Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-02-09
|App0riionInent Outlook is
Still in The Haze,
Satisfaction IN Party Caucus fiz.
z|e--GueInsey Applaudsd.
Champ Clark with the Maine Mem.
bsrs In Apporiionment Fight.

3fessionai apportionInent which has
been strung along through the entire
session seems about To come to head.
Al shneS il las locked we'll for the
iihc Ire" State and at other times it
mas not. NC one can say positively to-
day that Maine viii obtain the desire d
four members of Congress for the next
decade.
The Maine Republicans in the House,
have had to stand the ordeal OF II
party caucus on the matter. It is de-
cidediy To their satisfaction ,hat the
caucus has proved something of Il fiz-
zl". fhcr PROTESTED against niabia..
such Il caucus binding. Representa-.
tive Guernsey, of tie Fourth District,
insisted i'll vigorous speech that it
certainly Was not fair to try to hold 1,
man To go into the House and vote to
reduce the representation from his
own state. That sentiment was much
appla uaed The attendance was lean
and was not regarded as at all rep
resentativc of the party strength or
sentiment in the present House.
1t IS apparent that only a small con-
tingcnt of the Republican members
will regard the ver0ict of the caucus
to keep the membership 1T its present
strength Of sol as binding. They be-
lieve it was not tair play and have
been saying So right out in the open.
Tie Crumpacker hill. providing for q
membership of 1873. which would give
Maine four. probably will be brought
lip this week. Chairman Crumpao kcr
cXpects it will I've on Thursday.
Tho tug of-war viii close on tn"
figure 1913. Gov. Eurleigh and thu
Maine men have beer as busy as could
be ever since the caucus trying to get
enough Republicans together to make
a majority with the Democrats. most
of whom are for the lalger House.
The Republican leaders and very many
of the older members of both parties
are stoutly against that kind of a
proposition and it is something OF a
question how much strength they can
muster. it may remain uncertain
right up to the hour of voting.
The New York Republicans have aP-
parently been defeated in their efforts
to prevent the passage 81 an &ppor-
tioninent bill this winter And Yet
there are suspicious Of deep political
plans back OF all that has been gong
or in the open. Possibly the fight VIII
be carried to the Senate, although that
would be unusual The Maine men are
mol unaware of that prospect clthough
mere concerned just al present about
tn. situation in the House.
Champ Clark is doing everything in
his power in favor of the Crumpacker
bill fixing the membership at d33,
u col. .n fT u
including Missouri and Maine.
Senator Hale has been giving II
straight" to his colleagues in the upper
legislative branch on numerous occ2-
sions of late. Matters have come To
such pass there, with great cQnSeS-
ticn of legislation. that some one mas
to speak out. The other day he pald
q little tribute to his own state. IN
connection with the debate over the
contest against Senator Lorimer. OF
Illinois. Senator Root, of New 1crk.
had made very impressive argument
against I.oriUcr a.d discussed cohul-
tons in the legislature al Springfield
which Senator Hale arose to say were
to him most profoundly depressing.
Il know something about pollticai
mutations and changes OF iegisia-
trres." added Senator Hale. land it is
Il matter OF the gr attest pride to me-
soon 20 20 on: Of this Senate. to be
succeeded by an honorable gentleman
upcn the other sid: of politics. whose
character is unimpe acaed-that hrF
vr in my state. never in my lcSisia-
ture has any question ever arisen, IN
viying the charge OF eorruptlon.
1T is 3 matter OF pride to me- CON
tinued the senior Senator, TINT as l
leave this body l cin say that Tor the
State Of Maine
Mr.. Halc's assertions were heard
with interest as a comment on the
charges that have been current uur-
in. the winter Of corruption in several
legislatlr where the selection OF
United states Senators has been III
mocress, These charges for many
wears have had to do chiefly with
western legislatures, although there
we're irtim;,tions about the Massachu-
setts legislature, Which were not cred
tied.
messenger sits at the door OF the
Senate appropriation committee much
Of the time these days. which IS a
sign that Senator Hale has ms col
leagues OF the Committee hard III
work compiling AMI revising thc oie
suppiy Hills, The fact that 1t IS MS
last Session of Congress does not
cause tie Maine Senator to lag at an
| in the discharge OF his duty. he
could have gone away to more CON
| genial climates on the excuse OF nm
| naired health and lett his work ior
others to do, as certain other retiring
Senators have done. The Maine Sem
ator. however. proposes to round out
his career by keeping actively IN the
| harness till his term expires.
| The Maine men in the House are
engaging themselves much with the
Iodjs and ends of legislation ana OF
departmental work that have TO do
with the termination Of Congress
lin q little more than three weeks
There will be an adjournment sine the
For two years thereafter the Demo
icrats will have majority in the Nd
ltional House and the Democrats and
insurgents Il majority in the Senate.
/ Just half OF the entire Maine Gele-
sation in Congress retire to private
life, because of the Democrats vic
~