Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-07-12
Hot Weather Doings Of
Law Makers and Others,
WrangIes Grow Out Of Trivial
Things These Days Of Aeaf'
Jsffersonlan Idea Of Least Govern.
msnt Possible Now In Vogue.


have been paired up with Democrats
against any emergency that might arise tc
provoke a roll call but the House is sd
journing three days at stretch with little
likelihood of any business serious enough
to provoke a roll call OF any Importance
Representative Kinds will be In Washington
again soon enough to have chair at the
table of the Sugar Trust investigation, when
1t is resumed
Senator Charles +. johnson has Joined
the palm leaf fan brigade. Ii has many
recruits in the Senate of recent days, the
supply of waving leaves there being large.
over in the Senate office building. all ye
senator's are well supplied with electric run
fans that keep them cool but in the legis-
latiye chamber every man must furnish his
own cooling breeze, unless he would swell
ter. Most of the senator's who care to stay
in the Senate chamber, work the fan and
no one is more diiigent about it than tine
Maine Democratic senator. When he was
called to the presiding officers char the
other day to hold the gavel for a few min
utes, Senator johnson took that palm leaf
fan right along with him. He was willing
after little to give up the gavel, vice Pres
ident Sherman having returned from lun,
eheon, but he would hot give up the fan.
not by d joyful
The Maine Democrats here are keeping
their ears to the ground for sounds indca-
tive Of what is going to happen in that
anti-prohlbition campaign. However. like
Brer Rabbit they are saying muffin.
How the old Senate wrangles some OF
these piping hot days over things trivial
Recently the wheels were stopped for near
~ an hour, because o. that pleasant week
end sail on the Maylower President Taft
had planned out for a few senatorial
friends. 1t was made the theme of a dis
eussion about adjourning the venerable body
over Saturday. Let it be borne in mind
that. when July opens on the calendar Sat
urday becomes dies non in official Wash
ington. Yes. some folks work in the fore
noon but they don't hurt themselves at It.
When the sun is at the top of the sky
every Official door opens at Washington and
away tens of thousands of government
workers of every degree and station go
scampering
Not only does the venerable Senate resent
having to work en- Saturday, but there was
riffs some feeling of resentment among the
so odd toga wearers who had not been
hidden TO ride on the Mayfower and have
a good time with the President. The House
docs not work Saturday or, for that mat
ter. any days now and those of the 3el
members of the House, who had not flown
tbs town were seeking pleasure on the Sat
urday in question.
Saturday is TO be devoted to pleasure
by some of the most prominent and influen-
tai senators of this body observed Sena-
tor Cummins sneerngly. incidentally of
the ten senator's whom the President invited
to accompany him on the Mayfower, hardly
more than one or two could by stretch OF
the Imagination De properly described as
of the most prominen. and influential &"
Il would be very sorry to interrupt the
cruise, added the Iowan, still sneerinely. lin
order to enable them to enjoy the breezes
of the ocean instead of ths sultry atmo-
sphere of this chamber"
Senator Cummins was pleading for a
Saturday of for the Senate, although he
pleaded in vain. Even the department
clerks have Saturday afternoon as a yaca-
ton suggested that old philosopher and
North Star state viking. Senator Knute
Nelson.
IL all seems very cruel but one sbouIi
remember that a couple of months ago the
Senate was taking its Saturdays and also
its Mondays, Tuesdays. Wednesdays and
other days of the working week for its own
recreation and pleasure. OF course no,
even the powerful Senate can eat its eake
and have it too
In passing 1t Is worth while to note
while we are in the heart of the good old
summer time. that the government al
Washington is running with tremendous
smoothness The actual work of keeping the
old ship of state upon an even keel goes
on jauntily and easily. AT times the wind
that whistles through the rigging, seems
quiekenng to the pace of stiff gale and
the water roughens as though there we're to
be heavy seas.
All the heaving and the hullabaloo comes
from two quarters. One is Congressional
The eyes of the country are 'sot" that way
Congressional activity is of the grandstand
variety and the people were always partial
to spectacular things. And then. those
presidential candidates, They always
manage to kick. up lot of fuss months
ing more performances than the audience,
really need, because from all appearance:
tight times are ahead for candidates
little good work, well planned and executed
now, may count for much eight. nine, ter
months from now, may, in short, NEAR
victory,
But Congress and presidential candidates
are apart from the immediate work of run
ming the government. With all the irregu
iarities and extravagances of the years, re
Gently agone. much has been done to sys
tematize and put upon a business basis tn
conduct of federal affairs. Economies hav
peen introduced cooperation has becom
quite general. There is great opportunit
Tor further improvement. to be sure, bu
| methods have been standardized and Their
are less fuss and rumpus in keeping tn
| machinery going
! THOMAS Jeffersons idea of the least gov