The Somerset reporter., 1903-12-24
Our Washington Letter


II - lHNlBOfatluR these December day 4
at The capital to swing into PenusyI
Yania avenue, mile or 30 up that "A
nous thoroughfare Near the Treas.
ury Building, for instance, several
routes much frequeuted by pedestrians,
converge and the human tide surges up
and down during busiuess hours some
20 10 that ancient structure; some Turn
their steps westward for the White
House or state Var and Navy Depart
meuts, building II MaiLe granite
There are also number Of other "
eminent bureaus in the vicinity O.h,rs
60 to the east towards the Poatoifice
department, great building OF Name
granite, and on towards the Capitol.
which looms in the slightly hazy atmos
phere. But all the pedestrians stick to
the northern side If the Avenue, ae-
cording to an old time custom
When Congress is in session tramp
along the Avenue about II O'Clock will
bring one face to face with not a few Of
the prominent actors in the proceedings
ON the hill Just now the most Of these
Congressional travellers along the Ave
nue. are missed. They have gone to
their homes for the holiday recess
Usually there are some Maine men
among these congressional travellers
The late Speaker Reed got his morning
exercise as rule by tramping down the
Avenue, from his hotel to the Capitol,
good mile, before tackling his legisla-
tive duties. Mr.. Dipgley was also a
frequent traveller along the Avenue
Nowadays it is no rare sight to SEE Rep
resentative Littlefied on a constitu
tional over the same route. The same
is true of Representative Burleign
Senator Frye used to walk up and down
the Avenue considerably, to and fro
from the Capitol, but he does so now
much less than in former years 1t is
an interesting procession and includes
not infrequently members of the Su.
preme Court.
A large portion Of the Senators and
likewise large portion of the $50 mem
bers have said good bye to each other
and scattered to the four points of the
compass. The absence of all partisan
ship in the welcomes and farewells of
Congress, always constitutes a conspic
uous social feature. Some of the warm
est friendships are found among men of
opposite political convictions Those
Republicans who secure the warm per
sonal regard of Democrats and wee
versa generally get along best in secur-
ing Legislation. Both branches of on
gIess are always so organ zed that an
nblpnnAnf of ttb
orally make trouble if not absolutely
hinder an undertaking
/ is also noticeable that Northe ners
and SoutherneIs fraternjze closely
That often means Republican and Dem.
ocrat but not necessarily SO. One of the
warmest friends ex-Gov Burleigh IF
the Third Maine district has made in
Congress was the late Gen. James 4.
Walker of Virginia. Gen. Walker was
one of the commanders of the famous
Stonewall brigade and a notable Confed
crate soldier, although a Republican.
But number of Gov. Burleign's friend
ships are across the center aisle. His
kind, personal consideration of every
appeals to the ideas of courtesy enter
tanned by the Southerners and. while he
never surrenders his convictions of pub
lie questions, these Southerners prize
his friendship. similar examples might
be mentioned Of the personal cordality
that prevails in the legislative branch Of
the government. AS rule, with MEM
bers and Senators who take anything
like leading part in Congressional af-
fairs, there is no drawing of sectional
lines or party lines in strictly personal
relations. A man admires man, as
such. without needing arbitrary dis
inctions. OF course there are feuds
sometimes across the center aisle
There are also feuds on each side of the
center aisle, of IA purely domestic char
acter. 1t is no rare thing for Republic
cans of one state delegation not To be on
speaking terms and likewise Of Demo-
Gratis. But those are only instances
proving how human men are when elc-
waited to high flee. such things are
undoubtedly becoming rarer in Wash
ington as the years 60 by.
he members Of the Maine delegation
are in and out of town considerable
during the two weeks Of the holiday re-
cess. Senator Hale is keeping pretty
close to his residence here. He will try
to get good rest before the New Year
for the winters work will be very
arduous for him. There is more and
more work for him to do apparently
with every season of Congress that
cames. Senator Frye will make a trip
to New York and spend several days
there. Representative Burleigh has
gone to Augusta to remain for portion
OF the holiday recess. Representative
Littletield is in Rockland, but botL will
DO back here little in advance Of the
assem bling of Congress January Rep
resentative Powers has gone to Boston
to be with his family over Christmas.
Representative Allen is the only one of
the Maine quartette who has not gone
out of town for lttl&
President and Mrs Roosevelt are pre-
pairing for brilliant season at the
White House, in fact it has already be-
gun. The first Of the cabinet dinners.
which are made imperative by long time
custom, was held thursday evening.
The present occupant of the White
House is very hospitabe and lie and
Mrs. Roosevelt entertain more people
and / o it more lavishly than has been
the case with any administration for
many years. They have many personal
friends all over the country, whom they
delight to please with invitations to the
bite House The President rarely
dimes alone with his family, there are
almost always some visitors present.