The Somerset reporter., 1902-07-10
Our Washington Letter.
Public Laws. Closing Scenes. Maine mrn-
bers at Home. Grand Army Encamp-
ment. Presidents Visit to Maine, etc.


ment. Presidents Visit to Maine, etc.
Special to the REpoBrER
Washington, D. C., July 8-The neat.
ly printed pages of public laws, belated
but appearing regularly from the gov.
eminent printing office, great brick
building that looms up on North Capitol
street, larger than almost any other
building in the city, are about the only
evidences now that session of Congress
has recently ended. The copies of these
laws, engrossed on parchment, with neat
red border and bearing the signature in
autograph of the President of the United
States, are filed away in the state de.
partment. But the public laws are
printed by thousands for distribution
among the people who ask for them
However, there is such rush of enact
ments at the close of a session that it
takes the Government printing office
some time to catch up.
In the marble room at the Capitol
President Roosevelt signed all the bills,
which were presented to him and the
unusual achievement was accomplished
of no bills left over in the hurry or for
gotten. Hardly had the ink become dry
on the last sheet of parchment he signed
before committees of Senate and House
appeared in their respective bodies to
inform the presiding officers that bust
ness was all done, whereupon at the
appointed hour of 80 the gavel fell,
Senator Frye at the north end of the
Capitol and Speaker Henderson at the
south end, each simultaneously making
a neat little speech of thanks for the
way in which their colleagues had be-
haved during the session. Senator Frye
could not bear down very hard on the
orderly manner in which Senators have
conducted themselves for during the
session just closed at least three hot
headed Southern Democrats have been
engaged in fisticuffs, one of them Senator
Bailey only few days before adjourn
ment. Nevertheless there was good
time all round, for everybody felt very
happy that the long siege was over.
The Maine members of the House
hurried home early, leaving either the
same afternoon as Congress adjourned
or going the next morning, The same
was true of the two Maine senators, for
all were glad to get back among their
own people and to rest from their Con-
gressional labors Representative Allen,
of Alfred, tarried longest, but he got
away to Old Orchard Beach, where he
intends to spend the summer, by the
lot Of tho inh
had made his final round of the depart.
ments to catch up with the business of
his constituents there by Monday and
Maine as early as the last word was said
on the floor.
A Somerset boy, Representative
Roberts, of Chelsea, Mass, made game
fight the last afternoon of the session
for the erection here of home for aged
and inform colored people, out of funds
in the Treasury on account of the bounty
and other money, due colored soldiers
but never called for by them or their
heirs. He had fair promise of succeed
ing but Southerner prevented the pas
sage of the bill Mr. Roberts, who is a
affairs, took an active part in the passage
of that measure in its final stages He
was an earnest advocate of the construc-
ton of certain number of warships in
government yards and that contention
won in the end, although only one battle
ship was SO provided for. All the Maine
men in the House, representing dis
tricts from other states are now assured
4 =
it be Representative Loren Fletcher, of
Mimi, and he will probably pull through.
This speaks we'll for the efficiency of
Maine men in legislative work.
1t is regarded as rather notable here
that no interest is manifested from
Northern New England in the Grand
Army National Encampment to be held
here in October. There has not been a
single application for quarters from any
post in Maine or Vermont. The en-
campment is expected to prove a great
success and the arrangements for il have
been going on for weeks and will con-
Time with great energy all through
| July, August and september Many
posts from distant states have applied
for quarters and naturally have gotten
the choice places, as they applied first.
During the encampment week unusual
facilities will be given for visiting Mount
| Vernon, the home and tomb of Wash
| ington, a half hours ride below this
city, for going to Richmond, the Capitol
of the Confederacy, which is four hours
ride distant by rail for going to Antietam
and Gettysburg, which are very accessi
bic from here, and for going to many
other points of interest.
President Roosevelt talked with Maine
and Vermont members, before the
session closed, about the details of his
trip to those states late in August. He
is anticipating very pleasant visit to
Mrine and Vermont, which state he will
reach after a rapid journey west from
Bangor. Although the President has
evlnced greater fondness for Massa-
chusetts people, with whom he has been
associated much in his life, than for
other New Englanders, he nevertheless
! likes the stern traits of character de-
veloped in those sections and he has
been in close touch with the Senators
and representatives from Maine, New
Hampshire and Vermont, ever since he
entered the White House.
Congressman Bureigh has asked the
United States Fish Commission here for
some young rainbow trout with which
to stock some of the lakes of his district
The rainbow trout are hardy kind OF
fish and flourish we'll in cold water az.