Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-12-07
CAPITAL CHAT.
Maine Members Call on Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
The Success Of John B. Cotton With
Maine Claim
Three Ex. Governors on the Floor. How Sketch
Ariis. Caught Gov. Powers.

-'h" fiji st week of Congress has passed
into history With little in the way of
happenings that was not accurately
forccaSted before it met The social
fea ture, which Is always Il prominent
one. hundreds Of members returning 10
renew Acquaintance with each other.
has been most pleasant. IN these mod
ern days there is less Of party acerbity
than Of yore. P"litics do not create 4
NaWning chaSm between men. Now
and then vigorous personal dislike ,
naturally appear. Bbut Withai courtesy
dnt friendship hTck III" rule among men
al AL parties wh" serve for any length
uf tim" in either fIhe House or the
Senate
President Iooseyelt likewise has had
opportunity this Week [" renew ac-
luaintanceS with plany of the states
men on capitol hilE His long residenc"
| in Washington and active participation
in politics give him an unusually large.
acq'Ia intance With{ senators and mem
hers. scores of Flest had come to
W aShington since b. was inaugurated
ana still there wal a large portion of
the membership ofsihe House that had
not found IN opportunity TO greet him
since he becam" President. Accord
ing about 10 o'clnck every morning uf
this week the Congressional tide has
been setting in towards the lofty porte
cocherc up The old fashioned hut eIc-
cant staircase that turns sharr corners
and r.Vei scS itself before il reaches the
top floor. Wh.r" thu. long corridor di-
Vdes the business offices Of the Chief
Magistrate. The President own rooms
are on the south side Of the mansion.
commanding u view Of the broad Foto-
mac as it winds past Arlington and on
10 the sea. The cabinet room, or pTi-
vatc Office, is opened to comparatively
few Of the callers, except when the
President wishes especially to consult
with sCme one there. In the large re-
ception room. Just off the corridor
those who hay. the entrec assemble
and wait tho chance for word with
| the President.
Up the reversible staircase with its
green carpet and through the swinging
| Wnitc screen came four of the Maine
| delegation on Wedne sday morning at
| III early hour. Senator Hale, whose
| beard has grown whittier than ever but
| who's" step is just as springy as when
| he had only 30 years TO his credit. led
| the WY. The senator is compare lively
a short man physically and behind him
| lowered Gov. Burleigh and Mr.. Little
| telu. both Of whom arc little more in
stature than the average citizen. Mr..
| Allen also truOped in behind as the
| swinging door swung to. Senators and
! members have Immediate right of way
| t. the reception room. The doorkeepog
waved them on as they approached the
! top Of the staircase, and Arthur Sim
mons. tn" Culored man. who was once
| a slave. bowed low as they entered.
Senator Hale has met the President
several times since he came into office.
AZ the readers Of the journal know. but
| the other three Maine statesmen We're
| making their official deVoirs for the
| ii, 81 time ana III" senator Was accom-
panying them. Gov. Powers expected
! to 20 also. but was called out Of town
| for q little trip. The room was fun Of
| people waiting for a word with the
| President. and hc was getting around
| to all Of them just as rapidly as h.
| could d" 50. There was n few minutes
|! time for the Maine delegation ana the
| | res ident gave them 4 Very hearty
! greeting. Every man of them Was
| known to him personally. COY. Eur
| Leigh had called on him once before
duIinG tn" Philadelphia convention. at
| which time the then future President
| gave the Governor ana a Maine Re
| publican delegation a Very prompt and
| enthusiastic reception. Mr.. Allen used
| tn meet Mi' Roosevelt often in the
rooms Of Speaker Reed III the Shore
ham. Mr.. Littlefi"ld has also Il pleas
| ant personal acquaintance" with tn" EN-
| ccutivt.
! MIR Willis H. Wing of Manchester,
| who has been employed III the census
| ottc, for some months. was transferred
I Il few day. ago tn q good place in the
clerks office If the House Of Eepresen-
tativ.s. For Il number of years MI.
Wing was clerk ot the iIous,. commit
tee on public buildings and grounds
wh.n the late Seth l.. Alllikcu was
chairman He was always Il specially
count. Gus ana "bliging official ami was
much liked about the Capitol.
| 4 great rush of public building bills
has appearcd with the beginning OF IN"
session. for members far ana wide are
desiro,js Of these ornaments and utili-
| ties fer different towns and cities in
their districts. The Maine members do
not participate in tn" grand scramble
| To introduce these measures simply Tor
/ the purposc Of sending copies of the
bills back IL their constituents. one
! man. Mr. Rurker, a Missouri Demo-
| Graf offered some - public building
hills tn. first day of the session. 1t is
! .xc...li,cly doubtful if - singh. one of
| them is considered. If any public
buildings are allowed in the House this
year the Maine men will do their best
to get a good share for the Pine Tree
| State. but their constituents know full
We'll that the introduction OF a bill
alone amounts 10 nothing.
| Gen. John E. Cotton. Senator Frye's
old law partner, is one or II" Washing
| ton lawyers who sees prosperity ahead
CONTINUED on page A.