson of
Nanccboro. the full compensation and
mileage OF the session. Johnson made "A
very good farewell speech. when III. ques-
ton Of his pay came mp. corihell OF Calais
n,.'cd that lac have fall bay FOR the whole
session. Talbot OF East MacAlas moved
that lac have JnilGA"e aud 81 % .nsr day tfo1
Lutte mixed. and there were repeated di,i.
SONS of the House. but finally the Speak
or declared the vote in favor oi Talbot
motion. Then reconsideration. wa, NOV
Ell. and the battle recommended. and rag
ed iuriously for while. Constitutional
points were mooted and discussed. Pre-
ccdcnt> were cited. General principles
We're invoked. The terrible sacrifices and
>uiicIin@> OF these legislative martyrs
we're wildly painted. Gradually the
mind OF the House vecred toward the
martyr view OF the question: reconsidera-
'i'h was carried. and johnson got his $50
Tor his twcnty-iour days work. | think
that Talbot WAS right ia the prin cplc of
only paying for actual Attendance. Mr..
Talbot !, one or the score of Democrat.
that have found a lodsment in this Legi>-
ia'urc' and Is an experienced and inrelli.
gent member and i good fellow in spite
O: his politics.
Another sensation in the House one
morning last week. wa, the appearance ON
the floor oi ''Percic" the fair correspond
cnt of the Boston Post. did not notice
that speaker Webb was at all clustered.
bait many oi the members >trai.hteued IN
and put on their best expressions. MANY
OF them lett their seats to pay their re-
spect> 10 the lady, who seemed To be hold
ing miniature reception. had "A full
view of her but cannot describe her. She
/, apparently about thirty years old, of
medium height and size. OF light complex
ion with hair that looked reddish from
where | sat. The lady readers OF the
"Americaa" viii accuse me of lodging the
question. was she prettyr~ | must suffer
under their displcasure
Many beautiful ladies visit the Capitol
every day. and are provided with chairs Oh
the iloor of THE House. Immediately facing
the members. There they sit, gazing upon
the ~>olons." and confusing them with
their bewildering glances. Let the Leeis-
lator apply himself ever SO diligently TO
the public veal, his eyes aud his thoughts
will often turn TO that brilliant array.
Who OF them can help being earnest, 10y al
and true, in the presence of so much love
illness and worth? am glad to see that
the custom of ladies coming on to the floor
is becoming well established. Why, how
ever do they frequent the House so much
and the Senate so little? 1t may be be-
cause l5l men are more interesting 10 them
than only 81 are. but as the Senate Cham
Der is SO arranged that visitors cannot sit
in front. l imagine the ladies prefer to
look upon the faces of men rather than up
on their backs. The Senate should rene
dy all this, and so have their share of the
inspiration.
The great railroad fight that has been
talked OF SO much, and was looked forward
to as the great event of the session, has
faded away into amicable negotiation.
Lovers OF the exciting are disappointed.
but the parties concerned are immensely