Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-05-06
Senator Frye Wants
Be at Range|ey.
Tariff Discussion |rksome But
DeseTtion Is Impossible.
Maine Representatives Much In
Senate These Days.

Washington, D. c., May 5.-(Spec-
iaD Senator Frye thinks he would
rather go a fishing than listen to so
much traiff Oratory. He comes up to
the Senate every week. day, when
there is a session and at noon takes
his place in his seat he has occupied
fol- many years-one of the best seats
in the Senate on the front corner Of
the Republican side of the center
aisles He is averse to making any
speeches, is ready to vote right away
on every schedule in that pcstiferous
Aldrich-Payne tariff bill and, could he
have his way would have the confer
ees fix the bill right up without any
further talking so that Senators could
go home and so that the Junior Senator
from Maine could start fishing.
Last year about this time when Con-
gross was dawdling along, Senator
Frye got tired of the long drawn out
proceedings with legislation and
'hiked'' away to his favorite fishing
streams in Maine. 1t was near the end
of the session, there was~no pressing
business to keep him in Washington
and he refused to return. He would
do the same thing this year, only the
voting upon the provisions of the tar
if bill is likely to begin almost any
day and he cannot well be spared.
For that reason he is sitting it out,
growing more impatient daily with
the orators who thunder on tariff
themes The Senate will do nothing
else than tariff, it is no use for the
divers Senate Committees to hold seS-
sions All that can be attended to
at the next session and SO there is
nothing for Senator Frye to do but to
wait and, as he waits for the orators
to conclude, to think about the good
times he might have with the trout
in Maine lakes and streams.
AS Senator Frye is one of the best
parliamentarians in Congress, he finds
no little satisfaction in the work of
Vice President Sherman with the CAV
ell. The Vice President, too, is a good
parliamentarian, gained from consld-
cradle experience in the House, where
he served for about twenty years, and
he had a snappy, brisk way OF dispos-
ing of business, very like Senator
Frye's way during the seven years that
he was the Senate's presiding officer.
MI Sherman handles business more
briskly than did Vice President Fair
banks and there have been fewer par
liamentary tangles during his admin
iStration
Senator Frye misses the companion
ship Of Rev. Edward Everett Hale, the
chaplain of the Senate, who has made
Senator Frye's committee rooms his
headquarters for q number OF years.
They are the best of friends, their
friendship having grown during the
years that Dr. Hale was chaplain
while Mr.. Frye was presiding officer
and occupied the Vice Presidents
rooms DR.. Hale has now gone to Bos-
ton. where he was taken ill recently.
The Maine Representatives are Civ
ing much attention of late to the Sem
ate proceedings. AS the House is not
in session, except for a few minutes
twice a week, they go over to the Sem
ate, with many other Representatives
fer a while nearly every afternoon to
see what is doing and to listen to the
Oratory Representative SWasey, who
has been on a visit to Maine, has re-
sumed his Sittings on the red leather
settee at the rear of the Senate cham
Der and is sizing up the style of ora
tory of such shining lights in the for
UNI as Senator Dolliver, of IaWa, and
Senator Rayner, of Maryland. The
first is Republican and the second is
a Democrat, but both are of the same
fire type when in action and never
fail to hold the Senate as we'll as
'Unclc John" SWaSey and the other
Maine Representatives spell bound.
Speaker Cannon's rooms in the
Southeast corner of the Capitol are
about the only counter attraction these
DAYS to the Senate. With the House
absolutely idle and SO few members
in town that it would be impossible
to get a quorum, Members, after at
tending to their correspondence of a
morning go around to ''Uncle Joe's"
quarters to hear the latest bit of Con-
gressional gossip and to while away
little time. The Speaker ranges
around in the big rooms with most
friendly mien and, being a good con-
ycrsationalist himself, is inclined to
make things pleasant for those who
call. But about noon the hour when
the Senate meets, the throng in the
Speakers rooms gradually disperse, to
loaf around the Senate for a while and
then jog along down town or, perhaps,
to go out to see the ball game. There
is a month of that kind of program
ahead and it will not vary materially
from day to day