Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-30
CAPITAL CHAT.
Season Of Official Dinner Civ
ing Is Now On.
The Maine Men Will Retain Their Old
Places on the Committees.
Gov. and Mrs. BurIeigh Spend Thanks
giving with Senator and Mrs. Hale.

Washington, D. c., Nov. 29.-(Spe-
| ciaD.-The season of official dinner
| giving is now on in full blast at the
capital. 1t promises this year to be
possibly more feature Of the season
here than ever before, and that is say
| ing a good deal. No reference is had
to the strictly social dinners given by
people of wealth and affluence, who
spend enormous sums and demonstrate
artistic perfection not only in floral
decorations but in the elaborate vi
ands and splendid wines which they
| place before their guests. But the
political world of Washington has in
recent years been rapidly falling into
| the English ways Of dinner giving as
| the surest and most effective means of
pressing an aggressive campaign for
| some kind of legislation and by no
| means legislation that is improper or
| illegitimate.
AS an instance might be cited a din
ner given a few nights ago at the
| Highlands, one of the very best Of the
many palatial apartment houses in
Washington. Senator Mitchell of Ore
gun, was lIe UOSl VI ABOUT JU OIL MS
| colleagues, members of the House OF
Representatives and others who arc
| more or less factors in one manner or
another in proceedings here, and Sena-
tor Charles w. Fulton, also of Oregon
and lately elected to the Senate, was
the guest of honor. It was beautiful
banquet. The people present, most of
| them from the Northwest, We're thor
oughly congenial and the evening was
delightfully."- spent. But during the
banquet one eloquent senator from
another state deftly turned the post
prandial talk to the subject of an eX-
position in commemoration of the
Lewis and Clark expedition of discov-
cry, which exposition is to be held at
Portland.
Oregon has herself raised a princely
sum for the project and is now asking
a big federal appropriation, which
many men in Congress believe is rich
ly deserved. Naturally the talk there
after was very much about the Oregon
exposition, and senator after senator,
while on his feet, declared in favor OF
the appropriation. A great deal OF
friendly enthusiasm was evoked, there
discussion and the campaign for that
appropriation was given a big impetus.
Already there seems to be little doubt
of its success, in spite of the we'll
known opposition among leaders in
Congress to granting such appropria-
lions.
Elaborate dinner giving has been part
and parcel of the diplomatic circle of
| Washington for many many years.
There are Il certain number of dinners
prescribed by official etiquette for the
| President and his cabinet members an
nually. They are always enjoyable af
| fairs, although costing a pretty penny
| for many an official pocket. Senators
and members of means have been grad
ually adopting such methods entirely
outside of their social activities. wher
| they have important matters that they
desire to interest their colleagues IN.
Uncle joe Cannon's announcement of
committees is not expected until early in
the week. There will probably be hardly
anything of interest in it for the four
Maine members, all of whom are well
cared for on their old committees. LIZ
| Gov Eurleigh now. by reason of his
| length of service has a leading place on
the public buildings and grounds commit
tee and likewise on the census commit
tee; Representative Littleheld is we'll
cared for as a member of the judiciary
committee, as one of the elections COM
mittees, and on the merchant marine and
fisheries committee; Ex~Gov Powers is
also satisfa ctorily located as a member
of the committee or territories and an
In1o
has good places on the District Of Column
bia committee and the committee on all
coholic liquor traffic.
Gov. Burleigh and Mr.. Littlefield are
destined in the course of time to become
chairman respectively of the committees
on public buildings and grounds and jul
dietary. both influential committees and
well suited to the individual activities of
| both these useful Maine congressman.
Gov. Powers is finding a lot Of work to
do on the territories committee, which
has to do with the puzzIing statehood
questions and with legislation affecting
Hawaii and Alaska. He has already es-
tablished himself as one OF the most nfiu-
entail. men of that committee. Represen-
tative Allen is taking prominent part as
one of the District Of Columbia committee,
which acts as sort of common council
for the city of Washington. and which is
one of the hardest worked committees of
the House. Therefore, all OF the Maine
men are content with their opportunities
for committee work, and have not beer,
Ibothering Mr.. Cannon to give them son,e-
thing else than what they now have.
Senator Hale is maintaining his repu-
Continued on page 2.)