The Somerset reporter., 1904-01-07
Washington Letter.


After the Holidays. Probable Length of
session.-The New Aprortionment.-Pos
sibie Effect on Elections and Conventions.
Rec ptions.-Maine Senators, etc
Especial to the Somerset Reporter)
Congress has started up, tins week,
with new lease of life. 1t will be a
straIghtaway event now till the final ad-
to do. The Senate has much more than
the House, because the senate has nom
nations to confirm aud treaties to rat-
! fly. This is called executive work. The
consti lution provides that appropriation
bills must originate in the House.
| Therefore while the House is preparing
its part of that legislation, the senate Is
generally pegging away on some of the
tough executive tasks But this year
it will not be through with these by the
time the House has completed its ap-
| propIiati, bills.
There is always conjecture about the
date on which session of Ongless will
adjourn. The date means great deal
to hundreds of people. Senators and
members want 10 order their Sffaifs at
home, 80 az to accord with their duties
at Washington Hundreds of employees
of senate and House have to plan their
| programmes to meet the exigencies. A
! large proportion of these nre looking for
| signs az to the day of adjournment, as
soon as a session is well settled down to
work. Boxes of cigars and silk hats are
wagered upon favorite dates, that APP
peal to the judgments of Congressional
| observers.
"Uncie Joe" Cannon, from his emf
hence as Speaker of the House, has said
the word that Congress should do its
business as quickly as possible this year.
The elections are coming on. They
signify hard work and heavy expenses.
The Senate is willing to cooperate with
him. The House thinks adjournment
should come by May l The Senate is
inclined to think it will be a later day.
Senator Hale of Maine, whose judgment
about adjournment has been indicated
in more than one session of Congress that
has passed into history, thinks the adj
! journment is likely to be nearer June |.
The long distance orators of the minor
ity party have been working diligently
| during the two weeks of the Christmas
holidays, digging in books and pacing
up and down floors, composing speeches.
These will be delivered as opportunity
offers The length of the session will
depend quite a bit on the time these
orators occupy in debate
When Representative Burleigh was
working might and main and night and
day some Two years ago to get his new
apportionment bill through Congress in
the face of tremendous Republican op
position, he did mol reckon on What vast
] interests ii would affect. " lille he was
comforting with the Maine Senators and
! representatives and others how To get
votes for the bill and seurrying hther
and thither to keep the line OF his
friends intact, lie had only one objeet in
view. That was To assure Maine four
Representatives in Congress To do
that the me mbership ri the House had
TO be increased from 357 o 1856, SO that
the divisor, fixed as basis of p)pua.
| ton for one representative, would make
quo ieat of four with Names popula-
ton.
l. may turn out that Gov. Burleieh's
hand, by reason of his success in that
| hight, will prove the making or unmaking
of presidents and vice presidents The
membership of the ouse is how based
ON his plan. All elections for President
and for Congress- will be based on 1t till
after the apportlonment for 1910 goes in
toeffect. The pivotal character of states
in presidential election and also in
Congressional elections is somewhat
changed. some states have a larger
proportionate representation under the
Burlelgh plan than they would have
had under the restricted plan, proposed
by Representative, now Senator hopkins
of Illinois, and other house leaders and
it will go far towards helping President
Roosevelt, should events transpire that
make the next presidential contest
close one. 1t will readily be seen that
the apportiOnment adopted will have an
fleet upon the two National conventions
which meet about six months hence.
Delegates, excepting four at large from
each state, will be sent by congressional
districts throughout the country and it
is by no means impossible that in the
event of close balloting, the fate of can
ddates may be decided Otherwise,
under the new plan. than it would have
been under another basis
Representative and Mrs. Burleigh and
their daughter, Niss Ethelyn, lave been
invited by President and Mrs Roosevelt
10 attend the diplomatic reception at
the White House, thursday OF this
week 1t is the favorite of all the Off
ciai receptions of the year. Many peo-
pie who would like Invitations, are not
included, being invited instead to sub
sequent receptions because of the i'm
posi- bility of getting all at once within
the White House.
Senator Hale has been here through
all the holiday season and has spent
some time daily at his Offices in the
Capitol senator Frye returned, Satur.
day, from visit to New York City and
to friends in New Jersey. He is con-
siderably improved in health by reason
of his trip out of town. w