The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-12-30
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, D. c., December Fl.
Rarely, if ever, has the work of Con-
gress been so far advanced before the
holiday recess as that of the present
Congress. One appropriation bill dis
trict of Columbia) is practically out of
the way, while another, the military bill,
is we'll advanced. 1t is due to the fact
that committees were appointed at the
extra session and were ready for work
at the converting of the regular session.
This means that an unusual amount of
work will be transacted, or an early ad-
journment In fact, both will be possible
and quite likely.
The new tariff law is exceeding all ex-
pectations in the benefits of its opera
lions. The revenues are increasing rap
idly, now running nearly equal with ex-
penditures. Employment and wages are
reaching record breaking figures, as is the
volume of production and consumption.
The holiday business is unprecedented,
and the people of the United States will
have the merriest Christmas and happiest
New Year ever known. The outlook for
1910 is excellent in every way and pros
perity seems to have come again to stay.
Carrie Nation, typical insurgent from
Kansas, has been smashing things here
again. Her principal grievance seems to
be that the insurgents at the Capitol
have become SO quiet and tame They
held meeting recently, at which 10
members were mustered together, but
no particular program was given out and
for the remainder of the present Con-
gress. Congressman Gardner did not
attend the meeting, explaining that 'it
would not be wise 10 waste our strength
in premature efforts. We do not want
the people of the country to think that
we are acting from motives of resent
ment. We were beaten at the last ses-
sion, and that is all there is to it."
The attempt of the Senate insurgents,
or progressives, as they like to call them
selves, to discredit Senator Aldrich by
assuming that his recent trip was made
at the expense of the government was
made ridiculous when it was found that
the Senator had not only paid all his own
expenses on his western trip, but on his
trip abroad as well, though there is prob
ably not an insurgent who would not
have very greedily charged the latter to
the government if he had himself made
the trip.
The real fact of the matter is that the
so-called insurgent movement has no
principle back of it. Individual ambition
is the foundation of the movement and
obstruction and destruction the methods
of obtaining publicity. Carrie Nation,
the real leader, was quite satisfied with
her fine of 500, and considered the no.
toriety she obtained cheap at that. "Rule
or ruin, make or break" are the slo-
gans, and while of course much damage
can be done before arrest is made, still
the movement cannot gain much further
Roadway.
More than 25,0OO,0 900 deposit accounts
are carried on the books of the banks of
all classes of the United States and its
insular possessions, according to state
ments contained in the annual report of
Lawrence O. Murray, comptroller of the
currency, just laid before Congress. The
aggregate deposits on April 2Sth last
were about S14, 425, 523, 165. The sum of
S., 678, 1885,, 379 represented savings de-
posted by 1884, 696 depositors.
There are certain regular Republican
members of Congress whose reelection
may be said to be in doubt, but every one
of them is at his post here in Washington
working night and day for his country,
his State and his district, although know
ing full well that advantage is being
taken of their absence from home to cir
culate false statements and stir up strife
in the party ranks. 1t would be well for
all voters to acquaint themselves fully
about the record and work of their rep
resentatives before deciding to try any
new experiments.