The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-05-19
Men and Affairs in Washington

4'lNlI Civ Alldll w
WASHINGTON, D. c., May Is. There
are big doings on the Congressional
boards. The factions are vieing for
supremacy and for legislative victories.
The President is daily watching the
battle surging back and forth on Cap
itol hill, The outcome spells triumph
or defeat for him as regards his imme-
diate programme The Insurgents are
making their uttermost efforts at mis-
chief and are forcing the test as to
whether they or the regular faction of
the dominant party shall have final voice
in shaping the federal laws In the
clashing of spear on shield and the strug-
Cling to discipline the recalcitrants,
Washington is having unusual Congress-
lonal developments which will make the
present session more or less memorable
The deliberations over the Presidents
railroad bill demonstrated that there
We're enough Insurgents in Senate and
House to make successful coalitions with
the Democrats This was very excep-
tional status, and exceptional methods
have been brought to bear to get the In
surgents back into line
The President has taken command of
the situation. He is bidding the Insur-
gents return, and the influence of his
great Office is being exerted to that end.
1t looks as though the party would main
tain control in the Senate, but only
through making certain concessions in
legislation. All this has injected ginger
into the proceedings of the early Wash
zngton springtime, just when business
was becoming dull and prosaic.
The insurgency all comes from beyond
the Allegheny Mountains, practically all
from beyond the Mississippi River. The
party leaders realize that the Insurgent
movement is becoming very rantanker-
Gus in that section and that it must be
faced squarely. The Presidents purpose
now is to fight it to the very death and
make it evident that the Republicans will
not allow men who fire upon the party
flag to claim the protection of that flag
and have their claim allowed
The initial battle is being fought out in
Congress and is raging with an intensity
thought impossible few weeks ago. If
the regulars score in the outcome it will
be easier FOR them in the Congressional
campaigns. The situation is in many re-
spects like that of 1896, when the Re-
publicans refused to endorse silver and
declared for the gold standard. The bat
ties for silver were fought out in Con-
gress before the final conflict came before
the country. The issue now is more COM
prehensive, for the Insurgents are insist
ing upon their own Interpretation of the
Roosevelt policies and also of what con-
stitutes a proper revision of the tariff.
The Maine men at the Capitol have
much to do with the end of the session
appropriation programme. Accordingly
they have considerable business on hand
just now. The House has under consid-
GRAFTON this week the last Of the great
appropriation bills of the session, known
as the Sundry Civil bill. 1t will be over
in the Senate in the course of a week or
two, where it will be revised and amend
ed under Senator Hale's supervision.
Soon after that measure is out of the
way in the House the Omnibus Public
Building bill, carrying total of several
millions, will be reported. Representa-
tive Burleigh has been at work helping
put the finishing touches on. His efforts
were interrupted by the death Of his son
Clarence, and the consequent journey Of
himself and Mrs. Burleigh to Maine. The
final meetings on the public building bill
are being held this week. +,
Senator Frye is keeping an eye out or
the River and Harbor appropriation BILL
now in conference. He is giving atten
ton to the Maine items thereon, although
Representative Alexander of New York
one of the House cohferees, will not al
low any of the Maine items to be lost
The Senate provision for SIS, 600 i'm
provement of the St. Croix river. will b.
retained. Senator Hale is~especiall,
watching the conference on the Pension
bfll, lest the House provision abolishini
pension agencies that at Augusta, Me.