Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-26
CAPITAL CHAT.
Senator HaIe's Part in the
Philippine Laws.
Mr.. Hines Of Portland As a ParIia-
mentary Expert.
Activity of Congressman Powers in
Contested Election Cases.

Especially In the framing of laws for
the Philippine Islands, with which the
committee on the Philippines is now.
and has been busily occupied for
weeks, Senator Hale, of Maine, is doing
a great deal of hard legislative work.
He and Senator Allison, of Iowa, both
stern guardians of legislation in the
Senate, are the two leading members
of that committee of which Senator
Lodge, of Massachusetts, is the chair
man. They are the men who scrutiniZe
measures in the Senate probably more
than any other men there, perfecting
the provisions on the floor and adding
safeguards that less careful men would
hardly think of.
The hearings before the Philippine
committee have been exhaustive and
have continued almost constantly for
the last two months. Senator Hale
has well defined views about the far
eastern possessions and his ability as a
constructive legislator is most useful
to the committee, now that the time for
drafting legislation is at hand. 1t is
surprising the amount of work the
senior senator turns off every session of
Congress and apparently without any
diminution of physical or mental
powers. The work of legislation falls
largely upon a few men of the Senate.
Things are so ordered there. The con-
sideration of appropriation bills would
be enough, one would suppose. to COM
plete the share of one senator during
a session but that is only a portion of
Senator Hales task, confronting him
when session of Congress begins.
Although every day has been full of
work, his tasks will increase as the
days of the session draw near. The
big naval appropriation bill in the
course of month or so will come over
from the House and be dumped down
in his committee to be shaped up ac-
cording to the views held at that end
of the Capitol.
Then the most taxing drain upon
ones strength and ingenuity succeeds
with the conferences upon the
appropriation bills when it becomes
necessary to adjust differences and eff
feet compromises.
1t is noteworthy that men well adj
vanced in years do practically all the
hard work of the Senate. At the time
of life when successful men in most
walks of life retire from activity Sena-
tors seem to be their busiest. The
young men ofsthe Senate sit in their
seats from session to session, watching
to press minor private measures in
which they and their constituents are
interested but it is the gray bearded
men who frame the general legislation
that most affects the country. Senator
Hale is now nearly &C years old and
has been in the legislative harness for
81 years and more, and that practically |
continuously. Senator Frye, another
man who bears a large share of the
legislative burdens of the Senate, is
nearly II, and his career in the ma
tional legislature covers just about the
same number of years. which is nearly |
half an average life. Both men had
served an extended apprenticeship in
the public service of the State.
The most remarkable case in all the
Senate of an old man ell>preserved.i
brislxly meeting the duties of high Of
flee and with energies unimpaired, is
that of Senator Allison, of Iowa. He
was 70 years old few days ago. The
Iowan, who is the head of the Senate
steering committee and of the commit
tee on appropriations, looks 20 years
younger. although during this session
of Congress he has aged very percepti-
bly,. OF fine morning. especially on
Sunday, he walks out to get the fresh
air and his bearing is that Of a man in
middle life. He is in reality the grand.
old man of the SNpate, always courte-
Gus. always informed on current ques-
tons. comprehensive in his grasp of
business before Congress. even to the
details. Senator Hoar of Massachu-
sets. is another grand. old man.. still
very active. most felicitous of express
sion. and ever guarding ZEE traditions
A new duty has lately been found for |
Mr. Asher Kinds, of Portland, Me-, the |
clerk to Speaker Henderson's table and
probably the best informed man on |
procedure and parlia-
technicalitics in this country.
1t is he who stands near the marble
rostrum, where the Speaker. or other
presiding officer. yields the gayel to
furnish information on the parliament
tary situation and literally to coach
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