Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-26
CAPITAL CHAT.
The Proposed Charges in Ma
tionaI Bankruptcy Law.
The Presidential Possibilities Among
the Senators.
The Matters Which Are Keeping the
Maine Members Busy.

Washington, d. c.. Jan. 25.-(Spe-
ciaD Changes in the bankruptcy law,
which many business men in Maine
We're asking for year or so ago, are
now in fair way to become law. 1t
only remains for the Senate and House
to adjust their differences of opinion
on the amendments and this will UNI
doubtedly be done. The House enact
ed the amendments last winter and
the Senate has just passed them with
some alterations. No debate was had
as no opposition developed.
However, for weeks and months
Senator Nelson of Minnesota, and
Senator Fairbanks of Indiana, have
been working over those amendments,
as members of the Senate committee
on judiciary and carefully considering
them in an effort to frame the amend
ments so, that they would meet the
prevalent objections. They have re-
ceiNed thousands of kilograms and let
ters from all over the country and the
efficient way in which they have done
their work is told in the absence of
protests.
Although q quiet man, not given to
much speaking, Senator Fairbanks is
3; very efficient legislator. He is well
grounded i'll the law, is familiar with
the business interests of the country.
and his deliberations are always sound
and logical. He is one of the most
pointed out men in the Senate, because
of his supposed expectations of the
presidency. The Indiana senator has
frequently been in New England and
| 11ac fr;a
New England people
1t is not often that the Senate has
three men of Presidential aspirations
that are recognized by a considerable
portion Of the country. On the Repub-
iican side now are Mr.. Fairbanks, Mr..
Hanna, and Mr. Spooner, of Wiscon-
sin. all of whom have been discussed
much in connection with the highest
office in the land. Certainly in 1908, if
they live till that time, Mr.. Fairbanks
and Mr.. Spooner will be prominent can
didates. 1t is noticeable that their To-
cation in the middle west has had
much to do with bringing their names
into prominence as presidential posi-
bilities. None of them, with the ex-
ception of Mr.. Spooner is known as a
leader in the Senate although their
abilities are recognized. Mr.. Spooner
is easily the keenest lawyer in the Sen
ate and ranks well up with the men
who are actually in charge of affairs
there, like Senators Hale, Allison, and
Aldrich.
But there are even other possible
presidential candidates in the senator
ial ranks, for boom of no small d.
mansions was started in West Virginia
some months ago for Senator Elkins, a
man who has had a wonderful career
and who is personally one of the best
liked men in the Senate. over on the
Democratic side Senator Bailey of
Texas. was the subject of a small
presidential boom last spring. Mr.
Bailey is a young man of great legal
ability but he mars his career by
peeyishness and tendencies to quarrel
without sufficient provocation. After
March next Mr.. German, of Md, will
again be in the Senate and he has
often been talked of as q Democratic
candidate for the presidency and is
still talked Of.
Then there is at least one senator
who has been mentioned as vice
presidential possibility and that is Sem
ator Beveridge of Indiana, the young
and Nirile debater from Hoosierdon
But after all has been said it remains
to be seen whether any of the sena-
torial lightning rods will catch the
presidential lightning in 1908 for, as
has often been stated it is rare that
senator of the United States reaches
the White House. Mr.. Fairbanks has
hp GNAnllllp nf Ron ioInir Ia IA
fore him ana Senator Beveridge has
the example OF Senator Hendricks.
elected vice. president with Mr.. Cleye-
land as president in 1884. 1t is not
generally believed by his closest friends
that Mr.. Hanna ever expects to be
President. To attain that high office
men often have to wait many years and
the waiting often carries them beyond
the allotted age of three score years
and ten The arduous duties Of the Of
flee will preclude the American peo-
pie from electing any man to the pres
idency who is very near seventy and
Mr. Hanna will be past 20 in 1908.
Senator Fairbanks will then be 65.
which is about the age that many pres
idents have entered upon the Office.
Senator Spooner is one year younger
than Mr.. Fairbanks, being now 60
years old. Senator Elkins is now 81.
The Maine men in the House have
been as busy as usual during the past |
week but for the most part on gem !
eral matters. except for Mr.. Littlefield
who has been digging away on his an
THRUST bill but who is now somewhat |
relieved that the load is partly off his |
shoulders and that he has his measure |
reported to the full committee on judi |
CARY and to the House. Gov. Bur- |
leigh has mad a lot Of department I
work to clear up and he has been rush |
ing a little harder than usual to keep i
ON top of the vast numbers of letters l
that come constantly from the third 1
district. He has also been following l
closely the deliberations in the House Il
this week on matters of importance to H
the country. The Philippine currency 4
DILL has commanded his careful atten- II
ton, for it is largely an experiment L
and the governor believes the law II
should be scrutinized carefully.
Representative Powers has been II
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