The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-10-01

| WASHINGTON. Sept ao.--These
truly are the gladdest days Of all the
glad, glad year for congressman, Dot
ted over the face Of the habitable globe
are little parties Of frock'eoated. high
hated men whose fares are familiar In
the halls OF Congress. For the most part
they are travelling at government ex-
pense, engaged in soaking up information
to turn loose on their colleagues on
Capitol Hill in the shape Of speeches and
to help all up the pages Of the Congress
sionsl Record.
This week saw the arrival from
abroad OF the Immigration Commission
appointed by the President, the Senate
and the House. The members scarcely
had landed and regained their "land
legs when a committee Of digni6ed gov.
ernment otiicia Ia came stoTming down
the wharf. outward bound, The trio
who composed this committee are hurry
| ing over to England, France and Ger
many to acquaint themselves with tar
in conditions in those countries. They
were appointed by Secretary Cortelyou
to look carefully into the matter. The
head OF the Treasury does not intend to
be caught mapping by tariff revisionists
in the next session.
Perhaps the most important OF these
"junkets," ss they are dubbed by the
envious, Is that OF the Rivers and Har
bors committee OF the House. The mem
bers are now touring the Great Lakes,
examining the harbors and the princi-
pal canals and breakwaters. The start
wac made at Buffalo, but practically
the entire lakes system will be gone
over. Great preparations are being made
by those communities interested in tho
construction OF ship canal from the
lakes to the Gulf Of Mexico to enter
tain the committee. but it Is probably
that nothing win be gained by this, for
the party cannot commit itself.
Among those who are making the
trip are Congressman Acheson, of Penn
sylvania; Alexander OF New York
Lawrence, Of Massachusetts; Davidson.
OF Wisconsin; Bede, Of Minnesota; Ella.
OF Missouri; Sparkman, Of Florida; Ran.
sdell, OF Louisiana; Burgess, OF Texas;
Humphreys, OF Mississippi, and Moon OF
Tennessee. Nearly all are accompanied
by their wives, and James II. Cassidy.
secretary Of the committee. with Mrs.
Cassidy. 10 along.
The trip is not one Of pleasure, by
any means. The members OF the party
are putting in a good IA hours daily tn
booking over the improvements under
way and examining into new schemes
that will be pressed in the coming sea
sion Congressman Ransdells enthus'
iasm is keeping his colleagues up to
the work. although all are enthusiasts
on the question Of waterway develop
ment. Mr. Ransdell is president of the
National Rivers and Harbors Congress,
which 10 pledged to a crusade for the
purpose Of having the government ap-
propriate not lees than $50,0O0,000 a
year for waterway development.
Once the trip is ended. the eom0ittes
will probably join she journey down the
Mississippi River in the train of the
presidsnA This tour 10 PLANNED for the
first part od nsst month and besides
President Roosevelt there will be In the
party the members Of the Inland Water
ways Commission, the Mississippi River
Commission, members Of the Rivers and
Harbors committee and members of the
National Rivers and Harbors Congress.
The officid party will travel in the light.
house tender, Lily, and the steamers
Mississippi and Mackenzie. A fleet OF
more than 100 other craft will furnish
escort The Presidents journey is ex.
pected to Stimulate greatly the inter.
est in the whole question of waerway
development.