Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-03-01
SENATE LEGISLATION.
Necessary Bills to Be Passed
Without Much Delay.
EARLY ADJOURNMENT PROBABLE.
shipping Subsidy, Nicaragua fsnni
and Army Reorganization Bills to
be Postponed - knute Nelson
Worker-Senator Hanna's visitors.


may lead to long debate and extend
the session does not meet with unani- |
nous approval and there are quite |
number Of influential men in both !
houses who say that nothing will be
gained by avoiding any legislation or
meeting fairly the questions that have
been presented to congress. There is a !
dominating force in the senate which |
usually has its way in determining
what shall be done. and the men who
usually have their way are those who
do want only necessary legislation and
an early adjournment. Among the
bills that it is proposed shall be post
poned are those for shipping sub
sidy, the Nicaragua canal, the rcorgan-
ization of the army and several others
of less Importance. But there is also
an element which has determined that
some of these measures shall not be
thrust aside without contest, and If
the friends of all shall declare their in
tenton of having them considered the
plans for an early adjournment might
be upset. Friends of the shipping bill
are especially anxious for 1t at this
session, as the short session would af
ford an opportunity to defeat the meas
ure in the senate even if n majority of
both houses favored it.
A Man who Does Things.
That title might be applied to mum.
Der of men, but the particular man
have in mind now Is Knute Nelson.
senator from Minnesota. 1t is record
ne had when he was a member of the
Minnesota senate years ago and after
ward as a member of the house of rep.
resentatives in congress AS governor
of his state he had way of accom-
plishng results. and his four years in
the senate is marked by success in
practical legislation. Soon after the
cenvening Of the senate he introduced
and advocated bill for q national
bankruptcy law which is now on the
statute books. A large number of leg
islative acts which were for the benefit
of his state has been passed. He
made an investigation and a complete
and comprehensive report upon the i'm.
provcment of the Mississippi river Not
long since he secured n unanimous re-
port from the committee on commerce
in favor Of his bill to establish n de-
partment Of commerce and industries.
Some day when business is little
slack in the senate. we will see him
put that bill through the senate. Dur.
ing the debate on the financial bill he
listened attentively, but said nothing.
Five minutes before the bill passed
the senate he had an amendment add
ed allowing national banks of capital
of $4,000 in towns Of 1000 popula-
ton or less. In less than six lines he
explains his amendment, and it was
adopted without objection. 1t is in
knowing how and when to get in that
men secure legislation, and the Mime
sofa senator possesses this gift.
They Send Cards to Hanna.
Senator Hanna receives more cards
than any other man in the senate. Wis
itors are constantly calling on him,
coming not only from his state. but
from every part Of the Union. Many
men want to see him because he is an
Ohio senator but his position as chair
man of the Republican national com
mttee Is the reason why the great
numbers seek him. Applicants for Of
fee from every section seek the infu-
ence of Mr. Hanna. while many per-
sons who are not Office seekers call
upon him to discuss political condi-
tons. Next to Senator Hams the
Maryland and West Virginia senators
gly N hp
matter of cards. These states are near
enough to Washington to allow the res
idents to reach this city easily, and
when they come they see the senators.
Just now Senators Elkins and Scott
have more visitors than Senators Me
Comas and Wellington, due perhaps to
the fact that most interesting and
hotly contested campaign is beginning
in that state. In the days of a Demo
cratic administration Virginia senators
were compelled to respond to cards
more frequently than any other mon,
for 1t was easy for their constituents
TO cross the Potomac and present their
claims for the office they wanted.
Passing of the New Member.
The new member of congress has
disappeared. and we shall see nothing
more of him now until the next con-
gross meets. While the new member
was with us he was a perpetual sur
prise and JOY. But three months Of a
legislative career has been sufficient to
wear off the new of the most YER
dant man who came to congress. You
can scarcely find man now who
seems to feel that he has the whole
weight of the nation on his shoulders.
and none is left who thinks the other
end of the capitol tips up n little as
he enters the house. II like the new
member" said man who is now serv-
ing his fourth term. II always do all
can for him and try to make him feel
ms pleasant as possible. always sym
pathize with him when he comes to me
after about six weeks or two months
and says, "A member of congress isn't
such --- Of fellow around here, is
hep Then I tell him that and every
other man who was ever elected to
congress felt that the first time he
walked up to the capitol everybody
was looking at him"
ARTHUR w, DUNN.
"Of a Good Beginning