Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-27
CAPITAL CHAT.
The Fighting Qualities Of the
Chief Justice.
The Pension Bill of a Deserving
Augusta Man.
The Carriage Agitation-Two More
States Likely.

from one OF the oldest families in the
Kennebec valley, showed his fighting
qualities the other evening at the
White House more vigorously than at
any previous time in his long public
; career here. The press dispatches have
already told something about the re-
sentiment of the supreme court at be-
ing compelled to trail in behind the
| diplomats and how the little chief JUS
| tice gave Maj. McCauley, of the Ma
rifle Corps, as lively a dressing down.
as has been heard within those walls
for Il long period.
j The thousands of tourists and spec
tators who see the chief justice, with
! his long white hair and strong features,
| adjoining the long bench, go away with
| the impression that he is q very cour-
teOuS and affable man. But there are
many in Washington who have vivid
reminders of his mental vigor and
readiness to assert himself on occasion.
| He is now seventy years old, but is
vigorous mentally and physically as
he was twenty years ago. Chief JUS
tice Fuller is Il great stickler for the
pronlietics, us in fact are all the JUS
tees of this great court. Etiquette of
many generations prescribes all their
official movements. When the members
OF the court depart from the robing
room daily at noon, and cross the cor
ridor OF the Capitol, they always move
lin just such order, prescribed by
seniority of appointment. Chief JUS
tice Fuller leads and them Mr.. Justice
Harlan. a giant in statute, almost
twice as tall as his chief, comes on
behind.
In the Democratic gossip about avail
able presidential candidates there has
been a little discussion here lately
about the availability of the chief
justice 1t was not, of course, very
serious, for the age of the chief justice
would alone be Il bar The time has
gone by when either party will nomi-
nate Il candidate seventy years old.
But even if he were much younger,
Chief Justice Fuller would not serious
ly consider such an honor. He has
position, which is little more than sec
ond to that of the President. Even
though he could retire on full salary
nov. lie prefers to remain i'll the har-
less and will probably remain chief
justice several years yet, if his life is
spared.
Senator Burntam of New Hampshire,
has reported favorably to the Senate
Il bill to increase the pension of Jonn
Dow of Augusta, from s24 to $40 Il
month. He sorrcd in Co. X, 18th Maine
infantry. and also at other times dur
ing the war in the 5th and 9th Maine
Regiments. A bill in his behalf was in
, trcduced recently by Senator Frye and
several prominent Augusta people have
interested themselves in his behalf. AS
soon as the bill is passed by the Senate,
Coy. Burleigh will take it up in the
House, as the case is regarded as an
unusually deserving one.
! The claimant is now totally blind and
has lost the use of his left hand and
| that Mr.. Dow has always been Il good
citizen and has no property, real or
personal: also that "he is largely
! maintained by his wife, who, though
! in poor health, is obliged to go out to
work to aid in the support of the
family"
! There is great cOmmotion in all the
| DEPARTMENTS here over attempts to
abolish the use of carriages by Off
| Gals at government expense. When
! n senator or member of Congress
wants to ride between two given points
! in q carriage he must pay for it out
of his own pocket. The maintenance
! Of a carriage in a city like Washington
is n nretty expensive item but the liv-
! ery stables are full of horses and car
riages owned by the government and
used by minor officials throughout the
| danart,nCnts. Bits of legislation have
been secured from time to time as the
| h. h ph
such action in many particulars. while
| in other cases there is no good autnof-
| ty for such purchases OF teams. w men
the departments close at 40 each
! afternoon. one can see a NUMBER VI
| these government carriages proceeding
along the prominent thoroughfares'
! tho drivers often being messengers III
the DEPARTMENTS. The families OF thc
officials use them for calling ana LOT
shopping, where the families OF other
citizens. including congressman, must
nav their own carriage hire.
Tho ,,roposcd reform which Representa-
five G. r. Lands of Indiana, inaugural
Cd WAS supported by al tho members g.
! the Maine delegation in the House. Mucii
OF the abuse is said to center in the war
land navy departments, wheic officers arc
using government carriages without Que
authority of law. - =:
a soachman alone cannot be hired i;
Washington for less than $50 month; ana {,
it costs so Il month more to board =
horsea Some of the officials had two gov
ernment horses for their turnouts. \ car
riage suitable for the dignity or these on on
ciais costs hardly less than s1G1. If there
are only 80 of these turnouts Improperly
paid fo1 by the government-and there
are probably many more re than thatmnn nc
will amount to during a year. "Cncio
joe Cannon, the Speaker Of the House
form. which the House has already voted
and which the Senate will probably agree
to when the provision comes up there for
consideration.
been PRETTY busily engaged during the last
few days. There has beer been lot Of wGr,
has occupied most of their spare time
during the first half of each day.
agreement on the statehood bills: which
il is expected, will be considered within
a few weeks This agreement contem-
plates two states. one of Oklahoma and