Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-31
AT THE CAPITAL.
Senator Frye a Prominent
Figure in Halls Of Congress.
Has Important Duty Of Explaining the
Peace Commissions Work.
Next Congress 10 Consider Reorganization Of
Volunteer Army and Militia.

Washington, ID. C., Jan. 3O.-tSpecial y
, Senator William +. Frye of Maine has
| been occupying the center of the stage
| for Il considerable portion of the past
week Upon him seems to have dcvolyed
| chiefly the task of explaining the peace
| treaty in the executive sessions of thu
Senate. The selection was a natural one
for several reasons. Senator Frye is mar
uraly a good orator and when he speaks
he generally holds the attention of the
Senate. The same can not he said in
every particular of Senator Davis Of Min
nesOta, who was also a member of the
peace commission and who is chairman
of the committee on foreign relations. of
which Senator Frye is also a member
Senator Davis is a man of recognized
ability but he is small physically and has
not the voice nor the presence to charm
the Senate during long hours of debate.
He is not so ready at retort nor so able
to take care of himself in the rough and
tumble of debate. In open session the
Senate is very formal and the senators
are not merciless with each other. as ii
general thing. In the secret sessions.
however. they go at each other like n
thousand Of brick, and all formality Is
laid aside.
Under such circumstances Senator
Frye is particularly fit man to be put
at the front, and right well has he given
an account of himself. Senator Gray OF
Delaware. who was also on the peace
commission with Senators Davis and
Frye. is a Democrat and II is less fitting
for him to come forward the spokes
man of the ADMINISTRATION. Senator Gray
= n1a nj hn a man IN fha
sound and conservative. but his record
has been consistently that of a gold
Democrat. He Is a good speaker and the
Senate always listens to him. His posi-
ton for the last few days. however. mas
been to substantiate the statements at
vanced by Senator Frye.
Although the sessions of the Senate
when executive, are supposed TO be strlc =
ly secret, the people of Maine have al
ready noticed that about all that tram
spires there has been given 10 the pubic.
That is simply because some of the sch
tors obliging enough to state the
facts TO some of their friends among the
newspaper correspondents. The leaking
of these secrets sometimes causes stout
protests in the Senate but no means has
ever yet been devised TO stop them. Tn
executive sessions always put the news
paper men 10 more or less trouble be-
cause il is necessary to tramp off to some
senator's house. where he can be found
alone and where it is not easy to suspect
him of giving up the precious news.
Inen Wnen the SESSIONS are long. idSilIG
all the afternoon. one senator rarely re-
mains during the entire session and 1t
necessary to find two or three differen,
men, all of whom must be willing to talk,
before the proceedings of the entire ses-
sion can be determined. hen there are
many senators who religously refuse 10
be worked by the correspondents.
When Il senator does tell ne mas first
made himself certain that the correspon-
dent will not ''give away the source of
his information.
Col Isaac Fl. Wing of Bayfield, Wis, Is
visiting friends here. He was born IN
Augusta and for some time resided III
Winthrop. For twelve years he was re-
ceiver of the United States land Office.
He was a classmate at Bowdoin college
of George r. Williamson. a former citizen
of Augusta now of New York City.
Col Wing served in the Fourth Wis.
consin Regiment during the War of the
Rebellion. The late Col. Charles A.
Wing of Winthrop. was his cousin.
Miss Margaret X. nodgkins of Maine.
CLERK at $1,000 in Indian affairs office. has
been promoted to $li00. Earlier in the
administration number of Maine clerks
in the departments received promotions
in salary. AS general rule most of the
Maine clerks were reduced during the ad-
minstration of President Cleveland. thar
being a Democratic trick for the benefit
of the administration party. AS soon as