Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-12
CAPITAL CHAT.
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of any of the 80 members Of that body.
His correspondence not only comes
from Maine, but hundreds Of people
from all parts of the country write to
him on many different matters, think
ing that, because he is the presiding
officer Of the Senate, he is the man TO
furnish them quickly with Information.
Almost daily great punches of petitions
and other papers come to him for pre-
sentation. Many of these are from va
rious organizations. The junior sena-
tor is very obliging in all such things.
The petitions go to the proper COM
mittees. the requests are answered. or.
in many cases turned over to the SEN
ators from whose states the letters
come.
There was some mention in the
| House debates last week about the alb
| sence of any appropriation for vice
President-sSOO0 annually. 1t was ex-
planned to such thoughtless statesmen
that no appropriation is now neces-
sary for Vice President, except $1,000
which is paid to Senator Frye in addi-
ton to his salary Of $4,000 as Senator.
The government thus saves $1,000 a
year during Senator Frye's encumb-
ency of the office of President pro tenn.
or almost $4,000, as it will be four years,
lacking four and a half months, from
| the time that Mr.. Roosevelt entered
the White House until the candidates
/ for President and Vice President to be
! chosen in November, 1904, are in
| augurated.
| Some of the Bowdoin alumni in
Washington are canvassing the pros
poets of having an annual dinner by
AMI bye. 1t is now two years since the
| last alumni dinner was held here. As
the Bowdoin graduates in Washington
are quite numerous and very prOmi-
ncnt their dinners are always very ell
| joyable events. Chief Justice Fuller,
Bowdoin SO, native of Augusta, has
presided at these affairs for many
years and there has generally been a
number Of distinguished Bowdoin grad
yates present, including always ex-
Speaker Reed and Senator Frye. Sen
ator Gibson of Montana and Congress-
men Alexander of New York and
Stevens of Minnesota are also Bowdoin
men. The last dinner two years ago
was held at Pages Hotel. the pro-
prietor of which was Mr.. T. L. Page,
the Senate and House restauranteur,
formerly Of Phillips, Me.
The Bowdoin alumni Organization is
kept up and before long it will be de-
c;ded where they shall again gather
around the banquet board and recite
the stories of their college days. There
are about 80 Bowdoin men in the city.
Alumni dinners are always quite a
feature Of Washington winter, for all
the large colleges have many alumni
here.
The little episode in the Senate last
week regarding the soliciting of private
pension bills from the vicinity OF Saco
and Biddeford has been much COM
mented upon by senators and members,
who keep in touch with private pension
legislation. Senator Gallinger, chair
man of the pension committee, had
talked with the Maine senators about
the considerable number of private
pension bills coming from that part of
Maine and decided to make some in
quiries to learn whether Mr.. Edwin p,
Williams, a justice of the peace there
was not soliciting the introduction of
such measures. Mr.. Williams hand
writing has long been familiar 70 Sem
ators Frye and Hale and also to Sena-
tor Gallinger, because he not only
wrote them in person but numerous
other letters were received from appli-
cants for pensions by legislation. writ
ten in Mr.. williams hand, and signed
by the applicants themselves.
Il suppose this justice has been act.
ing innocently enough" said Senator
Gallinger In conversation with the
Journal correspondent, thinking that
u was all right to solicit the introduce
tlon OF private bills and to collect a fee
tnerefor. But that practice IL I'M.
necessary and would lead to great EN-.
barrassment of the Senate. We should
be Hooded with SO many private pension
bills here that we could do nothinsr el.e
put investigate them. Every faciilty il
afforded those who wish to apply for
pensions from Congress, blanks ara AZ
forded for every senator and the appli-
cant needs only fill out one of these
blanks and his or her case will receive
all the attention, necessary from u.s.
There Is now an amendment on the
annual appropriation bill which makes Il
an offense for an attorney to receive
any fee for aiding or soliciting the in.
Of private pension bills, pun
ishable by q fine OF $500 or impriscn-
ment for two years, or both at the dis
erection OF the court. The clamor and
appeals Of many classes OF claim agents
now have become quite incompre-
and the burden OF ATTORNEYS
pressing for private pension bills from
All over the country would add a bur
nen unbearable. especially a. every
FACILITY for securing such aid IL az
lorded entirely without money ana
price.
The city council Of C,leveIomd n -.
svvtan1orized the director OF law. by q vote
-, :. = 70 J. to draw up the necessary ortif-
=. an - Tor a system Of three-cent fare
oh street car routes in that city.
a Firsman's Clos Can