Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-19
CAPITAL CHAT.
Senator Hale Insists that Smoot
Case is Not Closed.
Bill introduced for $4,000 Public
Building at Auburn.
The Maine Members Busy-The Cuban
Debate.

II position 10 transact business. There
has been a lot of quiet sparring fol-
position between Republicans ant
Democrats which doesn't amount to {
great deal as far as the Democrats are
concerned but which has furnished 8
lot of topics for political discussion
among the Senators and members
With German as their leader in the
Senate with John Sharp Williams, Of
Mississippi. as their leader in the
House, Democrats are perking up a
good DEAL They are prepared to make
a sitter fight in opposition than 70,
many years and are all the time plan
ming how they can make trouble for the
majority party and capital for the mex,
presidential campaign. Both are es-
sentially Southern men, especially Will
liams, who thinks and talks on the lines
which have been characteristic OF
Southern Democrats for many years
| However, William belongs to the
younger generation of Southerners and
has some advanced ideas about things
He was educated in Germany but
Ispends a good portion of his time, when
| Congress is not in session, on his Mis-
| sissippi plantation. There is a good
| deal of the Bohemian about Mr.. Will
liams, although he has steadied great
deal since Democrats put increased re-
sponsibility upon him.
There is much talk around the Capito'
| about the clarion note which Senate,
| Hale sounded the other day in debate
| about the case of Senator Reed Smoot
| the Mormon apostle from Utah. The
| trend Of Republican thought here has
been that the case of Reed Smoot would
! not amount to much any way and thai
it might as we'll be rega rded, first as
| last. that Smoot would retain his seat
| That sentiment was the cause of con
siderable contempt in high quarters 70,
| the petitions of the Womens Christia,
Temperance Union and the churche
and other religious organizations, ask
ing that STnoot he unseated or in som
| instances that his case be speedily con-
sidered. When Senator Hoar, from the
state that gave John Quincy Adams t.
public life. the man who fought TIL
fight for the right of petition urged hi.
friends not to send petitions to the
Senate about the Smoot case. it LOOKED
as though things were coming to rather
a serious pass.
On the second day of mention on tina
subject Senator Hale spoke his senti
| ments decidedly in favor of petitions
over twenty senator's nearly one fourth
| Of the body. came to him to expires.
their appreciation of what he had said
| not only about petitioning but in urging
the Senate not to regard the 'Reet
Smoot case as foreclosed. Senator Hal
believes that there are matters of seri
Gus import to be considered in that cas-
and is determined that the sentiment O.
petitioners. whoever they may be, slal'
be respected
Mr.. Hale had concurrent resolution
passed recently, among the very first
of the measures to be enacted in thu
Senate at this session. 1t was a reso-
luton for a survey of the Penobsco'
River and Bangor Harbor. 1t now goes
to the House. where Ex-Gov. Powers
will take it in hand and strive to have
it adopted by the legislators there.
This week is a busy one for the senio,
Maine Senator, for he has to keev
charge Of the work of the Senate Com.
mittee on Committees. The Senat.
committees are awaiting the completion
Of that committees work before UNDER
taking consideration of measures The
task of putting Senators in the vacant
places with as little friction is most
difficult one and will occupy most OF
Senator Hale's spare time from now or
till the work is completed.
Senator Frye's committee on COM
mercc has not vet got into good work.
ing order but there is nothing very
pressing to be done there save to con
slider few nominations made by the
President during the last ten days
One Of these is the nomination
OF DIR. w. D. Crum. colored. to be col
'ector of customs at Charleston, S. C
The nomination has been very vigor-
ously resisted but the Maine Senator
now expects to be able to force il tc
confirmation. His duties as presiding
officer of the Senate keep him verv
closely at the Capitol. He has to be or
hand promptly at noon and rarely
leaves TIL after the sessions have con.
Guided.
Auburn has entered the list of Maine
titles desiring new public buildings
Senator FRYE has introduced bin 70,
such q building. which shall cost about
10000 and be used as the home for the
nostotfice. 1t is probable that the Sena
tor will succeed in having the bill Enacted
at that end of the Capitol during the
regular session this winter. Portland
Bar Harbor and Calais are already
knocking at the door of Congress for ad-
ditional appropriations. SO that the ag-
gregate sum which will be asked for, b,
Maine. when the House gets ready to act,
will probably exceed 500 900. y
The Maine members Of the House have
by no means been idle during the last ten
days although there has been little busl-
ness before the House. This week they
are sticking closely to the Capitol in the
afternoons for the debate about the Cuban
reciprocity bill is on In the forenoons
they are busy around the Departments.
Gov. Burleigh. the dean of the delegation
in the House has spent considerable time
at the pension bureau, where he has many
cases Of pensions for soldier constituents
Continued on page 49,