Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-11
CAPITAL CHAT.
Continued from Page One.)

the House but were entering upon
distinguished careers at the north end
of the Capitol Two years ago
Senator Frye led Senator Hale up to
the presiding officers desk. but it WIS
for the fourth time. When Mr.. Hale
came in as u new senator the late
james &. Blaine was his colleague and
gave the Ellsworth man his arm.
Both the Maine Senators now nave
long terms to serve under thor
present commissions from tho leGisla
ture at Augusta. Senator IaIe's term
Will not expire till March ,. 1911, AMI
Senator F'rye's not till March .. 1878.
The Senate has already put MIR
Hale into the harness by insisting
that he shall serve as chairman IF the
Committee on Committees. 1t is the
third time he has taken charge of
the task Of reorsanizing the COM
mitteeS Of that body. which is an
unprecedented honor. He took the
Craftsmanship at the beginning of the
18th Congress, reluctantly yet will
ngly. realizing that it was his duty to
take his turn at the big job The
Chairman has to do for the Senate
what the speaker does for the House
in selecting its committees. although
the Senate chairman is aided by a
committee of his colleagues When
the 18th Congress came around, how
ever and the Republicans of che
Senate wanted E;n: to take the same
work again he demurred. having in
the end, none the less. to accept. A
week ago when the talk about re-
organizing committees began and Mr..
Hale was asked to go to the front
again, he said he would not do it.
Some other man. like Senator Aldrich
or Senator Lodge. must do the work
this time. for it means week of care
full consideration of the claims and
aspirations Of Senators to committee
seats and Senators can not be handled
as roughly and as summarily as a
Speaker may handle members of the
House. However, every Senator de-
ferred to Mr.. Hale. He had done the
work so satisfactorily twice that ne
must do it again. There was no
Senator with quite his diplomacy and
tact and the upshot was what every |
one knew it would be, that Mr.. Hale |
finally took the helm again.
Accordingly in the private office of
his committee room and also DIT his
residence in the evenings he is peg !
ging away at the task which will pe
disposed of now in a few days and the
committee lists for the Senate for the
next two years will soon be handed in
to the Republican caucus on type
written sheets. given the O. h, of the
Republican caucus and subsequently
adopted by the Senate and then
entered in the official Congressional
Directory. Then the Senate Will be
fully organized for business for two
years more.
One thing Senator Hale will ac-
complish by the aid of his committee
colleagues is the selection of a strong
and capable Senator in middle life to
bear some of the burdens of the great
appropriations committee. Since the
illness of Senator Allison. the chair
man, a big share of the work has
fallen upon Senator Hale. who has
been acting chairman much of the
time for the last two years. Now
Senator Hemenway, of Indiana. man
vet in middle life is to be made a
member of appropriations. He is cx-
pericnced in that work and is man
whom Senator Hale likes. During the
latter part of his service in the House.
Senator Hemenway was chairman of
the appropriations committee over
there. He will take his place at the
foot of the Republican list and Will sit
at the lower end of the table, but it
is expected that he will be of much
assistance both to Senator Allison,
who is back for the session and to
Senator Hale. whose other duties as
the floor leader of the Senate and as
chairman of TIL" Navy Appropriations
committee arc very heavy.
In again clecting Senator Frye as
president pro tempore. the Senate has
conferred upon him an unusual honor
He has held that office longer than
any other man ever held it and his
recent election is for a third term.
He was first chosen President pro
tempore when the Republicans gained
control of the Senate in 1896 and was
reelected in March 1901. The Office Is
a continuous one for term Of six
wears. its limitation being due to The
six years limitation upon the term Of
a Senator.
The duties are not ;trlluous but the
distinction OF DelnS president plo
tempore is much priced. In the old
days the President pro tempore had TO
be on hand in the Senate every morn
ing 50 as to call the Senate to order III
case the Vice President was not there.
But now adayS Vice President FAR
banks is very punctilious about WELD
ing the gavel and stays till the close
of the day. so that the president pro
temport has nothing to do.
Senator Frye has seen more than
the usual amount of service that falls
to a President pro tempore for he was
the acting vice president for the best
part uf two Republican administra-
tonS-in the first Mckinley admins
tration after the death of Vice PreSl-
dent Hobart, and in the following
administration during the term of
President Roosevelt
The most prominent men Of the
Senate in their time have held the
officer in the absence or death of the
late Senator ingalls,, of Kansas, one
Of the most brilliant men to come to
Congress in the last half century and
the late John Sherman, of Ohio. whose
record as great public servant was
largely made in the Senate. We're Mr..