The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-11-22
OngTessm'n Oppose the BuiId-
 ing Of DTeadnoughts
GOSSIP FROM VIRGINIA
Governor Claude Swanson Is Said to Be Preparing to Run for Congress. Rayner Paid Heavily to Be
 Elected Senator.
By WATTERSoN sTEALEY.

By PATTERSON STEALEY.
 Washington, November 2l.-(special.)- Members of Congress arriving in Wash ington do not seem to be enthusiastic over the reported plans of the Secretary of the Nave for the two new battleships of the Dreadnought type.
 Representative Padgett of Tennessee. d member of the naval affairs committee, said tonight that 1t looked to him as if the navy were becoming "battleshlp heavy and he indicated that if 1t were the intention of the Secretary of the Navy to lend his influence for the bat tleships to the exclusion of other armament it could be expected that there will be a healthy congressional opposition.
 Congress appropriated for two battle ships last year., said MT. Padgett, but there is no reason why this should be duplicated in the next bill. Many of us acqulesced in the programme when we really thought one battleship would be sufficient. What the navy needs more than battleships is colliers and the small CT type of fighting craft"
 An interesting bit of Virginia politi cal gossip is to the effect that Gov. Claude Swanson will be member of the Sixty-second Congress. The governors term will expire early next year, when his successor, Judge Mann, takes the oath of office Before being elected to the gubernatorial chair MT. Swanson was member of the House for several terms and on the ways and means com mttee made a very credtable record, especially during the debate on the Dingley tariff act.
 Governor Swanson goes out of the executive office one of the strongest men in the state, and pending vacancy in the Senate will likely be returned to the House. # f
 Tennessee democrats arriving in Wash ington just laugh when the story about Secretary of War Dickinson becoming the next United States senator from Tennessee is repeated to them. None of them believe the Secretary has any seri- ous idea that he could be elected by. democratic legislature, at least they hope he hasn't.
 It cost Senator Rayner of Maryland over $169 40 to be reelected to the United States Senate. This Is big sum when 1t is taken into consideration that he had no opposition. It is due to the Maryland primary law. In framing 1t no provision was made for the idea that there would be but one candidate and 1t was also added that in case a candidate should not pay his name should be stricken from the list. There were nearly 800 precincts in which the cleo ton took place and in every precinct there had to- be polling place. poll books. two judges and clerk. The actual expenses of the primary came to nearly $14,000, and Senator Rayner gave 5000 to the campaign fund. However, the Senator will hold his seat in the Senate until March 4, 1917. In the six years for which he is elected the Senator will draw from the government s46,000 salary.
 Consul Norton at Chemnitz is alarmed over the probable passing away of the "old family doctor in Germany. It grows out of the new compulsory insur- ance law against old age sickness and accident The German workman con tributes so much of his wages to in sure himself against the anxiety or suf- fering which are concomitants of the toiler's lot. Naturally physicians are engaged by the officials of insurance or ganizations, the workman not being left free to designate his own doctor who has attended him for years.
 Various indications, according to the agricultural department point to a de- structive outbreak of the chinch bug in the near future. It's destructive work in sucking the juice out of growing wheat and corn caused great losses In not irregular 12-year period from 1909 to 1Ss7 The loss in the past 60 years are in excess of $35O.0oo.oOO. Some eff fective methods are described by the de- partment to eradicate the pest in case it makes its appearance next year
 The next session of Congress is ex- pected to legislate out of office num- Der of members of the present Isthmian canal commission The commission, it is believed at the war department, is too large and could readily be reduced to three members without impairing its ef flciency.
 Hurt in Auto Smash.