Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-29
To BE Attacked by Western
and Southern Republicans.
Noticeable that Maine Members Are
Not Connected With Agitation.
How the Maine Delegation Is Spending the
Recess in Washington.

| Republicans are preparing for an as
SAUL all along the line, as soon as
Congress cOnveneS next week, against
the Civil Service law, as at present
| administered 1t is noticeable, how
ever, that the names of Maine Repub-
Leans and of Republicans from New
England in general are not connected
with the movement Under the lead Of
Gen. Grosvenor of Ohio, a considera BILE
number of the House Republicans or
ganiZed for this assault some two
weeks ago. The night of their meeting
it was remarked about the corridors of
the Capitol, where the meeting was
held, that neither MIR. Reed nor Mr.
Dingley We're there. Although some
terse speeches have been made by Re-
publicans this session against civil ser
vice the mouths of the Maine members
have been silent.
There is, however. among many New
England Republicans a desire to See
some of the minor offices thrown open.
| The closing of the deputy collector
ships of customs and of internal rev.
enue by lMr. Clcveland's blanket order
| finds no favor with New England men,
bers. especially with the members from
| Maine, but they do not see the wisdom
of assailing the civil service. in itself
| good institution. because of a Demo-
| cratic presidents abuse of the institu-
ton. when Maj. Mckinley himself
| could revoke the order if it seemed 30
him polite to do SO. The Republican
workers of Maine are justly entitled to
some of the places now held by Demo
Gratis and it is pretty certain, from
present appearances. that these work
| ers will secure the places eventually,
| but it will not be done with haste.
Each congressman will soon be pre-
pairing his franks for the distribution
of seeds TO constituents. This is one
of the annual duties of national law
maker. The seeds are furnished by the
agricultural department but are not
handled directly by the congressman
or their clerks Each member is fur
nished a certain number of blanks on
which he can have his frank stamped
by a secretary. Addresses of con-
! stituents are then written in and the
| franks forwarded to the secretary OF
| agriculture, who sends them to tn"
contractors, by whom the seeds are
sent to their destinations. These seeds
are Of many varieties. including garden
| seeds, flower seeds, and grass seeds.
Some of the varieties are very valu-
! able. But on the other hand it has
often bee argued that the seeds in
general are valueless and not worth the
| money expended for them. When the
appropriation comes up in the House
| annually there is a fight against it.
especially by the representatives of city
constituencies, where the demand for
| seeds is. of course, very slight. 1t has
never been possible to defeat the ap-
preparation for seeds, because all in all
| the distribution is very popular the
country over. City members swap
| their quota of seeds with rural men,
bers for an extra allowance of govern
ment publications and. as the session
| advances, cease to grumble about the
appropriation.
| Gen. Henderson of Iowa, who is very
good friends with Representative Bur
leigh has gone to New York to spend
the present week. Gen. Henderson is
one of the veteran members of tlia
House, a leader in debate, and chair
man of the judiciary committee. Ii
is he who has reported the bankruptcy
House within a few weeks.
The Maine lawmakers in Washington
have been spending the holidays very
quietly. Speaker Reed has remainad
at the Shoreham, doing some private
writing for various magazines and de-
voting portion of his time to consid
Grafton of the rules of the House.
which may he revised to some extent
before the close of January. Speaker
Reed, more than any other member of
the Maine delegation, except, perhaps |
Senator Hale, enjoys Washington So
ciety. and is much sought after by
hOstesses. He goes out frequently eve
ningS and, when there are good attrac-
tions at the theaters, is often a guest |
at box parties. Capt. Boutelle also |
goes out frequently and. in navy circles |
particularly, is very popular man. |
All the navy set know Capt. BouteIla. |
who is very genial in society. He has |
brilliant naval record himself and for
many years has been a powerful factor
in naval matters, through his connec-
ton with the House committee on
naval affairs of which he is now the |
chairman.
Representative Dingley has been liv-
ing quietly at the Hamilton during the
holidays. He goes out evenings less
frequently, probably. than any other
man of the Maine delegation. Mrs
Dingley and Miss Edith Dingley have
been with him. Mr.. Dingley is the
recipient of many invitations to fash
iOnable dinners but he cares little for
society. He is the same careful student
of public affairs as ever and prefers 20
spend his leisure time informing him
self on finance and other national
topics. Mr.. and Mrs. Dingley were
guests the other evening at the ban
quet of the Forefathers' Club, where
Cnauncey Depew was the orator.
Senator and Mrs. Frye live almost as
quietly at the Hamilton as do Mir. and
Mrs. Dingley. The senator generally
visits his committee room at the Capitol
for a portion of each day. He is a
stickler for prompt attendance to his
mail and prefers to have it even on
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