Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-23
CAPITAL CHAT.
Continued from page ~

ington several times a year and almost
always stops at the IGbbitt House,
where he is a very welcome guest. He
maFes his home at Burlington, VT, but
he is interested in many educational
and charitable works which keep him
in touch with the activities of the
world. There is always in Washington
a large army contingent and a contin-
gent of officers who served through the
Civil War. They gladly welcome Gen.
Howard to their ranks. About year
ago Gen. Howard was the guest of the
Department of the Potomac, G.. A. r.,
where President Roosevelt was also a
guest. The President on entering the
hall stopped at the sight of Gen. How
ard and gave him most cordial greet
ing.
Mr. Thomas S. Hopkins, Of this city
and Mount Vernon, Me-, is arranging
ment of the Potomac. which will coma
within "a few weeks. He has been at the
Capitol several times lately to invite
members of Congress who served in the
eral promises. Mr.. Hopkins is a past
commander of the Department of the Po-
tomac and takes a lively interest in
Grand Army a,1fains.
Department OF the Potomac will also be
a Maine born man-Judge Ivory J. Kim
ball, for many years sitting on the police
court bench here. He is "a native OF Jay,
Me-, but mis- parents took him to Indiana
when he was a child and he served
through the war in an Indiana regiment.
President Benjamin, Harrison was his
warm friend and made him police judge
here a position which he has held CON
tinuousy ever since. Judge kimball has
held many offices in the Grand Army OF
the Department of the Potomac, during
the last year having been the senior vice
commander.
Several Maine men have headed the De-
partment of the Potomac. Year before
last the Department Commander was
Israel w. Stone, a native of Houlton, Ne,
who went to Illinois, in early life, and
served in an Illinois regiment One of
the earlier commanders was Representa-
tive ID. S. Alexander Of Buffalo, N. Y. a
native of Richmond, Me. who was one
of the auditors OF the Treasury Depart
ment some years ago when the Grand
Army men of the District Of Columbia
chose him as their commander. But the
several posts of the Grand Army in the
District have large contingent of Maine
veterans, many Of whom settled here i'm
medately after the war and secured po-
sitons in the government service The
Civil Service was unknown in those days
and the preponderating influence OF
Maine men in public life was sufficient
to secure many places, although the same
influence in these modern times would be
able to accomplish much less.
EX-Gov. Powers accomplished quite a
feat in the House a few days since in Sc
curing the passage of d big bill for
Hawaii, which came from the committee
on territories of which he is a member.
Last session the bill came over from the
Senate as rider on one of the appropria-
| ton bills and Jared badly. The Demo-
Gratis and some Republicans attacked it
| fercely, not that it was a bad bill, but
| because it was fine target. The result
! was that the bill. which appropriates ST.
| 800, 600 as compensation for buildings that
| had to be burned during the plague in
Honolulu, some years since. failed. But
| the governor tackled the job this year
with more success and had it passed in
| short order and without any opposition
1t is always easier to get bills of i'm
| portance through the House at the short
session of Congress. Maine members,
| who have their constituents soldly at
| their backs do not have to undertake any
| such grand stand plays, but there are
| lots OF members who have to perform
| for few months before the election to
| convince their constituents at home that
! they are pretty important Congressme
and have power to defeat bills at Wash
| ington. Some bad bills are killed by that
] process and a great many good ones are
| sacrificed. 1t is one of the incidents of
| politics which affords some gayety 10
] those who, year in and year out, have to
| endure the monotony of things govern
| mental in the federal Capitol.