Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-08-24
Department Folk Deserving
The National Capital.
Many Of Them viii Come 10
Maine for a'FeW Weeks Rest.
The Campaign Of Investigation Has
Little TO Show for Its Probing.


clerks and other employees who make
their homes in the northeastermost
corner of the Union, are full of glad
ness. Probably Maine never looked
any better to them than it has looked
during the last few weeks, as the
weather jumped the Washington mer-
curry up to a high notch and the hui
mildly sufficed to make any mortal
sigh for a cooler cline. As the CAV
els fall, these Maine folks speed away
TO their own bailiwicks, heartily glad
that they can have at least the fag
end of August in habitable country.
They have precious little to take
back with them by way of records OF
things accomplished.
Perhaps these Maine Democrats and
their associates in Senate and House
will return to the attack later on in
this Congress but that is matter Cf
conjecture. 1t may be that this Con-
gress which expires March 3, 1913, has
seen the last of attempted tariff legis-
lation and perhaps ii has not. All de-
ponds upon the decision Of the Demo-
cratic leaders of the House when they
return TO Washington next December.
There will be quite a movement of
Washington people, including some
Congressman, to Maine. The State is
q fayorite vacation ground for many
Washington folks and although the
season is waning, as Washington looks
upon it. there are several enjoyable
weeks ahead. As soon as the Presi
dent departed for Beverly, department
tai folks began to desert the city, many
of them for the cool of the Maine
shore.
In spite of the torrid summer, all the
new men of the Maine delegation are
satisfied that they will learn speedily
to hold Washington in high regard
The glamor of the official world Is
pleasing to new corners. after they get
acquainted and find themselves" All
are curious as they return to the State
to know who will be the new senator
There is now no occasion Tor haste on
the part of Gov. Plaisted in naming the
toga- wearer but presumably he will
not delay over long. The new man, uf
course, will have little or no oppor-
tunity for service till the first Monday
in December, when Congress reassem
bles.
DIR. Woodbury. Pulsifer of Lewiston,
long secretary of the Commerce Com
mittee. it is announced here, has set
tied permanently in New York City
having accepted a good position with
the Erie Railroad.
All the big executive laborers in I'm
Gle Sans vineyard can now reflect
and contemplate. They have stood the
shock of impact with Democratic
Congress for months and Democratic
Congress has departed. The time is
now come to ascertain where we are
at" in the language of former
Georgia congressman. There need be
no doubt but that the executive labor
ers will busy themselves with ascer
tanning.
It is 20 years~sinee politically hostile
investigating committees of Congress
started on rampage through the De
partments These investigating COM
mittees have had their fiji of probing
One hardly need say that such things
put the Investigated parties upon their
mettle. With all the play of politics
that there is in such activities, cabinet
officers and subordinate officials are
inevitably nervous. That does not
necessarily imply guilt or irregulari-
ties in the discharge of duties. 1t is
simply an ordeal such as good and
competent officials are glad to be
through with.
And vet one may ask whether there
has been any tremendous discovery
that will be remembered by the time
al oil ic i'm full
swing. The disclosures about the en-
forcement of the pure food law in the
department of agriculture are just
now prominently in the public mind,
but the President probably VIII
straighten out that situation shortly.
The investigation of the Steel Trust
has disclosed nothing likely to reflect
upon the present administration. Dit-
to the investigation of the Sugar Trust.
All the other House Investigations
have been of a minor character as far
as public interest is concerned. with
all the pompous publicity that the
Democratic brethren have encouraged
in that connection. little has been un-
covered that makes anything OF an liu-
preston. Practically all of the IN
lvestigating work has had results that
can be kept in mind, unless there De a
| lot of subsequent campaigning. HOW
ever, it is not doubted that the prop
ers have only begun. The government
of the United States is an enormous
institution and dozen committees OF
a hostile Democratic House can not get
over all the ground in five months or
twelve months.
The object is to tilt at every wind
mill from now on till the next session
of Congress adjourns and then rush tc
the country. The spellbinders wi,
whoop it up with the voters during the
heat of the Presidential contest. The
natural suspicious of those far away
from Washington will be played upor
to the utmost 1t is great game
Probably it is fair to say that either
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