Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-31
CAPITAL CHAT.
Loss Of Spirit on Democratic
Side of House.
Canadian Matters Which Are Of In.
terest to New England.
What the Maine Members Are Doing in
House and Senate.

Washington, D. c., Jan. 30.-(Spe-
ciaD.-The Democrats in Congress are
growing very weary of being in the
minority. Not for many years and
probably not for half century, if one
excerpts the Civil War period, has one
party been so continuously in power in
the House as have been the Republic
cans since the beginning of the Fifty
fourth Congress. The interirns of DEM
ocrat control there could always be
counted upon to give the party little
opportunity for the exercise of power.
Their men controlled the committees
and shaped legislation, at least in part.
Uninterrupted control by Republicans
for ten years in the House is now as
sured and during that time the Demo-
Gratis have had little to do except, in
the language of the late Speaker Reed,
draw their salaries and help make a
quorum"
Consequently there has been a de-
crease in the Democratic spirit of
former years as displayed in the
House. The minority members are not
SO keen to continue their careers there.
Men, who are in the positions to sue
coed to important committee places,
should the Democrats ever carry the
House do not hesitate to lose what
would formerly have been regarded as
golden opportunities. They become
candidates for other offices in their
states or they try harder than ever to
get elected to the Senate, for they re-
alize well that chances favor the Re-
publicans carrying the next Presiden-
| in1 oil yuh fyUn
more of power in the House. Six or
eight years ago there was a coterie of
very able Democrats on the minority
side of the chamber, men whose views
commanded attention. They have
nearly all passed out, and the younger
Democrats have come to the front but
they are chiefly Southern men.
The Canadians are evincing lively
interest in proceedings here for the
settlement of the Alaska boundary as
provided in a treaty lately signed by
Secretary of State Hay and the Brit
ish ambassador. Some four years ago
the high joint commission, of which
the late Representative Dingley was
one member, sat here several months
and the keen interest of the Canadian
people in the proceedings, which in
cluded an effort to settle the same
boundary line, was very evident. 1t is
believed here that the state department
new treaty with the Newfoundland au-
thorities regarding the fisheries, in
which matter the Maine fishermen
have been showing such deep concern.
There are several of these Canadian
1 L.
England, that the last two Republi-
can administrations have sought earn
estly but in vain to solve. Other prob
lens have yielded to diplomacy but all
of Secretary Hays wonderful prowess
in dealing with difficult questions has
not sufficed to solve these troubles,
which the Canadians share with us. If
Mr.. Roosevelt's commissioners succeed
in fixing the Alaskan boundary it may
prove the start for settling other prob
lens. But in view of the indifference
of the Senate to the reciprocity
treaties, which have already been
framed, it is not probable that for
many years to come the question of
reciprocity between Canada and this
country in products, such as might af-
feet the people in Maine will be re-
opened.
The Maine delegation in the House
this week have been following along in
their usual lines of work, with hardly
any notable exceptions, save that Rep
resentative Littlefield has headed a
subcommittee of the committee on
merchant marine and fisheries in a trip
to Boston to investigate the coal stu
alton. He expects to be back next
week in time to take up the antitrust
BILL which bears his name and will be
in charge of the two days debate which
is planned on that measure.
Representative Allen has been put
ting in some earnest work in behalf of
an appropriation of $4,000 for a quar-
ar.tine station on House island in Port
land harbor but he is meeting with
little success and fears the appropria-
ton bill will not be forthcoming at
this session because of the opposition
of Uncle Joe" Cannon. Mr.. Cannon
lives in an inland state and has never
been generously disposed towards APP
preparations for aids to navigation
along the Atlantic and Pacific coast
There are thousands of people in his
district who never saw salt water and
who have never seen anything but
picture of a big vessel. There has al
ways been more or less difficulty in
getting his consent to any important
lighthouse or quarantine legislation
and it has generally been forced into
sundry civil appropriation bills by the
Senate.
Senator Frye's committee on COM
merce has been dealing this week with
House amendments to the bill for
Department of Commerce. Mr.. Frye
named subcommittee to go over the
work and he has also been keeping
something of an eye on the work him.
self Mr. Frye has likewise been CIV
ing some time to the committee on for
eign affairs this week, where the
treaty for the purchase of strip of
land across the isthmus of panama is
pending.
No member of the entire Maine dele
cation in Senate and House has been
so active in debate this week as Sena-
tor Hale. who is very constant in his
attendance on the Senate. He has
dipped into the discussion several