Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-27
|. WASHINGTON CHAT.
Entire City Hoping for BaImy
Inaugural Weather.
Present Week Hard One for the
Maine Senators.
Other Gossip and hcws Of Interest 10 Maine
Other Gossip and News Of Interest 10 Maine
People.

Hooded with warm sunshine and Il
comparatively balmy air the prayer
went up.from 80 out of 100 people that
the same atmospheric conditions might
exist exactly one week hence. What
ever the grandeur of the preparations,
however magnificent the decorations
along Pennsylvania avenue may be, and
however large or distinguished the
company of visitors may be. the one
ruling thought of native and official
Washington is about the weather.
A strange fatality has attended the
Probably it is no cxaggeration TO say
that thousands of lives have been lost
during the past 80 years from exposure
L n March g. People seek to view the pro
cession and the inaugural exercises at
the Capitol from platforms that are
swept by bleak March winds. In re
cent years, on account of the prevail
ence of wind and sleet in the early part
of March, roofs and side enclosures
have been built about the reviewing
stands which make them more comfor-
table than used to be the case. OF
course this year, everybody is thinking
that Mckinleys good luck will pull
him through with a good day. He had
a good day four years ago. but four
Years before that President Cleveland,
just entering on a second term stood up
in a storm of wind and snow to read
his inaugural address.
1t is altogether likely that Teddy
Roosevelt will be one of the chief fea-
lures OF the Inaugural ton. The wild
=,
prominent part of inaugural crowds,
are intense worshippers at his shrine
ana then Teddy always has way Of
catching on with the big crowds. He
will be the immediate successor of
Senator Frye of Maine, as the presid-
ing officer Of the Senate. The latter
will yield up the gaVel, which he has
welded for over 4 year with great sat
isfaction on the part Of his colleagues,
at noon on March I. Then for the first
:ime in eight years il VIII happen that
Main" has no presiding officer in either
branch of the National Congress. III
yielling the gaVel Senator Frye will
also yield an extra compensation OF
$1,000 annually. The Speaker Of the
House gets $4,000 a year, or $4,000 more
than the other members Of that body.
The Vice President. like the members
of the President cabinet. likewise gets
$4,000 Il year. but when the Vice Presi-
dent dies or succeeds to the Presidency.
the senator who is made President Pro
Tenn. gets an extra $4,000 for his duties.
The present week will be trying one
to both the Maine senators and especial
ly to Senator Hale. The last three or
four days of short session are always
an ordeal to men who are prominent on
the appropriations committee. Confer
enceS must be held on different Important
supply bills. involving millions of dollars
and often involving vital questions OF Poi
icy. Sometimes it seems as though every
Senator and every member of the House
who is not on an appropriations commit
tee is in league against those who are on
those committees to work through some
particular item which In scores of in
stances Congress ought to let severely
alone. Senatod Hale has long shown rare
tact in handling such matters. HIS work
this week will be largely with the naval
bill. of which he has full
charge, with the sundry civil appropria
ton bill. the general deficiency bill, and
some of the smaller appropriation bills,
which carry totals large enough 10 MAKE
H., citizens OF Maine independently
Mr.. w c. Robinson. of North Arson.
Me, is here to attend the inaugural cere-
monies Although he is British subject.
who makes his home at North Arson,
when he is at home. Mr.. Robinson has at
tended every inauguration Tor l. years
He has been in Alaska much of the time
for the last two or three years and is
a waiting further orders that Will take
him some distance from Maine. Mr.. Rob-
inson is the superintendent of a railroa !;
company that taxes con-
tracts in widely separated sections OF IN.
country. He thinks it likely that he mag
have TO 90 to South America or, per
70
brothers here with whom he Is visiting.
During the past week MIR. Robinson has
hunting turkeys on his brothers farm
near Quantico. This farm Is near the Ia
nous hunting preserves where President
Cleveland used to go.
Mrs a. r. Eaton, the Maine woman
who used to live in Portland and who has
been lighting bill in Congress for many
years. as told in Il recent dispatch to the
has apparently won her fight
tory in the House and it only remains to
see what the Senate will do.
The extra session prospects are recei-
ing as the days of the Fifty sixth Con-
gress grow few and all in all it looks now
as if something would be done that will
enable the President to wait for further
legislation till the Fifty-seventh Con-
gress convenes In any event most of the
members of the Maine delegation In the
House will probably be back in their
homes III ABOUT teH uaI . Even 9H'utu an
extra session be called, which seems now
to be a remote contingency. probably tn,
members in the House would take a fly
ing trip home. The extra session Of the
senate will keep Mr.. Hale and Mr.. Fly
for a few DAYS longer
The only Maine army appointment of
note thus far is that of Col. \. :. Dag
eett. a native of Greene, Me. to be d
brigadier general in the regular establish
ment but he is expected to retire soon.
Cen. Daggett has had a long anu credit
able career as an army officer. Ills ser
vice began May L. 1851. as a second lieu
tenant Of Go. f.. 5th Maine infantry vol
,Inteers He was hreVetted Il brigadi1r
general for his services in the q vi War
md entered the regular establishment
Iuly Is 1866. as a captain in tn" Sixteenth
Infantry His services i'll China during
the recent troubles nave attracted the
of the entire country