The leader., 1904-12-28
WASHINGTON LETTER



house Of Representatives a considerable
nuinberSare veterans who have served
many years. In the present house
more than 60 per cent Of its member
ship served In previous congresses In
the Fifty-ninth congress the proportion
Of old members reelected viii be main
tained Notwithstanding the defeat OF d
number Of Democrsts IS who have been
borne on the rolls for several terms.
The members reelected on Nov. NUM-
Der 285, which leaves only 1O1 new
members, and Of these tiye have served
In previous congresses. These I'VE are
Kahn OF California, Towne Of New
York, Blackburn of North Carolina.
Graham Of Pennsylvania and Keifer Of
Ohio. This reduces the number Of men
in tho next house without previous
service to o6 and makes the number Of
old members returned 300, or rs per
cent of the whole membership. OF the
200 old members $50 are Republicans
and 40 Democrats The 200 old mem
bers win come from forty-one states.
Solid Delegations.
Fifteen states viii be represented in
the Fifty-nirfth congress by the same
men who represent them in the present
congress, no changes having been made
in their delegations. These are Con-
.necticut, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine,
Mississippi, Oregon, Rhode Island, Yer
mont, Virginia. West Virginia and Wis
consin. The states having but one rep
resentative are not included in the fore
going list. The states that will have
solid Republican delegations are Cali
fornia, Colorado, Kansas, Maine, New
Hampshire, Oregon, South Dakota,
Vermont, Washington and West Vir-
ginia. These states have an aggregate
Of forty-four members. The solid Dem
Ocratic delegations are limited to Loui-
siana, Mississippi and Texas, with an
aggregate of thirty-one members.
Additions to the Zoo.
After many trials and tribuIations
the animals presented to President
Roosevelt by the doughty Emperor
Menelik Of Abyssinia have arrived In
Washington and are now domiciIed at
the National Geological park, where
they are regarded as valuable acquisi-
tions. The gift Of Menelik includes
Grevy zebra, lioness, two ostriches
and two balloons.
Navy short OF Men.
The navy is short of men, and
large increase in officers and men is
absolutely necessary If the new ships
coming into commission are to be ade-
quately manned. The navy authori-
ties are reticent in discussing the mat
ter, but 1t is known that they are seri-
ously annoyed in devising ways and
means to do the work with the force
available. The only method that pre-
sents itself at present is by putting old
vessels out Of commission, but the
crews thus provided will provide only
a small proportion Of the men needed
for the big battleships and cruisers
that are coming into commission.
Counting the ships now in use and
adding those already under construc-
ton, the navy requires about twice
as many officers and men as are now
allowed by law.
For Increase OF Salaries.
Leading Republicans of the house
and senate propose to give support, it
is said, to a measure at the present
session of congress or at the next one
increasing the salaries of the president
vice president and members Of con-
gress The question of how much the
increase ought to be is expected to be
the main one If it is found that senti-
ment favors an increase of some kind.
As to the president, there appears to
be something like unanimous opinion
that his salary ought to be 100000
year and that the vice president ought
60 get $4,000 a year. The feeling is
also favorable to $4,000 a year for
senators and representatives
The idea is that If the present con-
gress should pass such a law the date
for its going into effect would be
fixed about March 4, 1907. As to the
president, the increase could go into eff
feet at that time also If President
Roosevelt would be willing to consent,
but he might also object to having the
measure benefit him while he is in Of
flee. If so the increase could go into
effect March 4, 1909.
Bills Before Congress.
On the two public calendars Of the
house are 135 bills relating for the
most part to public lands, Indian res
ervations, rights of way, establishment
of various public projects. etc. These
measures have fixed positions on the
calendars and can be called up on the