Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-12-07
DOINGS AT THE NATIONS CAPITOL.
Connecticut Congressmen Make Comments on the Pre-.
 sidents hessage-Nany Petitions Presented by the Nutmeg State Members.

Trrom Our Special Correspondent9
 Washington, Dec 7.-BOth houses or congress are now hard at work. This iS; especially true of the committees, and it Is expected bills will be report ed reg gIiarly and frequently from now until adjournment. Pe:Eaps the buSi- est coIrtn,fTtec room is the one of the committee on rivers and harbOrs. All the members find their way there. And yet 1t Is not certain that general river and harbor bill will be reported although it is agreed that some pro- jects will be taken care of this session.
 The sub committee that visited Con- nectieut last summer is now preparing ;ts report. They all expressed them seives as much impressed with what Connecticut was asking for, and the members have been assured that some thing will be done. The work has been divided up among the different members Colonel Alexander of Bull falo has been made chairman of the subcommittee to take care of New Haven and Bridgeport, while Mir Bur- ton will take care of the rest of the state with the assistance of Mir Law renee the New England member Of the committee.
 The bill. if there is one, will proba- bly be presented by the committeO soon after the. holidays.
 Petitions.
 As usual a large number of petitions are being presented to congress. Just at present most of those of COnnecti- cut relate to polygamy, and some regu- lar bureau is getting up printed pett tions for an amendment to the constl- tuition prohibiting polygamy, Senator Platt to-day introduced the following, all from various churces and religious bodies: From New London, Plainfeld, voluntown, North Stonington, Nor. wich, Montville, New Britain and Gro ton. The members of the house pre- scented the same petitions from their district in the house.
 Senator Platt also in the senate, and alle the Connecticut members in the house. to-day presented the resolution of the Baptist convention held in Nor wich October IS, concerning conditions in the Congo Free State. This petition urges congress to thoroughly tnvesti- gate the alleged atrocities and misgov' ernment and to secure better condl> tions for the Congo Free State.
 The Message Criticized.
 The presidents message, the reading of which occupied practically all of yesterday afternoon, was listened to very attentiveIy by the members of both houses. It was quite long, but it contained just what the members wanted to listen to. Democrats and republicans alike paid close attention. | and afterwards discussed the main features of the document. The repub- licans were of course enthusiastic in their praises. while the democrats had but little to say
 The (ou0ecficut members all eX- pressed themselves as pleased with the message. Senator Platt said that he wanted to look the message through before he would give a detailed opin- ion. but he added, that from what he could hear as it Wastbeing read he felt sure the country would be satisfied that President Roosevelt kneW what he was talking about and would ap- prove of his recommendations. MT lLilley put it tersely: Ut is 9 -strong message from strong nlan.T ' [ s9s&'@
 MT Henry said: President Roose> velts message is a comprehensive and instructive state paper, indicating an intimate. intelligent and practical knowledge Of all branches of the pub lie service. as well as of the demands and requirements of all sections of our country. The presidents several recon mendations deserve and will receive the caFe1ul c0nSlQefaIlOn or congress.
 MT Sperry said: '"Fhe message was received with great favor on the re publican side Our friends. the demo crats, kept very quiet, and said little about the various statements and sug- gestiOns contained in the document The message was generally commend- ed, so far as I could hear, and look upon it as a splendid statement of con ditions as they exist to-day. There is no doubt in my mind that the reeom- mendations of the president will re- ceive careful consideration by con, gress.''
 AIr Hill said: q have not had time to read the whole message. but the currency part is excellent. It is great step forward when the president rec ommends to congress the consideration of the retirement of the greenbacl1 and the gold redemption of the silver dollar. These things done would put our currency system in harmony with the gold standard which the people have chosen and make that standard 8 reality instead of dream as it is now.n
 MT Brandegee said: ''The message should be read in full by every Ameri- | can citizen who is interested in the welfare of his country. It is one of the ablest state papers I have ever seen. The one salient point which inn pressed me most fOfcibly is the spirit of the square deal which stands out conspicuously in every line. Never in our history have we had a president who was in such close touch with wvery part of our vast country, nor one