Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-01-20
NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Much Interest Being Taken in
Crumpacker Bill.
Mr.. Little6eId Will Be Heard from in
the Roberts Case.
Gen. Harrison's First Speech in Senate
Working for Portland Lightship.

hearing considerable about during the
past month. is now being considered
before the census committee of the
| House. There has been considerable
talk to the effect that the Republicans
| would finally conclude not to press
this measure. The bill provides for
the restriction of representation in Con-
gress wherever ii has been shown that
votes have been suppressed. The bin
is aimed at the Southern states pri-
marly, although claim has been
made that it would also hurt some Of
| the Northern states. A counsel Of Re
publicans on the census committee,
one of whom is Governor Burleigh Of
Maine, was held recently at the willard
| Hotel, where Judge Crumpacker re-
sides. to discuss the feasibility of the
measure. Although il may not become
/ law. it seems rather probable that the
| bin will be favorably reported from
the committee That seemed to be
| rather the sentiment at the Republi-
| can conference the other night.
This is only one of the important
measures before the census committee.
| The meetings are held weekly, and
considerable attention is being devoted
to matters perfecting the organization
of the coming census. As is the case
with all his committee work. Govern
or Burleigh attends diligently to the
meetings Of this committee in which
he takes a very lively interest.
! Representative Littlefield promises To
hold the boards for a while. next week,
with his dissenting report on the cas-"
| Of Brigham II. Roberts Of Utah. Mr.
Littleiield and Judge DeArmund Of
| Missouri as the press dispatches have
| announced, will render a minority re-
| port differing with the rest If the com
mittee as to the manner in which Mr.
Roberts will be excluded. They believe
| that he should be expelled by a two
thirds Vote. instead Of excluded by q
majority. They Will have quite a fol
lowing Of lawyers in the House, AL
though ii is not by any means certain
what the result will hc. Mr.. Littlehrii
ana Mr.. DtArmond will both speak i'll
b,h half of their views and will undoubt-
eddy offer IN amendment providing for
expulsion. The tendency generally in
the House IS to follow the majority of
the committee. That was the policy
which the late Representative Dinghy
always recommended to new members
Of the House, as far as topics We're
concerned on which they had no special
knowledge. HI used To say That
member of the House could not expect
to inform himself thoroughly On
everything that came up, and as "a
matter Of principle where he could
MT make 4 personal investigation, it
was better for him to follow thu ma
iorty Of the committee.
There is every prospect that the Re
publicans will be somewhat divided,
which Will undoubtedly be true Of the
Maine delegation. Representative Al
len is not certain as vet how he will
vote Governor Bureigh. now the dean
of the delegation in the House in the
absence Of Captain Boutelle. will vote
in favor of excluding Mr.. Roberts by
a majority vote.
Representative d. S. Alexander of
Buffalo. New York. who was born at
Richmond. Me. and graduated from
Bowdoin College after serving through
the Civil war in Maine regiment.
tells a good story about General Ben
iamin Harrison's maiden speech in the
United States Senate. After Mr.. Alex
ander graduated from Bowdoin he
was more or less active in politics
there and was at one time secretary
Of the Republican state committee.
He gained the friendship of a great
number Of influential Republicans and
among them was General Harrison.
When, later, Mr.. Alexander was made
one Of the auditors of the treasury.
about the same time General Harrison
Before the Senate assembled in De
cember, 1881. General Burnside Of
Rhode Island, died. He had long been
senator from that state. but was
native Of the state of Indiana, and
General Harrison had served under
him in the war Accordingly. General
| Harrison was invited TO deliver
eulogy in the Senate on the life and
public services Of General burnside.
one day. Mr. Alexander received n
note from General Harrison. asking
him to call at the latter's office. He
| complied, and found the then future
President struggling over some manu-
! scripts which he had tried earnestly
to get into Il shape that would SUIT
| him Evidently he had not succeeded.
| for he appeared to be very much dis
couragcd. When Mr.. Alexander had
seated himself. General Harrison said:
II have here Il eulogy Of General Bu1n-
side which | have planned 10 deliver
in the Senate. | wish, Alexander. that
YOU would look it over and rearrangc
it, Scratch out any part of it that you
do not like. Scratch out the whole
Of ii if YOU want to. and write in any
thing that seems to You proper Mr.
! Alexander took the manuscript that
was offered him and read it over with
great care II had not looked over
two pages Of it," said Mr. Alexander
before | SAW that it was one of the
choicest and sweetest bits Of tribute
literature that | had ever seen.
A very interesting item relating to
Mr.. Asher Kinds Of Portland cropped
out here. this week. with the conSid-
Grafton Of the urgent deficiency bill
In that bill there was an item of $1,000
| providing for the preparation Of the
! House Digest Of Rules. The bill au
| thoriZed the transfer of this sum from
| the journal clerk of the House to che
clerk of the Speakers table. 1t appears
/ that General Henderson was disposed
to make Mr. Kinds the journal clerk
of the House at the beginning Of this