The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-01-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.

assumed that Congress will address itself
with energy to such legislation as has
been cut ont for it by the leaders of The
House and Senate slightly influenced By
the message of the President. It will be,
however. remembered that Congress is
made up of human beings with various
characteristics, including vanity and the
love of pleasure, and also that many of
them are accompanied by their wives
and families and that the Washington
social season which begins with consid-
cradle violence after the Christmas holt
days and continues as long as Congress
remains in session, in spite of Lent,
Ireligion, earthquakes and panics, is a
serious hindrance to the business for
which Congresses are elected and to
which they are mistakenly supposed to
address themselves. Late dinners, recep-
tions. balls, whist and poker parties,
rivalries in gowns, jewelry, carriages and
automobiles occupy not only the atten.
ton of the wives and daughters but sap
the nervous energy of the statesmen who
bring them here. 1t is perhaps Utopian
to expect an improvement. It was thus
in the days of the Roman Senate and
probably il the days of all the prehistoric
Senates and SO will continue to be. The
man, whether a railroad President or
hod carrier, 1ooksupon his profession or
his business only as means to an end for
the promotion of his happiness and that
of his family. The railroad President
was recently heard to say that ifshe could
make the thousands of the employees of
the Office industrious and economical and
careful of the vast resources and prop
critics of the road he could increase their
wages and his dividends. It is net alone
the four hundred of the millionaire class
that are wasteful and prodigal. It is the
eighty Eve million inhabitants of the
United States. But this is depression.
Returning to Congress, it is hopeful
sign that there will certainly be in the
next Senate some real statesmen replac-
ing inferior types. 1t is now known that
Theodore Burton, member of Congress
from Cleveland. will be elected to the
Senate from Ohio. The brother of the
President elect has withdrawn from the
race, as he expresses it, in the interest of
party harmony. With such men as
Burton and Root in the Senate it is
expected that the inferior bosses like
Aldrich and Hale will be eclipsed or at
least neutralized. There are also indica
tions that the House will have its
strength renewed not by accretiotf from
without but from tonic interior effort. A.
number Of members of the lower House
are restless under the dominating or
domineering influence of certain mem
bers who have long had things their own
way, and the insurgents as they are
called are showing evidence of recalci-
fancy which may result in the overthrow
of the political shotguns who have SO
long ruled legislation.
-
The New Years reception, the last
under President Roosevelt, was one of
unusual extent and brilliancy. 1t is look
ed upon by old residents, as perhaps the
handsomest function and the largest ever
held. A bright cloudless day added to
the cheer in thousand of homes and
Ipreponderance of young people, many Of
them home from school and colleges for
the holidays, made calling particularly
enjoyable. The White House was simply
decorated. Roses, il which white pre-
dominated, filled the vases in the Blue
Room where the receiving party stood
Behind them were large number OF
specially invited guests. In the other
rooms, pale pink carnations wereAplaced
in tall vases. In the inches, in the cor
ridors, and in various large receptacles
were ferns and small palms tastefnlly
arranged The famous Marine Band
which furnishes music on such occasions
was this day divided into two sections
aud sat upon either side Of the north
entrance. The weather was exceptionally
fine and the private citizens on foot, who
waited patiently until the Diplomatic
corps, the Justices Of the Supreme Court.
the members and Senators. aud Army
and Navy officers had made their entree
and somewhat delayed departure, ex-
tended for a full quarter of mile from
1.-The White House door, The President
appeared to be in 6ne health and spirits
and had something more than mere con.
ventional greeting to say to nearly every
body whom he personally knew in the
long line of visitors. He is evidently in
high spirits in expectation of his long
outing fsf removed from Washington aud