The Washington times., 1909-04-19
Capital Tales

already mentioned for the Republican
nomination. They include Representa-
tive William S. Bennett of the Seven
teenth district, Representative Richard
Young of the Fifth district, and Repre-
sentative William NJ. Calder of the
Sixth district OF these, Representative
Bennett will undoubtedly have to be
seriously considered. 1t looks now as
If he would have the support of Repre-
sentative Herbert Parsons, chairman of
the New York Republican county COM
mittee
Bennett is a young man, being but
thirty-eight years old, but he has had
much experience. He WIS a newspaper
man at one time. has practiced Jaw ex-
tensiVely, and has seen a good deal of
politics. He has made q speciality of
immigration matters since he has been
IN congress, Is a member of the lmmi-
grafton Commission, and has invesu-
gated immigration questions abroad,
spending some time in Italy on a mis-
sion of that sort Bennets opponents
protes st he is too much of a fiedgeling
foI the job, ana that he is too much or
machine politician.
The coming campaign in New York
VIII be made by the Republicans on the
issue of better city government, and
economy as against the extravaganza or
Tammany.
Fresh carnations are distributed daily
IN the House wing of the Capitol TO
few selected distingr Iished members of
the House, including Speaker Cannon,
Representatives Dalzell, Payne Lou
denslager, and a few others. They are
handed out each morning by George
COOK, who handles the lever on the
elevator reserved for the use of men,
bers of the House. The flowers are
grown at the Botanic Garden, and
box of them are sent to Cook every
day for distribution.
II
= f the Democrats should carry the
next House Of Representatives, as
i Trey expect to do. Oscar w. I'm
derwood. of birmingham, Ala,
would be chairman Of the Committee
on Ways and Means.
That is, he would be II Champ Clark
should be chosen Speaker. and that is
hardly subject 20 uncertainty.
II the Democrats carry the House,
they will do it on the tariff issue; and
there would thus be presented the in
teresting spectacle of a Democratic
Ways and Means Committee, pledged
to the immediate making of a Demo-
cratic tariff measure, headed by a man
from Birmingham. If Birmingham
stands for anything. on either side of
the continent, it is the supremacy Of
manufacturing interests.
Mr.. Underwood In truth has confided
to some OF his friends that he might
endanger his political life by his stand
for real tariff revision, but he would
go through with 1t. Free traders in
Congress regard him as a protectionist,
and protectionists cal him a free trad
er in many cases. M. Underwood him
self, in a recent speech, declared that
he was a Democrat, A believer in tariff
for revenue, with the duties so dis
tributed that Incidentally they should
encourage American industry. This is
rather a popular Democratic attitude
nowadays.
Underwood is widely accounted the
handsomest man in Congress. He is
forty-six years old, born In Kentucky,
educated in Virginia, a Southerner and
an aristocrat in every inch Of him, and
has been eight or nine times elected 10
the House from the Birmingham dis
trict. He is looked upon as one of the
most promising pieces of Senatorial
timber in the House. he is an excellent
speaker and debater, a fine parliament
tartan, good lawyer, and despite his
local interests at Birmingham, which
make his pathway as a tariff revisionist
thorny. he has been so absolutely loyal
TO the leadership of Champ Clark that
he commands the latter's complete con-
fidence.
" HE Massachusetts, coast win har-
Dor throughout the summer the
two yachts owned by the Gov
ernment and reserved for the
use of the President and the Secretary
of the Navy. The Mayhower will be
stationed at Marblehead ready at
moments notice TO take President Taft
and his family on a cruise along the
coast A short distance away the
Dolphin will be held in readiness TO
perform a Ike service for the family
Of Secretary Meyer. who lives at Ham
nton, Mass.
The officers and men OF both yachts
are delighted at the plans for TIE sum
mer. Dull were the days when the
Mayfiower was anchored on Oyster
Bay. with a sleepy Village nesy by and
New York too far away TO permit of
two or three hour visits. Up Massa-
chusetts way cond tions will be re-
versed. The bachelor officers will be in
the swim Of society. and the married
officers can find pleasant summer
homes, where their wives will not die
of the mOnOtOny.
The Mayfiower is being renovated for
the use of the Taft family. The intro
duction OF a new bath tub in the pri-
Vate suite reserved for the President is
a source of amusement to the officers,
and is being pointed out to visitors
aboard ship. The tub was carved out
of a solid block OF marble, and is so
big that a small boy would have no
difficulty in swimming in it. 1t is the
one thing on board which is calculated
to please the President, for If there is
one thing which has caused him an
noyance on his various journeys 1t is
the small batLtubs he encounters.
=
Representative John Dalzell Of Penn
sylvania has made some good enemies
In the course of the consideration of the
tariff One Of them leaved this compli-
nent at him other day.
That man / u he observed 10 a
friend. ''is as warm-hearted as
CTutch."
Which is real hurIsn. when you think
Of It.
~ ONGRESS is veering around to
the impression that II made a
mistake when II raised the
Presidents salary from $4,000
to $4,000. and took away the $4,000 a
year travelling allowance.
The theory Of Congress was that the
President would travel just as much,
would not be subjected to the neces-
sity OF accounting for his expenditures
doing 81 and would he fairly antffIad m