Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-09
CAPITAL CHAT.
The Canal Treaty Is Steadily
Gaining Strength.
Probable Change or the Public Build
ing Committee.
Little Doing in the House--The Maine
Senators.

w ''-iiht,' 'i'' osiIi. ne
first week Of the session Of Congress,
in the New Year has been cVentful
for debate and for the strength the
canal treaty has developed. The Dem
ocrltic clamor for additional facts
about the negotiations for the treaty.
continues strong. With alleged want
Of facts from the President as the
basis of their opposition at present,
they are making an aggressive fight
Iut the administration steadily gains
ground on the Panama proposition
ana it has become more than ever
apparent that the treaty Will event
ually be ratified by a rousing vote.
Senator e'prophesied that outcome
several weeks ago, even before Re-
publicans We're assured of three Dem
ocEatic votes. necessary for a two
thirds majority.
The Republican campaign in the
Senate has been skilfully managed. It
opened with President Roosevelts
message. Although there was some
doubt among his admirers at the time
as to whether the message ought to
have been sent to the Congress and
whether it would not have been bet
Ter to forward it later to The. Senate az
an executive communication. the con-
Viction is strong here that the prtsi-
dent adopted the wiser course. The
presentation of the message was fol-
lowed by the speech of Senator Lodge
= learned man in law and precedentS
whose efforts made an additional bull
Wark for the Republican case. With
such Il preface. although the debate.
which promises to prove the greatest
dt bate of the session, continues to
rage. the way is nicely paved for the
favorable report on the treaty, which
the foreign relations committee will
soon make. Soor thereafter the issue
sill be joined in executive session.
Senator Frye will have leading
part in the deliberations over The
treaty, for he is one of the first men
on the committee and one of the old
EST there in point of service. 1t is
doubtful whether either of the Maine
senators will have any speeches to
make on the treaty. Both are force
full debaters and whenever they speak
arc listened to with close attention.
Hut Republicans will not seek to de-
j. necessary in replying to the attacks
from the Democratic side. Neither Of
the Maine senators is DESTROYS OF
speaking simply for the sake OF speak
Ing.
Senator Frye is heard less frequent
ly on the floor than formerly because
his. duties as presiding officer keeps
him in the chair. He by no means
Yields the gav"l all the time. for other
senators are called uD to spell" him.
Eut he has his seat and desk on the
floor just as other senator's. 1t is
rare, however, that he sits there. The
Eian who most frequently spells him
rs presiding officer. is Senator Per-
kins, of Colifarnia n Maine born man.
It is noteworthy that Mr.. Perkins is
4 colleague in committee of both Mr.
Hale and Mr. Frye. The Californian
is one OF the ranking members OF the
naval committee, of which Mr. Hale
is chairman. and also one of the first
members Of the committee on COM
merce, of which Mr.. Frye is chair |
man.
Senator Hale is always alert to the |
good government of the District of
Columbia, as he lis, for that matter. |
to good government everywhere in |
HE United States. More than once in
recent years he has had pertinent re-
marks about local affairs here. The !
same was true of his resolution. this |
week, about the safety Of Washington |
theatres. There has been considerable |
agitation in the local newspapers |
about the conditions of the theatres
since the SAD loss Of life in Chicago.
and Mr.. Hale was of the opinion that |
n careful official investigation should |
be made of the local playhouses. The |
Senate promptly adopted his resolu-
ton for that purpose and the investi-
Sation is now on foot. AS Washington
is town of many amusement loving
people, its theatres are generally
patronized and Mr.. Hale believes there
should be every possible precaution
for their safety.
There has been but little business
in the House during the week and the
efforts of the Maine members Of the
Continued or-.t e 81
-tIthOut Su