The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-05-18

III w doltlilS lpAl
Senator Lodge went to The White
House the other day with season pass
to the National League grounds in Bos-
ton. The pass is different from the ordi-
nary complimentary ticket handed out
to Government officials. 1t has value
of its own, regardless of admission to
the grounds, for it is made of solid
silver. At the top of the pass is en-
graved an eagle, below which is the
PreSldents name and title: The names
OF the Boston clubs president and sec
rotary are on the plate, which is en-
cased in leather.
Paper Merger Interests.
Minnesota politicians about tho Capt
tol are all wrought UP over the recent
big newspaper deal in St. Paul whereby
the evening Dispatch and the morn
ing Pioneer Press are merged Charles
H. Grasty. owner of the Dispatch. has
bought up the Pioneer Press and the
two papers viii now issue under a
single management
Ordinarily. newspaper merger might
pass without notice among the states
men, but in this case a United States
Senatorship, and an important one. is
perhaps bound up with the purchase of
me f1OneeT Press. The political sharDS
from the Northwest say the new merger
means that Frank 3. Kellogg the
special counse of the Administration
against the Standard Oil Company, has
decided to get into the race for the
Senatorship from Minnesota against
Moses Edwin Clapp. It is asserted that
Kellogg will have the potent backing
of the Dispatch and the Pioneer Press.
The latter is well known to he one OF
the most influential papers politically
in the Northwest.
r. HEY have good joke in the
House on Representative Ebe-
i nezer J. Hill of Connecticut. Mr.
Hin is a member of the Ways
and Means Committee-in fact one of
its most vigilant members. When the
Philippine tafiff bill was taken up Tor
consideration last Monday a Democrat
offered an amendment Mr.. Hill was
on his feet in an instant, and speat
about fifteen minutes explaining why
the amendment sho'Hd not be adopted.
When he had concluded his remarks the
chairman put the question, and Hill
voted in favor of the amendment
against which he had spoken so earn
estly. Inciden ally. he was the only
member in the House who voted for It,
for his argument was so effective that
even the author of the amendment
voted no.
Gallery Habitues.
The Senate galleries have some strange
habitues.
Little is known Of them beyond the
fact that their faces may be seen there
day after day. listening to the debates,
drinking in the speeches. and now and
then breaking out to applaud III defiance
of the Senate rules when something TO
their Liking drops from the lips of one
of their favorite statesmen.
Even the doorkeepers do not know
them as rule eXcept by sight. 1t often
happens that perscns bearing strange
resemblance to distinguished personages
visit the galleries. Some days one can
see the Kaiser. King Edward. and
Theodore Roosevelt all reproduced in
the galleries For weeks last winter
stranger bearing a marked likeness to
Roosevelt frequented the chamber.
Another habitue about the same time
looked as much like Thomas Collier
Platt as a man could, and not be Plat
himself. Senator Rayner Of Maryland
has double. who is likewise often seen
in the galleries.
=
- ENATOR NELSON. OF Minnesota,
is the first Senator who has ven
tured to suggest the improperly
OF statesmen voting for duties
that affect industries in which they
have their fortunes invested.
He ms naged 20 be distinctly personal
I'm his observations. alluding directly to
Senator Smoot, who IS a wooden manu-
facturer; 10 Scott, who is deeply inter
ested m glass; to Guggenheim, who is
affiliated with The managers and DOM
inators of the smelling trust: TO Steph-
enson. of Wisconsin, and Smith. OF
Maryland. whose fortunes are in large
part the result of lumber operat ions.
It is reported that before the debate
is at an end another Senator of the in
surgent persuasion viii he stiI more d.
rect, personal, and unparliamentary and
That in fact he proposes to take up
somewhat seriatim and in detail the
financial interests Of statesmen in the
legislation under consideration. It has
not been possible to learn Just what
Senators have been looked up with the
purpose of such friendly attention. or
when the discussion of private fortunes
as an incident OF interest in tariff maxi
ing viii start. But it IS pretty definitely
known that some of the wealthy Sena-
tors have coming n consideration or
their affairs which will be much more
detailed than the allusion made by the
Minnesota man.
There is precedent for members OF
Congress declining to vote on matters
Such excuse has been urged at various
times and on numerous occasions by
men who did not fe, that they ought
10 vote where persCTgd interests were
involved But the present session has
developed little disposition to let such
matters interfere wiCf' a lively interest
in the making of schedules.
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