Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-07-25
CAPITAL CHAT.
What Maine Men in Con-
gress Are Doing Now.
Asher Kinds Has Sweetest Job
OF All on Sugar Trust.
Hard to Keep a Quorum-.An Early
Flight of Lawmakers Expected.

Washington, d. c., July 24-(Spe-
| ciaD .-Maine folks in Congress are get
ting down 70 work anew these days,
which are the days when The work OF
winding up the program must be done.
| The two House Democrats are taking
| part IN the Democratic caucus which
passes upon the cotton revision bill
and plants upon the document the o.
X. thai requires every House Demo
erat To support it upon the final vote.
That revision is expected TO fall pref
~ heavily upon the cotton mills of
Maine and other New England states,
but the Maine Democrats are proceed
ing 10 their part of the work of revis-
ion without any qualm and helping
to lower the duties as they recently
helped TO lower the duties on wool and
WOolens,
Senator Johnson, over at the other
end Of the Capitol. is following along
with his Democratic brethren in the
divers votes that come up there He
is already establishing a reputation for
being a right good party man, vino
votes along with the leaders and does
not kick over the traces or make any
undue fuss Whatever the Democrats
decide 70 do on the wooden revision bill
soon, Senator Johnson will accede to.
likewise on the cotton bill and other
measures of national importance.
Probably it will not be long before
the entire delegation is trekking back
home and most Of them, all of them
in fact. viii be mighty glad to get
away from Washington for a While
and to have a little breathing spell be
fore they have to come back here for
another long session beginning next
December.
Representative Kinds is doing a lot
Of work on the sugar Investigation and
is enc of the few men on the special
committee of the House who is finding
out much that will be useful in dealing
With the situation later on. The Re
pnblicans Of the House are depending
upon him to check the radical propen-
sites OF the Democrats in dealing with
the big questions growing out of the
apparent Acknowledgement of the trust.
There are many New England stock
holders in the Sugar Trust. who have
innoeently Invested their money in
the property and it will be some safe
kut1u IL liitii ltbiiAAG u iiiN'f NsNsn - =
careful man. like Mr.. Kinds is serving
upon the investigating committee.
There Is one big question, looming
large with Senate and House, OF when
the general public has been taking no
account That is the question OF
quorum The oldsters are shaking THEM
heads dubionsly and wondering what
the experience viii be before long In
maintaining at Washington a working
force Of both the legislative bodies A
quorum of the Senate is 46 members
of that legislative branch. quorum
of the National House Is 1876 represen-
tatiyes. That number of each House
must be in town and in their seats or
II is Impossible to transact business
There has not been a quorum or the
House in Washington for q week or
10 DAVIS but a quorum has now re
tnrrod There is no telling how soon II
ufu ooze away, for a member goes
bara on account of important person
al bnsiness and another goes there be-
caIse If sickness in his family and SO
itr uns. True, every representative
ronst have his excuse in writing and
II rouet ne read from the. clerks desk
and onproved by the House but those
axcusas can be revoked and, If worst
conas IN worst, the House can direct
,bat absentees to return. More thah
that the Speaker can send the ser
,aant-at-arns away TO arrest members
INA hiring them TO the bar OF the
House.
M in spite of all this power, it Is
49, IN innossible to keep representa-
thapa iC work
ca. tbem To do That is the status
which will be reached before long
again. certainly as soon as the House
votes upon the cotton revision hlll'
Carfarance reports do not interest rep
rasantatives particularly and 1t is dit
dcnlt to keep them in town paying
hoard bills while eonferees are delay
ing and wrangling.
The big problem however, is likely
to be with the Senate. over al that
end of the Capitol, no senator Wouia
deien to ask permission to absent MN
self from the city. When ne gets
ready to so he goes and, il he chooses.
he saws nothing about it to anybody.
True the Senate can tell the sergeant
alarms to go out and bring absent
III.
is much more easy going. And now
that the Canadian reciprocity Dill Is
enacted there is much doubt whether
senators viii stay in town for The
other voting The attendance certain
ly will be lean
Quite a Congressional migration to
Europe can be expected with the Ad-
1ournment of Congress. There IS stu
plenty of time for giving a month or
two for a Journey abroad. That is the
lavorite diversion of summer fer ne
rich senators of whom there are a
goodly number. They have already
been looking up the chances for get
tihg desirable quarters for passage
ana making anxious inquiries of
Speaker Champ Clark and Chairman
n ilEKu -