Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-03
Official Caity Promises to
Reign in January.
But Official Energy viii Not
Be Allowed to Abate.
Intense Interest in Coming BALM.
ger.Pinchot Investigation.

Washington, Jan. 2.-(SpeciaD.- Official
| Saiety promises to reign in January, but
| it is predicted that social events will not
| prevent official energy from doing big
stunts at many desks There are pleas
ant gatherings scheduled at the White
| House, which will be strung along
| through the month of January and up to
Lenten days. The diplomatic reception,
the first of several large receptions, is
January 4, which is of Tuesday, the
| same day that Congress reconvenes. In
| years gone by these gatherings have been
of Thursday, but Mrs. Taft, a gracious
| hostess, has ideas of her own about the
| large White House receptions. Fewer peo-
, pie are to be invited than heretofore. so
that there will be less crowding. In years
gone by many official people have been
invited to the entire series of the winter
now they are to be invited to but one.
So busy is everybody to be that the
cards of invitation to notable functions
are going out early before ones even
iEgs are all engaged. The Vice President
and Mrs. Sherman are to give reception
| in honor of the Senate on Jan. &C. That
will be one of the big evenings of the
| White House receptions in poular inter-
est, because it is the first reception of
| that character the Shermans have given.
| The Fairbanks established, as a perma-
| nent annual event, a reception in honor
Of the Senate, and as the Shermans have
taken it up promptly, such an affair prom
| ises to become regular thing of Wash
| ington winter.
These be among the lighter things. This
week the President is rounding out a lot
| of work which promises to ne much re-
garded as the months roll by. He is writ
ing those much talked of special mes
sages, one on conservation and another on
interstate commerce amendments. They
will give the cue to the Senate and House
The committees thereof can then attempt
to evolve something in the way of general
legislation which the President asks. Men
are already busy expressing their diverg-
ent views about what will happen. There
are some who say that there will be a lot
OF talk and lot of running to and fro
and lot of putting of heads together
and then one of these fine spring days
Congress will adjourn without much of
anything being done. Uncle Stephen"
Elkins, chairman of the Senate commit
tee on interstate commerce, is one who
takes that view of tho prospects.
On the other hand there are many who
seriously believe that something is to be
done and that the volume of earnest work
which is to characterize the session of
Congress during January will be pro-
ductive of legislation. Speaker Cannon is
one of those who think there will be re-
suits. If there is any one man under the
dome of the Capitol whose Judgment
ought to hold good regarding legislation
it is your "Uncle Joseph"
Congress is really quite as much inter-
ested in those forthcoming special mes
sages as it was in the regular annual
message which the President despatched
in early December. The material for them
has been most carefully and prayerfully
gathered, for the President wanted to
know what was what before he finally
committed himself to paper 1t is inter-
esting to note that he told his commits
sion on amendments to the interstate
commerce law, including Attorney Cen
eral Wickersham, Secretary of Commerce
and Labor Nagel, Representative Town
send of Michigan and Interstate Com
merce Commissioners Knapp and Prouty,
that he wished them to make careful
study of the situation and to reach their
conclusions entirely without regard to
anything he may have said or urged dur
ing his Western trip. Now that he has
determined what he wants and has con-
Quoted thorough and exhaustive hearings.
the President is ready to try to persuade
Congress to execute his legislative pro-
gram.
A greater event possibly than any yet
mentioned may be that Ballinger-Pinchot
, congressional investigation. 1t is sur
charged with politics. well as with in
quiries about the administration of the
department of the interior and of the for
est service. Many believe the investiga-
ton will overshadow legislation in Senate
and House and that it will be the one big
thing of great popular interest during the
Washington winter.
1t was in the very closing days before
the recess that the investigation was de-
termined upon, both at the White House
and at the Capitol, and just as soon as
Congress comes together both sides-the