Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-23
DINNER GUESTS.
The maine Congressman Fa-,
nous in This Respect.
The Good Committee Assignments of
the Maine Men.
All Of the Maine Delegation at Home Except
Mr.. and Mrs Frye.

Name delegation in the annals Of
washington dinner giving would form
an interesting chapter. With the rise
Oh lhat remarkable galaxy Of six
statesmen, every one of whom has
written ms name indelibly on the scroll
or the state and the nation. about
every one of them became very desir-
able guests in fashionable circles.
| Washington dinner givers love lions to
entertain their guests Always they
have sought the men of power in the
political world; accordingly what more
natural than that the Maine men.
welding great influence at the Capitol.
should hc desirabl" guests about the
magnificent boards that groan with
tempting Injuries.
The Late Representative Milliken
was. perhaps, less of a diner OUT than
any other member from Maine. This
does not mean that he was not fire.
quently a guest at rich mems tables
but he did not find so much to his
comfort ana satisfaction in the round
of dinner gayeties that others might
discover there. About the same could
be said of the late Representatives
DinSley. Next to Speaker Reed he was
probably invited out more to fashion
able dinners than any Of the Maine
men. Mr.. Dingley found a peculiar
satisfaction in these functions. but he
was an Industrious man and generally
preferred to spend his evenings ut
home with his family at the Hamilton.
Nevertheless, when social laws were
Imperative, as when the Canadian
high commission was in Washington a
year ago, Mr. Dingley could obey
cheerfully. Probably he dined out
more during the period Of the Cana
dian visits in Washington. when din
ners We're numerous on their account,
than at any period during his resi-
dence in Washington
As high social favorites Speaker Reed
and Captain Boutelle have reigned SUI
preme in Washington, as far as the old
Maine delegation was concerned
Speaker Reeds high position, his in
imitable wit and good companiOnship
made him one of the most popular and
desirable guests Of Washington official
society. He frequently accepted those
invitations in Washington and extract
cd good deal Of enjoyment out of his
observations of the social bauble
Nevertheless Speaker Reed generally
Kept good hours. was reasonably spar
ing in his diet on rich foods and
where other men have gone down in
dire rout with impaired digestion and
wrecked liver. Mr.. Reed survives to-
day. hale and hearty. and probably
fully capable of enjoying the many
good dinners to which he is invited in |
New York city.
There is hardly a highly respected |
household in Washington where Cap |
tain Boutelle's name is not known. He |
has been for years one of the guests |
much in demand as the winters came |
on. His social qualifications. enjoy
ment Of jolly company. and apprecia-
ton Of cultivated people We're enough |
to put him in the ranks of favored !
guests. But in addition to this he has
held high official position in Washing
ton for many years at the head of the
committee on naval affairs. a fact
which has made him all the more de-
sirable to those hostesses whose Wash
ingtOn winters are largely concerned
with entertaining many nice people
and making congenial souls happy.
The two Maine senators and their
families have likewise occupied quite
rs envinus places for a decade in
Washington as have the veterans of
the House. They. too, have held and
still hold paramount positions Of in
fluence in the Senate, and there are
scores Of entertainers in the we'll
known homes of Washington. where
either of the Maine senatorial families
are welcome guests.
Before the curtain was rung down
IN Congress. this week. the committees
We're announced. The Maine mem
hers were generously treated and no
hne Of them has any reason to COM
plain of what Speaker Henderson gave
him. Representative Littletield was {
given place on the judiciary com I
mittee. the same committee that Mr..
Reed was assigned to when he came to 5
'onGreSs. and than which there is no
more desirable committee for a lawyer
In addition he has had
the special committee to investigate !
the case of Mr.. Roberts Of Utah. but |
the duties Of that committee will be !
ended within a few days after the
House assemblies in January
Representative Burleigh, Of the third (
district, now holds more committee as q
enments than any other Maine member
n the House ana all Of them are good 5
assignments. He is the fourth member {
# the committee on public buildings ana I
grounds. the second member Of the com {
nittee en- militia; ard also a member of g
he select committee on census The two {
irst places came to him from the last Y
congress. except that he was moved Up
everal numbers on account Of the fail t
ire of Republican members to secure a o
N