Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-16
CAPITAL GOSSIP.
Now to Enlarge South End
Of the Capitol.
Senator HaIe's Fine Work With Bu:-
leigh Bill in the Senate.
Senator Frye Working Like Trojan for Ship
Subsidy Bill.

ably started the bah rolling foi. "a dts
tinCe change in the legislative arrange
mcnts at the south end of the Capitol
1t is altogether probable that before
two years have gone by the expendi-
ture of several thousands of dollars
will be authorized to change the hall
of the House of Representatives. Such
q change has been advocated by lead
ing men of the House for many yeal s.
notably by Speaker Reed. but none of
them was ever able to overcome the
inertia Of the House to secure the
needed legislation.
Now that the increase of the Hnus ,
is ESQ members is certain after March
3. 1903. some plan for seating the addi-
tional 80 men must be provided The
hall is already pretty full of seats. al
though ii is recognized that the addi-
tional seats could be put in if neCes-
sary. However. the present arrange
ment of seats and desks is not regard
ed as good. and the hope is that the
size Of the hall will be reduced ana
large anterooms provided where mem
hers can lOitcr and also attend to cor
respondenCe, having benches only
within the hall itself The time is now
ripe for such change and if it is
brought about it will be solely due to
the work of the Maine mea in securing
a larger membership of the House.
Senator Hale kept his word to the
letter about the passage of the reap
portionment bill in the upper House of
Congress. The mca sure was sent on to
the President for his signature aimcs
before anybody had time to think of
it. Senator Carter Of Montana. chair
man of the Senate census committee
nominally had charge of the measure
but Senator Hale was the moving spir-
ii behind it. The Maine senator has
a shrewd way of pushing aside opposi-
ton to measures in which he is inter
ested and his colleagues respect him
highly for his ability in that direction
The men who are apt to raise objec-
tions often receive. visit from Sena-
tor Hale beforehand. lie talks the sub
jet over With them in frank fashion
says he wants no surprises. but would
like to know what attitude they in
tend to take. The senator's manner
and language are always COnCiliatOry
and thus he Smooths away what IL
many senators would be insurmnunt-
able objection or objections that il
would take weeks of time to overcom"
In such free and easy body as the
Senate where great dignity goes hand
in hand with unlimited debate. ont
senator has the power to effectively
trig measure like the reapportion-
ment bill for weeks. should he he de-
termined on it,
Representatives Allen of Alfred. and
Littlefeld Of Rockla nd have been on
a flying trip to New Hampshire to at
tend the funeral of the late Represent
alive Clarke. The scrgcant-at-arms of
the House provided a special car for
the funeral party. and they went
through from Washington to Peter
boro without change and returned in
the same way. Mr.. Clarke was highly
esteemed by the Maine men in Con-
gress, being distinctly New England
man himself and heartily in sympathy
with the interests of Maine. Many of
Representative Aliens intimate friends
live over the New Hampshire line in
the late MIR. Clarke's congressional dis
trict. 1t was noticed that there was
no New Hampshire man in the House
to announce Mr.. Clarkc'S death, his
colleague. Representative Sulloway be-
ing absent in New Hampshire striving
for "A senatorial seat.
The mortality of the present and last
Congress has been heavy. and it is
noteworthy that death has visited
many state delegations twice. Maine
almost comes within the class of states
mentioned for within about two years
Representatives Milliken and Dinglcy
died. Pennsylvania lost two members
last year. Representatives Iarmer and
Ermcntrout, the first n Republican and
the second a Democrat; Virginia with
in q year has lost two members by
death. Representative Epcs and Wise,
Democrat and Republican, respect
lively.
Congress is now settling down to the
hard and serious work of the final malt
of Il short session. The House is not
SO hard pressed because it was indus
trious before the holidays but the SEN
ate. always lcisurcly till the eleventh
hour, is way behind with its work, not
an appropriation bill Of Importance
having yet been disposed of. There will
be humming at that end of the Capitol
a bout the first of March; the Senate
will be sitting up nights and the con-
sumption Of electricity for lighting will
re enormous. Senators will sleep or
their arms-in cloak rooms and in
committee rooms-fOr the business
must be finished before March 4.
Several of the collectors of customs
from Maine have been in town during
the past few days attending a con-
Ncntion of collectors. The prominent
Maine men present We're Collector Day
of Bangor, and Curran of Calais. The
convention did little of interest to the
public. being occupied chiefly with dis
cussion of routine matters pertaining
to their official work. Mr.. Curran also
took advantage of an opportunity tc
travel a little farther south and enjoy
vacation
Senator Frye is putting in some hard
licks for the shipping subsidy bill and
is aiding the measure by word and