The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-28
AT The CAPITAL.
Kansas congressman Are Ex-
pected This Week.
Their Work.
REEDER WILL BE LATE
Detained in Kansas by Matters
of Business.
Why Washington Papers Are
Hostile to Mr.. Ware.
REEDER WILL BE LATE

Washington, Nov. 2S.-With the pass
ing of the Thanksgiving holiday, the
next few days will mark the arrival
here of members of congress. They are
now beginning to reach the city for the
winters work. A rest after election; a
renewal of acquaintance with ones
family; the disposition of the Thanks
giving turkey; and the conclusion of
home business matters have occupied
the attention of the member since No
vember s. And now he is about ready
to take up his burden at the capitol.
Kansas members will be slow in ar
irving. There is nothing especial on
this winter. and no particular cause for
hurry to Washington. Nevertheless, it
is always the purpose of the busy KAN
sas members to reach Washington a
few days or a week ahead of conven-
ing, in order to attend to accumulated
departmental business. This year, most
of them are late, as none but the sena-
tors have arrived.
Mr.. Murdock is on the way, and will
be the first of the house delegation to
get down to work. After going to the
White House to offer the president con-
gratuIations, and tell him how it was
that they have not yet ceased to count
the majority in the Big Seventh, Mr.
Murdock will dispose of an enormous
amount of departmental work, and or
dinary mail. Then he will begin his
winters campaign along irrigation lines.
Mr. Curtis will be one of the earlier
Kansas arrivals. He will have his
work on the Indian committee to get
ready for the session.
Word reaches here that Mr.. Reeder
is detained by business matters, and
will not be able to arrive before the
Ylar inst before
convening. Mr.. Campbell and Mr.. Cal
derhead will arrive about the same
time.
1t is the general expression among
Kansans who have been interviewed on
the winters work that there is very
little of grave Importance affecting the
state that will be up for consideration
the coming session. But the enormous
correspondence of Kansas members,
and the usual interest in appropria-
tions, and care of departmental matters
will keep the SunhoWer statesmen busy.
One phase of the Ware situation has
not received much comment, but has
been particularly noticeable here: The
disposition of Washington papers and
Washington newSpapermen to attack
the retiring commissioner of pensions.
Mr.. Ware early in his term in office
aroused the ire of Washington news
They spread the poison,
and it was not long until regular con-
spiracy was aroused against him. The
fact is that they have nagged and pes
tered Mr. Ware for two years and more.
They have been retiring him every
week or SO. They have made sport OF
some things he has done, and have Sc
verely criticised many more things he
has done.
1t all happened because of a certain
thing the commissioner did when he
first took possession of his office. 1t
had long been the custom to have
4.1,, ,fc- rod
the newspapers, showing the work of
the day-the issuance of certificates,
etc. This grew in enormity until two
or three clerks were kept busy attend
ing to it. Mr.. Ware, when he began his
system of reform, calculated to take
the pension office out of the rut, and
bring it's work up to date, concluded
that the services of these clerks could
be better utilized in other work So
he discontinued the policy of preparing
all this information for the press. 1t
made Washington reporters mad, and
they began to organize their conspiracy
against the commissioner.
But all the attacks on Mr.. Ware did
not swerve him from his determination
to bring his office work up to date, and
to make it worth while to the govern
nent that he had held his position for
nearly three years.
Samuel Forter of Marysville, Kan,
who was last summer appointed spe-
cial examiner of the bureau of pen
sions. has passed through the ele-
mentary stage, and is now actively at
work He has the District of Colum-
bia and occasionally his work takes
him into Maryland and Virginia. He
has become very proficient. and likes
his duties Mr.. Forter is brother-in-
law to Representative w. A. Calder
head, and was appointed at the lat
ter's instance. The position pays
500 per annum.
Homer Hoeh, of Marion, son of
Hoch, who returned
some time since from his Kansas va
cation, where he participated in the
is again acting chief of the
division of the office of
J. L. Bristow. fourth assistant post
master general. Mr.. Hoch has been
occupying this position for some
months. Not being in the classified
he is not eligible to be per-
nanent chief of the division, but it is
likely he will continue to act in this
capacity for some time. Mr.. Hoch is
also a student at one of the three law
schools of Washington.
An erroneous impression exists in |
regard to Mr. Hoch. He is not nor
las he been, secretary to Mr.. Bristow.
rhe same error was made in Kansas [
papers with Mr.. HochS predecessor, /
-,acey Simpson of Mcpherson, son of
T. NJ. Simpson. Mr.. Simpson was Mr.. /
Bristow's appointee. He was not in
he classified service. He acted briefly
n the capacity of secretary to Mr.. |
Sristow. but because of the fact that
Mr.. Rristowts force did not observe /
government hours, but worked up un- |
il p. M, and often later, and be- |
cause of Mr.. Simpsons law school
elasses, he went into another office of
Mr.. Bristow's bureau. where he took
advantage of government hours, which
helped him in his studies. It was the
same way with Mr.. Hoch- He wished
hi c-%1. fac- Il ~
.er Mr.. Bristow's own office.
J. G. Hedrick of Hutchinson, clerk
n the postoffice department. has