Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-11
Names New Men Are
Taking Hold Well.
Congressman Swasey and
Guernsey Are Getting Busy.
Both on Committees That Hold
Many Meetings.

Washington, Feb. 1O.-(Specian -.
Names Two new members of the
House have been warming to their
tasks in recent days. They had boen
sitting around ever since the assemhr.
ing OF Congress and trying to keep
out of the way Of their elders. as new
members OF the House must do, of
course, ana wondering whether they
must remain as winter resort visitors
all during the drcary days of the short
session of Congress and again through
the extra session till the hot summer
days come and they would be released
to return to the invigorating climate
of the old Pine Tree State. As n
matter OF fact many an Oldster who
has been here numerous terms has
been going through the same expert
ence for the leaders in Congress lead
and they do not call upon their
colleagues to take off coats and do
much work, except when the clerk
stands up on the platform in front of
the marble rostrum and begins to call
the roll, Then, all hands must be
ready to vote or to come into collision
with the party whip.
Representative Swasey, of the
Second District. found surcease from
his quiet days very recently. The
Committee en- Merchant Marine and
Fisheries began to get busy" Uncle
Billy Greene, the auctiOneer of Fail
River, Mass, who sits at the head of
that committee table, began to issue
calls for committee meetings about
every evening, which always means
that members thereof should be at the
Capitol by 10 o'clock the next fore
noon The Republic had gone down in
many fathoms of water after a most
thrilling scene in which the world had
been stirred by the exhibitions Of
wireless telegraphy. Uncle Billy
was tremendously interested in the
efforts to require ships at sea. voyag-
ing any great distances, to be equipped
with wireless apparatus. Congressman
had been introducing bills to that
effect, and Merchant Marine and
Fisheries had something of Importance
to do in advising the House whether
any of these bills or none of them
should be enacted into law.
So Representative SWasey had to
hasten Capitalward little earlier in
the morning He had less time for
Waning contemplate up anu uoN II
the corridors that cncrcle the hall of
the House and thus. prompting many
a stranger to inquire whether that
man has something on his mind He
welcomed the change, for Maine men
generally like to work, when in WASH
ington. if there is any work to do.
Maine has long had strong repre-
sentation at the table of the Mer-
chant Marine Committee and Repre-
sentative SwaSey, although q new
member there and not expected to 30
too forceful in expressing his views.
took hold well and impressed himself
upon the minds of his colleagues
around the long table. He knows
something of the sea farng life and
something about the requirements of
the shipping interests of the Atlantic
Coast Speakers have generally put
upon that committee II number OF
members from the central west whose
districts have no water cXpanSc larger
than a duck pond. These western
members are naturally enthusiastic
for shipping legislation that seems to
appeal to their prairie constituents.
Naturally these wcstcrners have little
practical knowledge of shipping pro-
blcmS 1t becomes cncumbent there
fore to hold these w"stcrncrS down
sometimes and the members from the
seahoard districts Frequently find
themselves confronted with such Il
task Mr. Swascy tackled promptly
his share of the task of holding the
wrSterners down, especially when 1t
came to imposing severe penalties
upon the masters of the smaller class
~ ships that put to sea without the