Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-03-04
FROM WASHINGTON.
Public Business Humning = Social
Life Gay-Census Bill.

Public Business Humning - Social
Life Gay Census Bill.
WASHINGTON, d. c., March 2-(special)
There is great whirring OF legislative
wheels at the national capitol these days.
Congress is in full swing. The height OF
activity has been reached, and from now
on till adjournment comes both Senate
and House will be sat it good and hard'.
The Maine senators and representatives
are carrying goodly share Of the work,
as far as it falls within their respective
fields. As the number OF measures, des-
ignated for consideration at this session,
are comparatively few, the Maine men
have had less to do than usual in the
preparatory efforts. Senator Frye has
gotten the mail subsidy bill, by which
several lines Of ships would be authorized
to carry mails at stated compensation,
out of the way. 1t was reported from the
committee, OF which he is chairman, will
probably be passed by the Senate soon and
sent on its way to the House.
Senator Hale has well-nigh disposed of
his tasks with the Aldrich currency bill.
That is very near a vote and, after having
contributed materially to the framing OF
the measure and to helping it's considera-
tion in the Senate, he has turned his
attention to navy measures, pending
before the committee of which he is chair
man. He and his colleagues on the COM
mittee want to get these out of the way as
much as possible before the big appropri-
alton bills are dumped into the Senate by
the House. They are, after fashion, pre-
liminary to the 800, 100000 navy appro-
priation bill, which his committee will
have to consider in the course OF two or
three weeks.
There is yet about two months of Con-
gress. Everybody will want to get away
early in May. 1t gets warm in Washing
ton along in May, and this year there will
be plenty Of national politics to engage
the attention of senators and members.
Campaigns begin later than was the case
some years ago, but none the less con-
gressmen like to be back in their districts
in good season.
The census bill, which the House is now
considering at intervals, when there are
no. appropriation bills to be taken up, is
in part the work OF Representative Bur-
leigh, OF the third district of Maine. 1t is
one of the early birds of legislation, be-
cause it provides for taking the census Of
1910, quite two years away. The compila-
tion OF census is large undertaking,
and this time the government must have
some 5000 more clerks and other em-
bureau.
The director, DR.. S. n. D. North, who is
Boston Yankee by long residence, wants
the authority to make preparations for the
census right away. He has been much in
conference this winter with the members
of the census committee talking over the
details of the legislation he desires. II
he gets the law at this session, the prepa-
rations for hiring these many people will
be well under way in the course of few
months. As arrangements are now, the
appointments will be made by the direc
tor. Maine, as well as all other states of
the Union, will require a special census
taking force.
The workers will constitute an army OF
interrogation marks, scattering out all
over the land. The answers will be as
sembled and compiled and speedily print
ed in big volumes. No names will be
used. Each man or woman or child will
simply be one unit Of population. The
task is undertaken every ten years, and in
many particulars is exceedingly impor-
tant.
Among recent legislative acts which
will benefit Maine man was one in favor
of an increase OF salary for Hon. Willis H.
Wing, of Manchester, who is now assist
ant enrolling clerk Of the House. A short
time ago Congressman Burleigh intro
duced resolution for his benefit, and was
able to secure favorable action thereon
within the past few days.
Mr.. Wing was formerly private secretary
to the late Congressman Milliken, and is
one OF the most efficient and popular OF
the government employees here. Mr..
Wing still retains his residence ir Man
chester, where he passes his summers with
his family at his old home. His many
friends in the third district will be pleased
to learn of his good fortune.
The federal city has very many juvenile
visitors these days-boys and girls OF the
public schools from far and wide. Wash
ington has become a great mid-winter>
Mecca for school children, who are able to
make an excursion down here to see for
themselves what the government Of the