Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-19
CAPITAL CHAT.
The Ultimate Fate of O|eomar-
garine Bill in Doubt.
Senator Hale's Success With Names
'CIaim Of $4,000
A Maine Boy Who Has an Unusual
Privilege.

Washington. D. c., Feb 1S.-(SpeciaD
The legislative season may now be
said to have gotten well under way.
After delay that has been, perhaps,
Unusual. the House is working under a
full head of steam and the great legis-
l9tive wheels at that end of the Capitol
are grinding slowly but constantly five
or six days in the week. The Senate
has been seriously at work and will
continue in that line, for it takes lon
gel to accomplish given amount Of
work there than where cloture on de-
bate is possible.
Representative Allen is back with
representative John J. Esch of Wis
consin. who went up to Portland the
other day to deliver the speech at the
Lincoln Club banquet. Mr.. Allen says
that Mr.. Esch lived up to the reputa-
tion given him by his colleagues in the
House for efficient and convincing ora
tory and that he put some new ideas of
party affairs into the minds of the
Maine voters, which will remain till
after the Congressional election next
November. But all the Lincoln birth
day orators, with hardly an exception,
came back under flying colors and with
a fresh inspiration from the people.
The numerous petitions from Maine
people, which are now finding their way
to Washington occasionally, indicate
the interest taken there in the enact
ment into law of a bill to tax oleomar-
garine. The bill passed the House
some days ago. as the press dispatches
stated, but probably little more will be
heard of the bill for the present. 1t
has been referred in the Senate to the
committee on agriculture and forestry.
of which Senator Proctor of Vermont,
is chairman. AS soon as the different
members of that committee can find time
to give it consideration there will be
hearings, probably quite extensive, and
the bill will go on the Senate calendar.
The Vermonters are very eager to see
the bill become law and undoubtedly
Senator Proctor will do his utmost to
that end.
The ultimate fate of the measure is
much in doubt. The renovated butter
amendment. tackled on by the House at
the eleventh hour, is believed to hazard
the passage of the measure to some ex-
tent. Much will depend on the attitude
that the steering committee of the
Senate have towards it. Senator Alli-
son, the chairman Of the steering COM
mittee. comes from great agricultural
state. as does Senator Spooner of Wis
consin. and Senator Beverage Of In
diana. both members Of the steer
ing committee. The Texas Senators
are threatening to talk the bill to death
IL it is ever taken up and they may
make good, as there are large agricul-
tural interests in the Lone Star state
hostile to the taxing of oleomargarine
excessively, especially the cotton seed
oil interests. Poor management of the
bill in the House is responsible for much
OF the gloom over its present status.
The Democratic organization OF
Maine will be asked soon to select a
member for the Democratic Congress
sionaI campaign committee. The place
Is regarded as Of little or no impor-
lance. but 1t Is filled every two years
as a matter of formality. Representa-
tive Conry of Boston. who has received
an invitation to address the Portland
Democrats. is not inclined to accept he
ia unwilling to leave Washington at
CONTINUED on page 81