Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-15
SPLENDID BACKING
Is Lined Up for the President
in Congress.
Steady Progress in Business and the
Country Profits Thereby.
Maine Man Promoted-vacancy on
Senate Commerce Committee.


jaD.-Nothing assures the steadiness of
government here in Washington more
than the assurance of good Republican
ma iorit:as in the legislative branches
and a Republican President we'll forti-
fed IN the White House with public
sentiment behind him. Then there is
no rocking i'm the boat. With the va
rious leaders in the government work
ing tremendously together. there Is
steady progress. business interests OF
the country are effected by it favor
ably.
This has been particularly noticeable
here in Washington since the last e'cc-
fjon. A Democratic House of Repre-
sentatiVes would have given the WASH
ington date line added interest for the
next two years. There would nave
been two legislative bodies working
at cross purposes. one striving Ia en-
phasize one policy of government ana
the other striving to prevent II. win
the outcome that no legislation would
have been accomplished except the APP
propriation bills. Then there Womb
have been uncertainty as to the CAM
paign of 1904 for beyond any uncer-
tainty that will result from the adj
ministration of the next two years.
AS it is now the country is assured
of an Iindemonstrative but conserva-
tive administration OF affairs for two
years more from March next. The
Republicans have about 30 majority IN
the House and 20 majority in the Sen
ate. enough to carry out all their plans
when approved by the leaders. While
and often impulsive, his heavy respon-
sibilities as Chief Executive have won
derfu.iy influenced him towards care
full and conservative action. The Old
senator's. who were invited here year
ago to consult with The then new Pres
ident about matters Of legislation, have
noted the remarkable change in him
since he entered Office. and now at tn"
expiration of nearly year and half
at the head of the government.
The absence of the Maine members
of the House for a part of this week, tn
attend the funeral of ex-Spcaker Reed,
has broken in upon their work here,
but the fact is there is little doing in
Congress to demand their attendance.
The appropriation committee is now
monopoliZing the time with the annual
supply bills. Uncle joe Cannon,
chairman of the committee, is always
anxious to pass the work on To the
Senate as rapidly as ne can and this
year he is working harder than ever TO
get number Of the appropriation bills
passed before the holidays.
The stationery rooms Of the Senate
and House are very busy places these
DAYS. Statesmen thronE there shop
ping for Christmas presents. The
words stationery rooms" does not do
fun Justice to those little market places
located at each end of the Capitol, for
they carry considerable stock OF
goods. outside of what can properly be
called stationery. They have leather
goods. fine cutlery, articles in silver.
including toilet articles and = great
many things. not in stock. can he or
dcred. Every member and every sena-
tor is allowed 1925 a year for stationery
and after ne has paid for all his writing
paper and envelops and hlottiug paper
and pens and ink, there is generally =
sum left to his credit He can really
make n selection Of many useful pres
ents from the stationery rooms, and
what is more those articles are furnish
ed TO him at cost. Even if his station
ery allowance has been exhausted.
which Is not probab BILE. he can buy pres
ents at the Capitol much more Cheaply
than he could at the stores down town.
The merchants of Washington do not
entertain a very kindly opinion of those
stationery rooms at the Capitol, for
they are deprived of q very large
amount of trade in the aggregate. Out
siders used to be able to buy also at the
stationery stores and get the articles
at cost, Just as congressman do but 81
great q ciamo, has there been about
this that the privileges are now pretty
well restricted, SO that few besides the
employees of the Capitol and members
of the press galleries are included
Every day from the noon hour, when
the sessions of Senate and House begin
too late IN the afternoon the rooms are
well filled With shopping congressman,
who slip away from the proceedings
upstairs to inspect the line Of goods be-
low.
The senate has a much more elab-
crate line of articles in it's small
store than does the House. 1t also
buys a better quality of goods. The
most costly toilet articles are kept in
stock The senators as a rule ar,
Weather men than the members OF
the House, although it must be re-
membered there are many senators
who depend largely upon their salaries
of $4,000 a year each to support them
For n very large contigent in Con-
gress, however, the $4,000 the govern
nent pays them for their services does
not suffice for their support. That
is because in districts and states wher,
the strife is keen for nominations and
also for election large sums of money
must be spent III one wishes to win
The campaign contributions always
amounts to quite a snug sum. Par
ticularly in the big city districts the
ways Tor spending money are numer-
GUS. But there are not a few Con.
gressicnal families in Washington
whose annual expenses exceed $4,000
annually. there are also great many
in fact. probably good majority OF
those Congressional families. who's,
annual expenses fan quite a bit be-
low that sum.