The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-12-15
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON
Especial Correspondence.)

Opening OF Consress-The 59th con-
gress took its initial step December
as a legislative body. At noon the
gavels of presiding officers fell at
both ends Of the Capitol, before the
usual throng of interested first day
spectators. These, as always, were
mostly ladies. whose beautiful cos
tunes made rim Of Kaleidoscope
colors around the attractively tinted
walls Of the senate and the house. No
business was transacted. except that
pertaining to organization. The SEN
ate was in session cut 20 minutes,
most Of which time was occupied in
calling the roll and swearing in SEN
ators not present at the extra ses-
sion of last March. There was a more
animated scene in the house cham
ber. 1t was distinctly a show day
there, and the spectatos fingered till
late in the afternoon, seeing the
speaker elected and escorted TO his
des, picking out the notable personag.
es in the scmi-circe of mahogany
seats, watching the state delegations
file down the aisles to stand before
the speakers desk with hands uplifted
as they took oath to support the con-
stitution and laws OF the United
States, and finally looking on at the
great biennial lottery Of drawing
seats. Joseph G.. Cannon of Illinois
was reelected speaker, the members
of the house took the oath of office,
the officers and floor employees OF the
body were reelected, the rules Of the
last congress were adopted and mem
bers went through the formality Of
drawing for seats. One noticeable
feature In both the senate and house
was the absence of the usual banks of
flowers.
To Save the Old Frigatc-The old
frigate Constitution will become
naval museum i'm Boston harbor if a
bill introduced by Representative Nc
Nary OF Massachusetts becomes law.
The measure authorizes the secretary
OF the navy to have the old vessel re-
stored TO serviceable condition "in or
der that she may be used as a floating
monument to the glory of American
sailors" 1t is to be stationed at Cas-
tie island SO as to be easily accessible
from there and is to be open to visit
ors during certain hours Of the day.
Mr. McNary says that the Constitu-
tion is rapidly becoming q wreck, and
will soon be on the bottom of the har-
Dor IL something is not done to pre-
serve her.
Railroad Rate BiII-The terms of
the new railroad rate bill are broadly
similar to those of the measure which
was carried part way through the last
congress. Its variations are mainly
in detail. The interstate commerce
commission, which is vested with the
power of regulation, is enlarged to
seven members. with term of seven
years and salaries Of $4,000 each.
This may be called a stalwart body,
and it should command the services
Of high-grade talent. Ii is proposed
to give this commission authority to
compel the establishment of joint and
through rates for interstate traffic and
to abolish peremptorily certain motor.
ious practices whereby the law
against discrimination is evaded. AS
regards the establishment of rates,
the commission is empowered to de
termine, after full hearing, the rea
sonableness or unreasonableness Of
rates or regulations of which COM
plant is made, and to fix the reason
able maximum and minimum. Provi-
sion Is made for rehearings and for
appeal to the courts from the decision
of the commission.
Want Salaries Expained-A very
large amount of money has been eX.
pended by the canal commission, and
some congressman seem to be unable
to see that anything has been accom-
plished to justify the large eXpendi
ture, and they will insist, SO it is said,
on an explanation. And then just on
the heels Of all this bobs up the Ques
tion OF salaries paid to those having
in hand the mechanical and office
management of the undertaking. Dig
ging canal Is to prove a costly un-
dertaking, and while the job may last
for number Of years, 1t will not last
forever, hence IL is absolutely neces
sary that salaries should be larger
than they would be in case the posi-
tion was a life tenure. but still some
of the congressman cannot see it in
that light. Among the employees in
the Office of the commission are a sec
retary. an auditor and a press agent,
the duties Of this latter being to fur
nish to the public the Information
concerning the great enterprise that
the commission decides should be Civ
en- out. congressman receives So
600 year. the press agent OF the
comission is made TO rank so far as
salary goes, with congressman,
while the secretary and auditor of
the commission are worth two con.
gressmen-perish the thought MIR.
Taft is member of the president S
cabinet. and as such is charged with
the responsibility of constructing the