Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-25
CAPITAL CHAT.
Congress Almost Sure to Ad-
journ Before July d.
Senator Hale Active in Enlargement
of White House.
Maine Congressman Busy Before the
Various Departments.

Washington, June 24-(SpeciaD.-
This will be very like q deserted city
after next week, provided Congress ad-
Journs prior to July 4, as new seems
almost certainty. There will be a
hurrying to get away from Washington
as soon as the gavels fall in Senate and
House. and within "a hours thereafter,
nearly every congressman will be roll
ing away to his home. except for few
senator's who have palatial establish
ments here and who will depart more
/ leisurely
! With the fight Of Congress President
| Roosevelt will also desert the White
House, which is now Babel of re-
sounding hammers and saws. for the
quiet of his family residence at Oyster
Bay, n. Y. 1t is doubtful if he comes
back to the city again till September
or october, when spick and span new
mansion, or practically that. will be
awaiting him, for the White House is
to be thoroughly remodeled. Senator
Hale had part a few days since in
determining what these alterations
should be, and, as a member of the
Senate conference committee on the
sundry civil appropriation bill. dter-
mining how much money should be
voted therefor. Senator Hale, in COM
mon with other senators and members.
was anxious that the ancient and his
toric lines of the White House should
be preserved. That will be done.
During July and August there is al
ways an exodus of officials from the
federal capital. There will be two or
three cabinet officers here all summer,
but the various members OF the cabi-
net will take turns with each other in
staying here, that the President may
always have one or two personal rep
resentatives on the ground. However,
for all essential purposes in the tram
saction of business the President can
as well be in oyster Bay as in Wash
ington during the summer months. The
late President Mckinley always spent
one or two months away from Wash
ington every year, but at all hours of
the day and night a telegraph wire can
be had on a moments notice between
the White House and wherever the
President may be staying. His bust
ness has the right OF way over all other
business and particular arrangements
are always made to facilitate tele-
and the departments here. The Presi-
dent always has a deal of public bust
ness to attend to when he goes away
from Washington. but he escapes the
constant throng of office seekers and of
those coming to him with appeals re
garding other matters. In summer. for
a month or two. he gets n rest from
that sort of interruption. without which
al,
able.
Senator Hale is Interested in the en-
largement of the Capitol, along the lines
designed by the architect of that build
ing. Mr. Walters He has it in mind
to seek the construction Of a perfect
model of the building during the COM
ing summer, so that when Congress
comes back here, next December the
members can see just how the COM
pleted Capitol would look. Uncle joe
Cannon. chairman Of the House com
mittee on appropriations, is interested
in a similar way. The project involves
the construction of u majestic east
front to the building. as originally de-
signed, to cost about $2.500000. 1t WIS
the intention Of Mr.. Cannon to urge an
at this session. but the
total Of expenditures by Congress grew
to such an enormous figure that 1t was
thought better to defer the legislation.
However, Senator Hale has talked
with Superintendent Woods Of the cap
itol building, about the construction OF
a model. to be a perfect representation
in all its parts of the Capitol as 1t now
is and Of the new east front which IL
is proposed to build. The senior Maine
senator will probably have put on the
general deficiency bill, which he will
help frame in the Senate COMMITTEES on
this week, an item au-
thorizing an expenditure of $4,000 for
that purpose. The work involves vast
amount Of detail. Eventually the model,
If authorized, will besent to the Worlds
Fair at st. Louis. where Senator Hale
thinks il would be interesting to the
thousands Of visitors there. The model
will be 18 feet long.
All the members Of the Maine delega-
CONTINUED on page g.