Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-24
Proposed Changes in National
Homes Management.
Long and Splendid Services in Senate
Of Messrs. Frye and Hale.
Only Seven Other Senators Have Such Lonc
Records 10 Their Credit.

ment of the various branches of the
soldiers Home of the country are fore
shadowcd in the report of Ma ior
Thomas 7. Knox. L. S. A., to Con-
sress. His statements have only the
effect of official recommendations but
they indicate the policy that is likely
10 be followed to a greater or less ex-
tent in the years to come las the
inmates of the Homes grow older and
oder and the number of the sick in
ereases from year to year" saws
Major Knox, the question of ade-
ouate medical treatment becomes more
and more important. The average age
of the members is now 626S years and
il cannot be a great while before each
branch Will become practically a large
hospital and the necessity of the an
pointment of a medical man of large
experience and known ability as di-
rector or chief surgeon becomes ap-
Parent. This is a condition of affairs
that can not be overlooked, and the
more see of the homes the more I am
impressed that there should be some
central medical management to fully
secure uniformity and economy, which
in some instances does not now exist
and believe the time is now ripe for
such an appointment"
The interest in Congressional pro-
ceedings has gravitated of late to the
Senate end of the Capitol. The House
worked under whip and spur up till
about the middle of January, since
which time there has been much
leisure in the deliberations The
Maine men in the House have been
concerned since the apportionment
fight largely in the personal matters
of their constituents. doing the large
number of errands that are always
pressing before the departments.
Representative Littlefield had a bad
cold. when he returned recently from
the North and for one day only he
kept to his rooms.
The recent reelection of Senator
Frye for another six years by the
Maine Legislature at Augusta serves
to emphasize here the very few col
leagues he has in that body who We're
there when he and Senator Hale We're
first elected. There are only seven
others. besides the Maine Senators.
who have had as long service and
the membership of the Senate is 30
men. Senator Hale took his seat
March 4. 1881. Senator Frye came in
fourteen days later. March IS. 1881.
The others who We're then members of
the Senate or were just taking their
seats for the first time, We're Senators
Allison of Iowa; Cockrell of Missouri:
Hawley of Connecticut; Hoar of Mas
of Alabama: Plat of Connecticut:
Sewell of New Jersey; and Vest of
Missouri. 1t is interesting to note
what long service brings to Senators
in way of chairmanships of commit
tees. New England holds the chair
manships of most. if not all. of what
might be termed the great committees
OF the Senate, except that of APP
preparations. which is held by Mr..
Allison. Mr.. Hale being next in order
for promotion. The list is as follows:
Mr.. Aldrch of Rhode Island, who
came to the Senate Dec. 5. 1881, chair
man of Finance: Mr.. Frye of Maine,
chairman of Commerce and acting
chairman of Foreign Relations; Mr..
Hoar, chairman of Judiciary; Mr..
Hale of Maine, chairman of Naval
Affairs; Mr. Hawley of Connecti-
cut, chairman of Military Affairs;
Mr. Chandler Of New Hampshire,
who came to the Senate in 1881.
chairman of Privileges and Elections
Mr. Lodge of Massachusetts, who came
e the Senate March I. 1898. chairman
Philippines: Mr.. Flat Of Connecticut.
chairman Relations with Cuba: Mr..
Proctor of Vermont who came to the
Senate in 1885, chairman of Agricul-
ture; and Mr.. GallinGer of New Hamp-
shire. who came to the Senate March
g. 1881, chairman Pensions.
In the clerkships of committees,
which are regarded as desirable places,
there has been a still greater change
than in the senators. MIR. Pitman
Pulsifer. of Lewiston. became clerk of
Senator Hale's committee, then census.
IN December 1881 and Mr.. Thomas p.
.tlcaves, of Brdgton. Me. clerk of the
committee on appropriations of the
Senate is the only committee clerk who
mas served longer or as long as Mr..
Pulsifcr. MIR. Cleaves' services in the
above committee began in 1873. when
Hon. Lot N. morrill, was chairman.
Viii liz Ids tIlt tlSlllittiDIl VI littN iitss
commenced his employment in the
committee at the same session when
Senator's Allison and Jones, the seniors
IN service in the Senate first became
members OF that body.
man. VINO il widely known in
Maine, especially at Waterville, Col.
Richard Cults Shannon. member Of the
flfty-fourth and F'ifty-fifth Con
dresses from the thirteenth New York
district and the donator of Shannon
fhysical Observatory at Colby. has
peen in Washington this past week.
Vol. Shannon, now almost siXty-tWo
years old. is still alert and vigorous.
lie spends Il large portion of his time
abroad and has recently returned from
protracted stay in Europe. accom-
panied by Mrs. Shannon. Il have made
over forty voyages across the ocean,
SAID Col. Shannon to the Journal CORE
Spondent, but 1 never saw such rough
weather. We We're aboard a 1900 ton
snip and had as good accommodations
as money could buy but | tell you we
WOULD have preferred very humbl,
quarters on terra firma."
Col. and Mrs. Shannon live at the
portland hotel when i'm Washington
"here they have very pleasant an6
SoilioIlaDle apartmeptS Since the