Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-27
Busy Days as the Session
Nears End.
President Roosevelt May Make
a Trip to Maine.
Effective Work Of Senator Hale on
Important Matters.

washington, D. c., Feb. 26.-(SpcciaD.
Billion dollar sessions and Arctic
snow storms are filling the minds of
lawmakers this week, and incidentally
the leaders are planning almost in des-
peratiOn how a given amount of activi-
ty can be crowded into the waning
hours. For the 59th Congress
can be in the spotlight for but q few
more days. Its last meeting, with a
profusion of Uttered paper on the floors
and about the desks, with disordered
committee rooms bespeaking grand
scrambles to complete tasks tardily
attended to, with gay throngs in the
galleries, with tourists crowding the
corridors and looking on in open eyed
wonder, while the old timers hasten
about with the nonchalance that comes
from extended residence and observa-
ton, is very close at hand.
Society was never so gay. CroesuS
now has his winter capital here. The
givers of elaborate dinners are filling
the last week of the session, as though
there were not other weeks after Con-
gress has gone. when fashionable mon
and women can gather about the
grooming boards. The Congressional
contingent shares these festivities only
in measure. The rank and file of
Congress, so to speak, is not in Wash
ington society as it is in these days
of swollen fortunes. But numerous
senators and a few members are wei
come guests and just at present have
to tear themselves from the social
whirl. Much of the gayety will ter
inmate with Congress. however for the
departure of 80 senator's and 3S6 Rep
resentatives takes away an important
factor of the Capitals official life and
interest returns to the White House
and the executive departments.
The wealthy birds of passage from
Northern cities are not tarrying in
Washington. The magnificent hotels
here would be glad to receive them but
the weather has been too cold and the
recent snow storm too severe, so they
hike on in palatial express trains to
the far South. Congress has less at
fractions for them under such condi-
tons than the Fairgrounds of Florida
and Cuba. When the sun gets higher
in the sky and they return north thes"
visitors will tarry in the capital and
enjoy it's early springtimc.
The poorer class of tourists, those
who travel on excursion tickets. with
less palatial railroad equipment and
who stop at second rate hotels. are
numerous just now. however, and are
giving another touch of life to the Cos
mopolitan city. The high schools from
New England and from the Western
states are hurrying their graduating
classes here for q tour Of the capital
and for a glimpse at all its governing
departments before Congress gets away.
They have come to be a feature i'll re-
cent years. since young women decided
1t was preferable to spend their money
on an educational visit to Washington
rather than to use it in muslin dresses
and other commencement expenses.
Their congressman take these young
men and young women to the White
House to see the President. He Shak' s
hands and grc"ts as many as hc pos
sbly can find time to do They roam
in drovcS through the Capitol and the
departments. generally guided by sorc
friend from home who is employed
here in some capacity.
Billion dollar sessions Of Congress
make only one Of the wonders Of the
capital for these young visitors. VINO,
however. brush past motley thronT
Of others who populate Washington al
this season of the year The lobbyists
arc working rs they never worked be-
fore. Their days for reaping are now
few. The new members of Congress
too. are on the scene. cnators-elect
from many states are here to see how
things look. Representatives-elec
there are probably one hundred new
fban1-rnrl1p down %
Washington to look over the ropes.
Lawyers. business men, representatives
of commercial bodies and local poll
ticians are here by the hundreds for
the closing week. which is the busies-
week. as it kappers, Of the entire life
of the Fift>-Ninth.
Washington may not be as pleasant
climatically now as in the early spring
days but it never has been more inter-
esting for an on-lookcr than right
now No prominent men are doing
any particularly interesting stunts but
there are many interesting men among
them. And the mid-uintcr crowd in
Washington is becoming every whit as
interesting as the interesting states
men Of both political parties.
President Roosevelt may go to Maine
again before the close of his present
term. He has recently stated that he
hoped to make something OF an eX-
tended trip into New England again
within year or two. although he is
unable to say definitely when the time
will come if at all. The President has
stated more than once the satisfaction
he always had in visiting Maine. He
would like to go into the northern sec
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