Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-12-27
- CAPITAL CHAT.
Nearly All the Lawmakers
Spend Holidays at Home.
Wilcox Of Hawaii the Only One Who
Couldn't Make the Trip.
Senator Hale and Gov. BurIeigh introduce Two
4. Fioridians 10 President.

| Almost the sole topics of interest in the
| federal Capitol these days are in the
| White House. The legislature wheels
have cased temporarily 10 revolve and
! probably tWo-thirds Of the senators
and Representatives have gone away to
| their homes to remain a part of tho
holidays. 1t is noticeable this year that
Congress adjourned long enough to al
| low every man under the great white
| dome, with commission from the
| people, to return 10 his own domicie.
save only Delegate Robert ". Wilcox
!-of Hawaii. The recess is about three
! weeks long and under modern condi-
| tons of rapid travel the distant Pacific
coast points can be reached in four and
| a half or five days. In any event 10
| days sufhceS for the round "trip.
| Delegate Wilcox. however. requires
about - or 26 days for the round trip
between here and Honolulu. provided
the steamers going and coming make
immediate connection. Accordingly he
is one Of those who are compelled to
| pass the Christmas season in the
States. But Mr.. Wilcox has balm III
gilea6 in The shape Of congressional
| compensation mileage, amounting to
| F-'''- lIFitt'I'' !llN t''-lS itESlOlldI COM
pensation is greater than that of any
senator or member, saving only the
| Speaker OF the House Cen Henderson.
and the President pro TEN. of the Sen
| ate, Mr.. Frye each Of whom receive
| $4,000 annually.
senator Hale and GOV Burleigh. both
| of whom are Here during Christmas
and New Years called at the White
| House recently to present two former.
| esidents Of Maine. who wanted a word
with III" President. They We're Mr..
| Frank Buffum and Mr.. Coombs. for
| merly of Orono and Ola Town. respec-
lively. and now Of Appalachicola.
Florida. Nh. Buffums father was once
president of the Maine Senate They
are now engaged in lumber operations
in that far southern state and occa-
sionally dabble little in politics Mr.
CoombS is member of the Republican
Congressional committee for Florida.
and has been delegate to several Re
publican national conventions. They
wanted word with the President
about some post Office matters and
Senator Hale and GOV. Burleigh simply
presented them to Mr.. Roosevelt 10 en-
sure their getting a hearing. Suisse
quently the two FlOridians called at the
White House on their own account and
had a further audience with Mr.
Roosevelt.
There was naturally some regret |
among the Maine people here at the
refusal of GOV. Crane of Massachusetts. |
to accept the secretaryship of the |
treasury He is popular with the |
n qay1 nd I,..1-
there is of course, strong desire to |
see New England well represented in |
the Presidents cabinet
Mr.. Carter Is. keene who is well |
known in Kennebec county and who |
was for some years an instructor at |
kent's Hill has resigned his position
as chief of the appointment division of |
;he postoftice department and has been
appointed to position as post office in
spector. This was done at his own re-
quest as Mr.. Keene has been DESTROYS
for some time of getting out of depart
ment work and locating in the practice
of law outside of the District of CO.
lumbia Being undecided where he
could best locate. he has accepted the
position as post office inspector. which
pays larger salary than the chief Of
division, with the expectation of find
ing some prosperous town where there
is "A good opening for lawyer
In a few days Mr. Keene will make
brief trip to his former home in Free
dom. Me-, prior to taking up his duties
as inspector. Me will begin his new
work here in Washington but, shortly
afterwards. will go to New York City. |
Mr.. keene graduated from the Column
blan University Law School some three |
years ago and was one of the attorneys
for the defence in the trial of Mrs Bo-
nine for murder Of a census clerk. I
which resulted in her acquital
The special reception given mt the
White House, this week by President {
and Mrs. Roosevelt, included several ,
Maine guests, among them Senator and
Mrs. Hale, Gen. Charles Haywood 4 ma
live of Watervile and commandment Of !
The Marine Corps. and Mrs. Haywood; | |
also MIR. William Haywood formerly | !
much in Augusta with Mr.. Blaine and a
low representing the sugar planters OF f
he Hawaiian Islands here at Washing |
on. These social functions at the White
House are a very pleasant feature Of Mr.
toosevelts administration and invitati nS
hereto are mucn appreciated. Because j
II the poor health of Mrs. Mckinley 4
here was little outside of the formal re 4
options and dinners at the White House 1
iIrinS her husbands encumbency. This i
winter there will not only be the usual { fiji i
ial receptions and dinners, in which official | \
ociety necessarily participates, but ais
many social events purely personal to
PRESIDENT Roosevelt and his wife and nor 4
ntailed by the etiquette Of their exalted |
POSITION
Mr.. Haywood. vino was very intimate
riend of Mr. Blaine. has some difficult 4
asks before him at this session of Con-
ress Much of his work is at the Capi-
oil, as the present delegate from Hawaii /
1r K. w. Wilcox. native of the island
elongs to a political faction not in har-
lony with the business interests of the |
sland. Mr. Haywood therefore. has 10
rye such legislation as his planter con-
tituents desire. They want redemption
f the Hawaiian silver coins, provision |
Or the admission of Chinese laborers to
he islands. and oppose the lowering Of III
uties on Cuban sugar. because it would
ONE into competition with the sugar
roducts of Hawaii These questions ara II
irge ones, and all the more SO for a
ian to tackle who is not a member of
ongress Mr. Haywood resides here tn.
ear round. He was employed IL years
the state department in a confidential
Continued on page ~