Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-12
CAPITAL CHAT.
Unusual Quietness Prom
ised for This Session.
Maine Members All Present
and Busy With Work.
They Were Warmly Welcomed bv
Their Colleagues.

Washington. n. c., Dec 11.-(Spec-
laD.-The city always ouickens with
| ire approach of a session Of Congress
| me present session has been no excep-
Ton. But i'll general interest over legis-
| latlhn ana otherwise there has been
| more dullneES that has been known IN
washington at similar period for
years. The Republicans have been in
absolute control of all departments Of
the government SO long, now almost
eight years. and the election was such
an overwhelming triumph for the par
| ", that Democrats have no spirit for
anything. They are almost inclined to
De mere spectators and allow Republi-
cans to run things without opposition.
the entire session will probably be on
quiet order Senator Hale, who In a
member OF the steering committee said
today. that it was proposed to do little
legislating at that end of the CAPITOL
before the holidays, because most Of
the Senators want time to attend to
their business before the departments
II is recognized that little can be ac-
complished except the passage Of the
appropriation bills ut this session Of
Congress and as appropriation bills
must originate in the IIcuse that BODY
must have few days start before any
bills can be made ready for considera-
ton in the Senate, That is the reason
why at every session Of Congress the
House starts off very busily and the
Senate leisurely and why at the end OF
every session the House Is proceeding
leisurcly and the Senate is crowtliny on
steam.
All the Maine members are here
pressing their work actively. AS none
OF them came here during the recess
Of Congress, they have lot Of business
Of various kinds to attend to. Senator
Haie got little start on the rest Of
his colleagues because he came here
nearly two weeks before the session be-
gan ard had som time to work around
the departments. Gov. Burleigh was
here few days in advance. located at
The Raleigh. right Down in the heart
of the business section Of the CITY and
close to the departments and made the
most of his time in visiting heads Of
bureaus where his constituents had
business Representative Allen. too. got
start Of few DAYS and had his BUSH
ness pretty well fixed up by the time
MS name was called on the House roll.
All the others. however. reached here
barely in time to be present at the ses-
sion Monday. Senator Frye and Rep
rescntative Littlefield both came in
Sunday evening and ex-Gov. Powers
had narrow shave in arriving here
at all before the session began, having
been tied up. en- route from Boston. by
Il freight wreck.
The Maine people were cordially re-
ceived here by their friends from many
states. The two Senators are pillars IN
the management of affairs at that end
Of the Capitol. Congress- would hardly
be willing to convene on the opening
day unless Senators Hale and FRYE
were in their seats. Over at the House
end Representatives Burleigh and Lit
tletteld received specially cordial
greeting in the throng that pressed
down into the space in front Of the
speakers desk. Representative Allen
held little ovation by himself over
near his own seat Because Of his long
service here with the late Speaker
Reed. Mr.. Allen has d very wide ac-
quaintance among the members. Gov
Powers exchanged greetings later on,
because Of his belated arrival.
1t is noticeable that the Southern
members of the House take more kind
ly to Maine men than to any other
members from New England. They
Clair that the Maine men are consider
ably different than either New. Eng
landers and have certain friendly traits
that are specially in common. with
Themselves. Riding on the tail end Of
a street car up Capitol Hill on the
of the opening were Represent
tative Burleigh and three Southern
Democrats. talking and laughing to-
gether as though they were all broth
crs. Tho Southerners were Representa-
tives w. A. Jones Of Virginia; Albert
S. Burloson OF Texas: and G. w, Tay-
lor Of Alabama They told stories Of
their vacations and strapped reminds
c"nCies without regard to partisanship.
Senator Hale's interview In opposition
% tariff revision is still much disc used,
having been the most striking and at
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