Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-06
Journals Correspondent
Sizes Il Up Crjsp|y.
Little for Maine Delegation 70
Do al the 62nd Congress.
Republicans In Minority, Democrats
inexperienced Reciprocity Worry.

Washington. d. c., April 5.-(Spe-
ciaD--A new Congress is once more in
session and Washington Is marking
time while that Congress makes ready
for business. Thus far 1t has been a
thumb twirling affair. The House
was pretty we'll organized in advance
but the Democrats there are slow
about plunging into a maelstrom Of
legislation which they were promising
up to a short time ago. They have
outlined their program for the session
to be sure, but are now very timid
about getting down to business.
All the Maine folks are in town at
tending upon the Senate and the House
but hardly one of them Is turning
wheel. There is nothing to do TIL
the House Democrats bring out some
thing that has to do with their pro-
gram. Within a few days the two
Maine Republicans in the House
Representatives Asher C. Kinds and
Frank E. Guernsey-will have their
committee assignments. After all.
When Democrats have the legislative
responsibility, Republican committee
assignments are not of great moment
Probably Representative Guernsey will
territories, but there is no telling. He
of Columbia committee but can hardly
expect to hold membership on all three
when his party is in the minority.
There will be some interest in the
committee assignments of Representa-
tive Kinds. because he is new mem
Der. Considerable talk is heard about
Of hn
members of rules, which would be a
nice honor for a new member but
very appropriate one for him because
of his long service as House par
liamentarian. Both the Maine Re
publicans in the House are taking up
d lot of departmental work and cor
respondence, realizing that there will
be very little for them to do while the
House Democrats perform. Over at
the other end of the Capitol Senator
Frye, as the lone Republican Senator
from Maine, is attending the daily ses-
sions and, while his health Is none too
good, sticks gamely to his Congression-
al duties. He declined an election as
chairman of the Senate Republican
caucus, which he could have had as the
successor to Senator Hale. but expects
ing the extra session, whenever vice.
president Sherman is absent.
The Democratic trio of one new
senator and two new representatives
have occupied themselves in learning
the way around. They take the plac-
es, of course, of experienced Republi-
can representatives, and start under
the disadvantages of not being ac-
quainted either with men or with
methods at the Capitol. 1t Is not
llkeiy that any of them will have much
to do at the extra session, apart from
voting with the party and attending
t" their correspondence and depart
mental work But 1t will be long
time before they learn the ropes
around the departments.
The Canadian reciprocity bill is CIV
ing these Maine Democrats some
worry and they are not all decided
whether they will swallow 1t as a part
of the Democratic program. The
Maine Republicans at the last session
of Congress voted against the Mccall
reciprocity bill and it may be that
some of the Maine Democrats will fol-
lew their example. Representative
Gould, of the Third District, is under
stood to be in most distress over this
matter of tariff legislation. The
farmers up through Somerset and
kennebec counties do not like the
reciprocity plan little bit and some
Of the New England representatives in
Congress bring word to Washington
that the Democratic farmers of that
sections are going to hold the Demo-
cratic party responsible for the enact
ment of the reciprocity agreement.
our Republican farmers in New
Hampshire blame President Taft for
negotiating the agreement with Can
aoa' said Representative Currier Of
fContinued on Page five).