Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-15
55th CONGRESS-.
Mr.. Oingley's Speech on Pen
sions at Opening Of Session,
Civil Service Will Probably Be Thor
oughIy Debated in House.
Both Branches Adjourn Early Out Of Respect
to the President.

Washington. Dec. 4.-(SpeciaD.-
| fall of official gavels at either end of
| the national capitol, which opened the
! first regular session of the 55th Con-
9ress did not find many Maine people
| in Washington. The. entire Maine del
| egation of representatives and senators
responded to the roll call, for Maine
statesmen are both punctual in arriv-
ing at Washington and precise in Their
attendance on the daily sessions. Tbs,
| roll of the House is called by states al
the opening of the session. the districts
being called in order. AS Mr. Reed =
name is omitted from the roll call, I'M
less he wishes it otherwise, he did not
answer, this year. and Mr.. Dingley
| the floor leader of the majority was
the first Of the delegation to respond
He received a very enthusiastic ova-
ton from the members and nearly fail
ed to hear the clerks voice, but took
care later to have his name recorded.
Among Maine representatives at the
capitol, Mr.. Dingley was probably the
chief figure of the past week His
speech In the House. defining the ex-
pecta tons of the government concern
ing revenues. was very important ut
terance. The manner in which it came
about was rather peculiar and was not
indicated in the press dispatches
Every year when the pension appro-
priation bill is brought to the House
from the committee on appropria tons
there is field for the Southern mem
bers. who cry out against the extrava~
sance of using so much money for the
atE .,f
witty John Allen of Mississippi. this
year. they raised 4 hue and a cry about
the expenditure being beyond the pos
sibility of the government to pay Mr.
Dingley sat under the fire of their ora
tory for couple of days. and ii took
him about half an hour 20
silence every man, for he made
most effective speech, not so
muth from the standpoint af
eloquence as from the standpoint Of
hard and cold facts which were indis-
putable.-There~a are many mere attrac-
tive speakers in the House than Mr.
Dingley, but he has what few if any
other members haye--the sincere re-
spect of both parties in the House. AMI
when ne speaks all listen. He has i'm
proved much as Il speaker since the
opening of the 54th Congress and his
voice is easily heard all over the House
y good story is told here of Mrs Ding
ley, wife of the 20 district representative
which. so far as known. has never been
told in Maine 1t was at the beginning of
the extra session, last winter. when the
galleries of the House Were packed with
spectators. Enthusiasm was high and
when the prominent members of the
House appeared in their seats volley of
al f.l1.,
the reserved galleries witnessing the pro-
ceedings. Finally a lawmal<er appeared
and the members on the floor and some of
the spectators in the galleries heartily
applauded. There was SO much commo-
ton over his entrance that Mrs. Dingley
who is a little near sighted. said to the
lady next her. a stranger. "Why. who is
that gentleman, they are applauding?"
'Oh, don't you know him. answered
the strange lady. Its Mr.. Dngley OF
Maine: the leader of the Republican ma
jority.''
Maine people in Washington the past
week were Mr. Willard Pike. wholesale
grocer of Calais, Mr. and Mrs. c. c. War |
rem of Fryeburg. and Capt. and Mrs |
Samuel Plummer Of Portland. Capt |
Plummer is sheriff of Cumberland county, |
d local paper declaring his belief that
hard cider jags were waning in the State |
of Maine.
A remarkable divorce case will come be- |
fore the equity court of the District of |
Columbia in few days, on a petition for |
and counsel fees 1t is the case
of Elizabeth J.. Smiley, who was formerly I
Miss Smiley of York, Me. daughter of |
the late Gilman A. Smiley of that place. |
She received quite q little sum from her |
fathers estate. but her married life with |
Charles w. Smiley. who is quasi scien-
fist and publisher of certain scientific
has been most unhappy. Her
complaint, which forms the basis of her
request for a divorce from bed and board
alleges. or rather inimates, that he held
her under Il strang spell. supposed to be
hypnotism. Mrs. Smiley is an ardent be-
lever in the occult and has experimental
extensively in hypnotizing cats. Her pc
tition for divorce reads like Il page from
Il book on occultiSm.
People along the Kennebec. especially
the older generation remember William
Of the war wealthy contractor.
The Rebels destroyed wagon train of
his, that was crossing Texas loaded with
supplies when the war broke out caus-
ing him loss of about 100000. The old
man. now worn and discouraged, has
been attempting for years to secure COM
from the government Hon.
Herbert NJ. Heath of Augusta. took hold
If the claim some months ago. and is
having good success with it. The Senate
has already passed the bill for relief and
t is now before the House committee on
var claims. The outlook is brighter for
y .
Mr.. T. l.. Page of Phillips. Me-. pro-
,rietor of the Mooselookmeguntc house.
n the Rangeleys, and reStauranter for |
he United States Senate. may be asked
o assume charge of joint restaurant at $
he Capitol The decision of this matter
ests with the committee on public build
nes. Mr. Pages skill as a cook is very
acceptable to statesmen and his manage
nent at the north end of the Capitol is
o skillful that the members of the House ,
lso want him. The present proprietor of 7
he House restaurant may soon be de-
rived of his place. Hence the movement
n behalf of Mr. Page He came here as
he protege of Senator Frye. another rea- \
on for the popularity of the Maine sena- !
or with his colleagues
Washington was quite thrilled in GER {
ain circles to have a genuine descendant q
f Capt. Miles Standish here in the per- !
on of Miles Standish. the 10th lineal des
endant of the old Puritan warrior. He e
anne here from Portland Me-. some +
7eeks ago. having been appointed to a
osition in the government printing Of
(Continued on page ~ E