Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-14
SESSION HALF GONE
And the Democratic Congress Has
Accomplished Absolutely Nothing.
Robert Blaine and His Late Distinguished
Bro.her-Senator Hills Development.


congress things are moving with provok-
ing slswncss. Only about seven weeks re-
main of the session, and at the rate things
are now going there will he a dreadful ac-
emulation and pressure of legislation
during the closing days Of the session. At
the last minute important appropriation
bills and other acts will be rushed through
under whip and spur, and in these eEscr-
gcncies legislation Is practically placed in
the hands OF a few men. The confer
encc committees to settle disputes be-
tween the two houses virtually say what
shall 20 into bills or what shall come out
of them. 1t is an axiom among lobbyists
and fine workers about the capital that
the conference is The most promising stage
Of legislation for their operations. I'VE
arc beaten now have heard these peo-
pie ezclaim many time, but wait until
we get into conference, and we II show you
trick or two" The result nearly always
justifI.s their confidence. Three fourths
of all the so called jobs" that have passed
congress have been put through in this
manner.
At the Last Moment.
Without much doubt congress will sit
on Sunday, the Sd of March. There will
be so much work demanding attention at
tho last moment that no one can see how
Sunday session is to be avoided. On such
occasions, when Sunday falls on the Sd,
the practice Is to sit until about daylight
Sunday morning and take recess until
the afternoon, then continue until the
deathknell of the congress is struck by the
Sboll of the clock at noon the following day.
This method was followed in the Hayes
I., Low
administration. The senate, more digni-
fled than the house, always tries to avoid
Sunday sessions, but does not often sue
coed, though the senate is always able to
dispatch its business with more celebrity
than the house when it settles down to
work.
In walking about tho streets of the ma
tional capital one is often startled by com
ing suddenly face to face with a man who
looks so much like tho late James G.
Blaine that tho thoughts turn involunta-
rily to ghosts and spirits. But the world
of the unknowable need not be invaded
for explanation of this illusion. The
figure that looks enough like that Of
James g. Blaine to be the shade of that
famous statesman Is flesh and blood and
none other than Robert Blaine, the late
Mr. Blano's brother. Robert Blaine al
ways did look like his moro noted brother,
but as he grows older and his hair be-
comes whittier the resemblance grows SO
much mere striking as to be almost star
thing in its effect when first observed.
The Blaine Investments.
The late Mr.. Blaino's investments
hero in property are not turning out as
well as had been expected. His house on
H =
In tho city, cost him, with the grounds
$50, 900. For number of years it was
rented to Levi u. Letter, the Chicago mil
lionairc, for $l2, 900 n year, certainly a
very good return on the investment. But
since Mr.. Letter built a house Of his own
near by, and a house very much more
costly and snowy, the Blaines have not
been able to rent their mansion, though
they have offered it at u greatly reduced
rent. Real estate men say the property
will not now bring dollar more than was
paid for it by Mr.. Blaine. While the value
of the ground has increased, so much was
invested in tho house, which Is not wholly
modern and in some respects undesirable.
that there Is no net increase of value.
The still moro famous Blaine house, the
one in which he last lived and in which
he died, has been leased with the ground,
for long term Gt $4,000 a year and ST. 000
year for another term, and the building
is to be torn down ana n fine modern
thCater erected in its place Mr.. Blaine
bought the property for 500, 600 and spent
$1,000 or S., 900 repairing it. At the time
of purchase he was congratulated on hay
ing secured q good bargain, and there is
some surprise at the small rental to be
paid under tho thcater lease.
Senator Allen OF Nchraska who recent
ly created quite furry by stirring up the
matter of the senate restaurant and its
cost to the government, rarely enters the
restaurant himself. When he wants his
Aincheon his habit is to go to his commit
tee room and send tho messenger who
stands guard over that apartment after a
bowl of corn bread and milk and piece of
apple pic. This is the senator's regular
lunch.
Senator Hills Development.
The friends of Senator Hill claim he is a
developing" man. They say he has out
grown his antipathy to Mr. Cleveland and
has changed his views rs to the efficacy of
personally managed machines in politics.
They even go further and declare he is be-
coming fond of society and is likely to he
found very often in drawing rooms and
dining halls hereafter. Up to the time of
his appearance ut the first of the presi-
dents state dinners for this season, which
attracted SO much attention, it is said Mr..
Hill had never dined out in Washington
moro than two or three times and then
with intimate friends. There are oven
whispers that the senator is rapidly over
coming his aversion to the society of woln-
on.
Marion Butler, who is coming to the
senate from North Carolina, will without
much doubt be the youngest member of
that body. He is said to be only 80 years
old, and if that is correct he will be one of
the youngest men that ever held a seat in
the senate Thirty years, it will be re-
membered is tho constitutional limit of
youthfulness which q senator may enjoy.
ROBERT GRAVES.