Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-25
The Happiest Week Of
All the Official Year.
Most Of Lawmakers al Home
For the Holidays.
Maine Senators and Congressman
Have All Been Busy.

|
the distant and inconsDicuous back
ground For while otficialdom OBJ
serves Thanksgiving and Washington's
elrthday and the Fourth of July, the
observation is not to be compared with
the jollities and happiness of the Yulc-
tide season
SO Congress agreed early to adjourn
Tor tho holiday recess on the Tuesday
preceding Christmas. Grave problems
of state are thrust aside in the depart
ments till the New Year is heralded
with the ringing of bells ana the blow
ing of horns. The tens of thousands of
clerks and subordinate employees are
working short hours all the week,
CHRISTMAS comes on Saturday
and their real celebration will begin
this noon, when the department doors
opened for a half-holiday. The same
doors will not swing inward again till
next Monday morning,
Ami all but the few unfortunates
who have heavy burdens and unavoid-
able affections, are gay and light
hearted beyond anything usually seen
in the Federal city. congressman, who
are lar away from their homes, linger
|
lished homes here for the winter. There
are many social gayeties for every one
Of the many sets. In fact, it has not
been as gay socially for years, for this
is the first winter of a new administra-
ton, which means new magnates and
dignitaries for the divers fields of ac-
| tiVity which a great federal capital af-
fords.
But politics and legislation will
| creep into the proceedings of the great
est gala week and the big run of par
| }eys between the President, members
| OF the cabinet and the Congressional
leaders continues. The President is
| improving the time to catch up with
his arrears Of work and this week and
next will occupy much of his spare
time getting those troublesome special
messages about amendments to the
Interstate Commerce Law. about con-
servation. and about three or four
other promised topics into shape for
Congressional pcrusal.
| The holiday recess, of course, means
a period Of two weeks always in Wash
ington. Christmas has 10 be celebrat-
| ed here, both before and after. Then
| New Years is q significant Washing
ton holiday Little attempt is made to
| do very much in the interim, or until
after the New Year is ushefed in. BY
that time the preliminary talking is
| finished. Congress begins to think
about getting busy" The depart
ments get busy" Everybody in active
life occupies himself or herself with
more or less serious tasks and signs
| for the surcease Of summer.
The Maine folks, who come to Wash
ington during the session of Congress,
| nave scattered for the Holidays. Sew
efal OF theT1 have gone to their homes.
| Senator Hale has gone to Boston for
a few days in the more vigorous north
| ern air. He seems to like Boston bet
ter tran Washington during the cold
! months of the year as a place for rest
| from legislative lahOrs. Senator Frye
| is tarrylne here at present but will
probably get over to New Jersey to Wis
| 1t his granddaughter before New
Years, for Congress does not recon,
vene till Tuesday, Jan. 4, and there is
nothing to occupy him here till that
time. He improved the opportunities
before the Holidays to get a number
| OF small bills out of his committee on
| commerce and thus start them on the
way through the legislative mill
| In advancing the scores of little bills
affecting commerce upon the seas.
| Senator Frye is a wonder. He had his
committee called together early and
persuaded the senators thereof to
agree to a bill 10 construct q vessel for
the customs service in the vicinity Of
| Portland, Me-, and also to agree on q
| or ba r-tr1 of 1i,rht In,
tender for the engineer of the first and
| second lighthouse districts, which In
| clu,le the entire coast of Maine and
Of New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
| Representative BurleiSh OF the Bird
| District has returned to Maine for the
| Holidays and is with his family at Au.
gusta. He cleared up his work incidcn,
to the first two weeks of the session
and visited several of the departments
to dispose Of the numerous crranda en-
trusted tc him by his constituents. He
was one of the two or three New Eng
land congressman hidden to the recent
| annual fail dinner of the Gridron Club,
which is usually regarded as a big
event of the early weeks of a session
of Congress- Phe President. most of
the members Of his cabinet and large
contingent from Official life, invariably
attend this banquet, given by news
paper correspondents. Good fun and
mcrrinlent prevail. All are on an equal
ity and the big officials. even to the
resident have to submit to the
| roasting"
The committees of which Gov. Bur
leigh is a member nave held no meet
ngs yet, but they have considerable
business ahead this winter. The cer-
sus committee keeps a lookout over the
plans for taking the census and the
public buildings and grounds commit
tee already has big grist of public
! buildings bills on its calendar. 1t IS
70 be determined after the Holidays
what the policy shall be this winter
with reference to a big public build
ing bill to cover numerous projects,
including several already brought for
ward in Maine. Gov. Enrleigh holds
the ranking Republican seat, next to
the chairman on each of those COM
ifittees.
Representative Guernsey OF the
Fourth district. has gone back TO Dow
Ter fer the holidays. While he was here