Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-29

with the officials of the lighthouse SER
vice and, with hardly an exception,
heard those fateful words: Nothing
doing" I'VE have all we can do to get
1.-THE of what we ought to have the
economical Democratic Congress for
aids to navigation ran the story from
these lighthouse officials. I'VE can
not think for moment of making a
pork barrel out of the lighthouse ap-
propriations.''
The public document racket has
been worked to the limit. Nothing has
been overlooked that would convince
the folks back home how ardent their
new representatives are in their SER
vice. One Democratic congressman
the other day wanted Congress to au-
thor.ze the printing of 10000 copies
of Washington's farewell address for
his use. He was turned down, of
course. He thought he could send them
into his district. under a frank, and
thus get little attention from the
voters
But it has been mighty hard win
ter for those desperate patriots, who
would keep the country from going Re-
publican again. Economy has been
mighty sharp thorn in the flesh. But
now and then somebody pulls OFF, a
little stunt and that starts all the rest
to going again.
And the rush is once more to inves-
legations. The Money Trust is to be
investigated, after oceans of talk and
much struggling on the part of the
Democratic leaders. Representative
Henry of Texas, chairman of the
rules committee. is yearning to get
senatorial toga from his state and the
advocacy of the Money Trust" in
Vestigation has given him something
on which to base senatorial cam
Noign back home. The tariff agitation
has worn out and become common
| pace 10 their Western constituents
| and consequently the Western Insur-
gents are feverish for q tilt against
| Wall street. They have joined the
| Senate Democrats in clamor for an
| investigation and so the Senate Inter
state Commerce Committee. which
| happens to he dominated by Insur-
| gents md Democrats, is trying 10 beat
| the House investigation committee
| (Which is the Banking and Currency
| committee1 to it.
Efforts to rip open the war depart
! IIIcIil ftIt Htilt 1t wits
: whispered about the Capitol that Sec
| rotary of War Stimson had written a
| letter 10 the former adjutant general
of the array. Major Gen. F. c. Aims
| worth, that he had better be careful
| what he tells congressman because
| he was Just as liable to courtmartial
as an officer on the retired list. as he
| was when on the active list. Whew.
| How the Democrats OF that little COM
mittee on expenditures in the war des
| partment have been whizzing!s They
| are working out all kind of schemes
| to ascertain whether there really was
such a letter and if SO, to obtain a
| copy thereof, which they would pro-
coed to give to the public as something
| tremendously significant.
| The military affairs committee, made
| up of older members, wiser about the
! effects and the expediency of too
| much investigation, have held aloot
| from probing war department affairs,
| but that fact does not check our little
| fellows who are thirsting for notori-
| ETY. of the third class variety that will
| make some people talk at the cross
| roads.
! And so it comes that with all the
] political hurry burlN when it is next
/ 10 impossible to make much of any
| Roadway with legislation, there is to
| be Il month or two of activity IN
| probing. The small rooms. where these
/ committees held forth and which were
| designed as little more than extra
/ comfortable offices for the chairmen,
/ are being put in order to aecommo-
date as many newspaper reporters as
/ can be induced to come. The broad
| top table is pushed out into the mid
| die of the floor some extra chairs
brought in. and provisions made for
/ receiving the big witnesses. For the
! subpoenas are all powerful and the