The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-14
TURNED IT Down.
Victor Murdock Was Offered a
Trip to Europe
With Commission to Study Sub
ject of Denatured Alcohol.
TOO MUCH BUSINESS.
Race for Congress and Senate
Will Occupy Him.
Likely to Come Home Before
Congress AdjOurns.

Washington, June 14.-Victor Muir
dock might have taken a trip to
Europe this summer in an official ca
pacity-but he will not do So,
The commissioner of internal reve-
nue., John W. Yerkes, OF Kentucky.
and other ofHcials including Repre-
sentative E. J. Hill of Connecticut,
will go abroad shortly to investigate
the workings of denaturized alcohol
for the use of the arts and industries
The Seventh district representative
might have gone If he had desired.
Germany and other countries in
Europe have tried the use of de-
natured alcohol and have found it very
satisfactory. It has worked good
deal of advantage in manufactures, If
not in agriculture and in other ways
predicted for it while the bill was be-
ing considered in congress recently. 1t
was thought best to have some OF the
officials of the government interested
in this new proposition go abroad and
consult with officials there having
charge of the alleged substitute for
power fuel light etc. in regard to its
practical use. 1t was also desired to
look into the distfueries where the
article was denatured and rendered
nonpOtable.
The commissioner of Internal reve-
nue. Will De geo. uillSI ltAS reg 1cAd-
ton, with putting the law into erect.
He will have to see how best the
product may be placed Oh the market
so as not to evade the law He will
also want statistics in regard to its use
and its practically.
Mr.. Hill, who is a member of the
committee on ways and means of the
house Of representatives, helped get
the bill out of that committee last
winter. and is one of the first to start
the agitation in this country for alcO-
hol for use in the arts and industries
He will be valuable member Of the
commission going abroad to study this
question as he has given a great deal
of time and attention to the matter.
Mr.. Murdoch also was one of the
first in the present congress to become
Interested in the subject, and his pres
enee was desired. He did not feel as
though ne could go, however
1t is possible that Mr.. tfurdock will
return to Kansas before the compile
ton Of the present session He GER
tainly will do so unless congress shall
adjourn within a couple of weeks,
which Is doubtful.
Mr. Murdoch has double-header
campaign on this year, which, as well
as for other reasons good and sufficient
to him, would preclude his going to
Europe, pleasant as that would have
been. He is a candidate for election
to congress in the new Eighth district,
and has his senatorial boom on. also.
Both these will demand his time and
attention for the next six months.
1t is said by Kansans that Mr.. Muir
dock expects to become the heir of the
Stubbs senatorial strength throughout
the state-provided the guessers have
hit it off right in their assumption that
the Lawrence statesman is down and
out IN the Burton succession by rea-
son of the fact that Senator Benson
will make the race to succeed himself.
Mr.. Murdock has at all times defended
Mr. Stubbs, and there is good reason
for believing that he and the late boss
boss buster" have an understanding
in regard to things senatorial.
Benson in Washington.
Senator A W. Benson Of Kansas arrived
in Washington at 1 o'clock yesterday af-
not take his seat in the United States sen
ate until today. Senator Long had a short
conference with Vice President Fair
banks and they arranged that the new
senator from Kansas shall be sworn in
Immediately after the reading of the jour
nal. Mr.. Benson came on the same train
with w. H. Caruth. vice chancellor of the
University Of Kansas, who, with his wife,
is his way to Germany TO make some
special studies. He was met at the train
by Senator Longs private secretary, MT
Faxon, and the two had lunch together
while they talked over the senator's plans.
Mr.. Benson decided to go to the National
hotel, and was assigned to a suite of rooms
which he will occupy until the end of the
session, when he will return to Ottawa.
He is not accompanied by any member of
20 to work at once but decided to take
the afternoon off for rest in his room af-
ter paying a visit to the capitol. Escorted
to the senate end, he met Senator Long
in the reception room, where they chatted
for short time Senator Long asked him
if he desired TO be sworn In at once but
he said he preferred to wait
Through Senator Longs efforts he was
given the two communicating rooms in
the Maltby building, known as the SEN
ate annex. occupied by Senator Burton
up to the time of his retirement. He
r7 ri hie mail and q number IF
telezrams awaiting him there.
He will doubtless be given some minor
committee assignments till the end of the
session which will insure him q clerk or
two. After his visit to the capitol he
turned to the National and remained in
his rooms during the afternoon and even
ing, receiving number of calls from
K ansas people who had anticipated his ar
rival
His choice of the old National hotel for
his temporary residence IS largely q mat
ter of sentiment. although the hotel is
within convenient distance of the ca pitOl.
He paid his last visit to Washington in
the sos when he came here on some legal
business before the department. He was
shown considerable attention by Senator
Plumb who showed him around Wash
ington and recommended the National ho-
tel to him where he remained during his
stay His early previous visit was paid to
national capital at the end of the war in
1855 He came here at that time as major
of a New York regiment that had taken
part IN the war and he was one of the
men that marched up Pennsylvania ave-
nue. in the grand review of the troops
Four years later, in 1859, he went to Kan
sas.
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