Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-08-12

CARELESS OF party lines. He has had great
influence in legislative affairs, and now
that he is to be chairman of such important
committees this influence will be more
than ever felt.
Senator Hale has been a member If the
Senate since 1881. He early became a
member Of the committee on appropria-
tions and on naval affairs, and was made
chairman of the committee on the census.
Among the committees of which he is a
member at the present time are the COM
mittees on appropriations, change of the
currency, tariff revision, naval affairs,
census, Canadian relations, private land
claims, Philippines and finance.
The eminent distinction OF many sena-
torial fathers which New England is now
enjoying and likely to enjoy for many
years, whether the sceptre Of power in
the Senate stays East or goes West, bears
creditable analysis from other than the
sentimental point OF view. A ''father Of
the Senate" may be little else than an
empty honor. There have been fathers OF
the senate and fathers Of the House who
stand in the same category with the man
who has lived 100 years and done nothing
else OF note.
HARD WORKER.
Senator Hale, who now becomes "father
OF the Senate, has for years and years
been one Of the hardest workers in Con-
gress. He is very practical, matter-of-
fact man, and probably would put aside
impatiently any suggestions about his new
paternal honors. While he has seen
every man Of the ninety one other sena-
tors begin their service, he has been dill
gently applying himself to legislative
problems that pertain to fiscal affairs and
to appropriations.
The late Senator Allison surpassed him
in ability to placate Senate factions and
fix up satisfactory compromises. Senator
Hale recognized this quality in his legisla-
tive side partner of three decades. But as
wise statute builder Mr.. Hale stands
very high. In his knowledge of the ma
chinery of government and of the science
of appropriations the Maine man has been
easily the peer, perhaps the superior, of
the Iowan.
The late Senator Hoar some years ago
mentioned trio as standing alone among
appropriation experts. They were Sena-
tors Allison, Hale and Francis NJ. Cock
rell, of Missouri. Cockreli, a democrat,
was unexpectedly swept out of the Senate
by the great Missouri landslide of 1904,
and now Hale is left alone.
A STRONG TRIO.
Allison, Hale and Aldrich have shared
all the high honors of Senate leadership
for many years. When they talked
together everyone at the capitol took
notice. They were the big three of the
finance committee, of which Aldrich is
chairman, and where all tariff bills and fl
nancial measures are considered. No i'm
portant matter of Senate procedure or
policy has been mapped out and decided
upon without the o. K. mark of those
men.
Aldrich has not been a member OF the
appropriations committee, where Allison
and Hale have been the two leading mem
bers, sitting the one at the head of the
long table and the other Immediately at
his right. The vast amount OF business
passing under the eyes Of these two
Nestors is hardly to be comprehended. 1t
comprised practically all OF the billion
dollars of annual appropriations.
Although all those appropriations were
not considered in that committee, Allison
or Hale, generally Bale, has been watch
ing on the floor or elsewhere over the ap-
preparations made by other committees.
As Hale has seen the mighty total grow
ing and the receipts Of the government
dwindling, his speeches of warning have
increased. OF course other chairmen OF
committees handling appropriations have
resented this. They refer to the warnings
as s'scoldings".
HEAVIER BURDENS.
There are few younger senators who, by
industry and ability, have shown capaci-
ty to take up the work these older sena-
tors have been doing, but they lack the