Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-06-11
CAPITAL CHAT.
Continued from page ~

constant attendant on the sessions of the
House and the roll calls always include
MS name. whenever important questions
are at issue. He has done a great deal
OF work before the war department, Sc
curing a promise from the chief of en-
gineers for the removal of an old wreck
IN the South branch of the Penobscot.
winch has been an obstruction to navfga-
ton for years, and facilitating the river
and harbor improvements along the coast
of the Sd District
mas helped fashion some important legis-
lation at the session just passed. The
committee on public buildings and
grounos, of which he is one of the lead
ing members, did not authorize any pub
lie buildings at this session, but not
Few important hearings were given, pre-
the short session of Congress that will
begin next December. In that connection
Gov. Burleigh has been paving the way
for the construction of public buildings In
Maine at no distant day which will
bring $4,000 or $500 600 worth of work and
of material into the State. AS a member
of the special census committee he has
had a part in framing the census legis-
lation of the session, and as a member of
the committee on militia. ranking next to
Chairman Marsh, ne had a part In the
preliminary hearings and subsequent leg
islation to allow S1.0Q0@O for the equip
ment of militia in the states.
Probably there was no member of the
Maine delegation who welcomed the rest
that the end of the session brought him,
more than Senator Hale. For the last two
weeks of Congress he was far and away
the hardest-worked man at that end OF
the Capitol. With his years of experience
in legislation and his sound judgment in
business, matters. Senator Hale has at
tanned a high place in that pody and III
recognized both as conservative and fair
minded in legislative deliberations. He Is
one of the members of the inner circle.
as it is called in the Senate, and has a
firm grasp on all its affairs.
The great tasks of the session always
come when conference reports on appro-
priation bills must be prepared and pre-
scented. So, while during the early part Of
the session Senator Hale was busy with a
large amount of detail in preparing ap-
preparation bills and general legislation.
he found himself engulfed, towards the
end of the session, with vast amount of
work which had TO be accomplished be-
fore Congress adjourned.
The total expenditures of the govern
ment for which in a way Senator Hale
is largely responsible, because they come
directly under his scrutiny and are
passed upon by him, amount to hundreds
of millions of dollars every year. The
naval appropriation bill alone, of which
he has sole charge. because 1t comes
from the committee of which he is chair
man, carried the major part Of SlU,WH-
900 this year. PeSides that, he ranks next
to Chairman Nilsson on the Senate com
mittee of appropriations and participates
in the making of several other big appro-
priation bills. He Is member of the
subcommittee that has charge of the
Sundry civil bill, Whlcn IS one OF the
largest of the supply bills. These meas
ures require a vast amount Of Informal
ton which must be carried in great de-
tail to properly protect the government
from imposition by hundreds Of people
who are willing to take any advantage to
carry their ends Diplomacy is indispen-
sable, far more than in the House, to as
.urc the prompt passage of these bills
In accomplishing all these things Sena-
tor Hale is past master. excelling, IN
doubtedly in that line any of the long
a business sesnator he has no superior
and he accomplishing his work 50 easily
and so entirely without parade or I'M
necessary display that his prestige among
his colleagues is greatly enhanced.