Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-17
CALL FOR ACTION.
CONTINUED from Page one.)

hardness. They have much to do, find
more diversions pressing upon them
than of yore, and furthermore. this Is
presidential year Naturally it takes
the President and members of his cab
met longer to get into action when
they return from travels and from
summer and autumn residence. 1t also
takes Congress longer to get into ac-
ton. The committees have more II
do. There are thousands of bills 10
be sorted out and considered where 20
years ago there were only hundreds.
The demands upon the time of Off
Gals and Congressman are greater.
But midwinter has in reality come
and the period of preparation is at last
ended. There is earnest work in ev-
cry quarter A score of, good Repub
lican orators have fastened forth for
the various banquets and exercises
that occur in celebration of Lincolns
birthday. They will back here
anon, with the stofies VI their obser-
vations. for the delectation of the poii-
teians in ths(ofices and Congressional
cloakrooms.
A hundred bills have been enacted
at that end of the Capitol this session
but practically all have been minor
little hi'ts. generally Of no interest
outside OF particular localities. Thus
far there have been only four sessions
a week and adjournment from Thurs
days over tin Mondays There have
been no fights over the confirmation
of nominations, no fights over anything
as a matter of fact, and the winter has
been passing.
The liveliest feature Of the Senate,
all winter long, has been that trio OF
Republican senator's, who are taking
the, Taft boom by the shoulders and
rushing ii along. The trio, of course,
is Senator Crane of Massachusetts.
Senator Penrose of Pennsylvania. and
Senator Smoot Of Utah. They are de
eidedly busy. morning, afternoon and
evening. IN the morning they are at
the White House. in the afternoon they
are al the Senate, and in the evening
they are occupied setting up tricks for
the next day.
If il had net been for the political
campaign Washington might have
been an awfully duh Capital all win
ter long and Congress might. in fact,
have transacted some business, But
there is Vet plenty of time At last.
after months Of agony. the last word
has been said in those hearings over
the Lorimer senatorial contest. Word
to that effect flew through the great
government structure the other after
noon. together with the fact that it
was $50 O'clock when Senator Dilling
ham announced the hearings had been
concluded. The detagraph men has
tened to the office of the disbursing
clerk Of the Senate and drew down"
the mileage and witness fees that were
coming To them. Detective Burns,
whose startling stories rather en-
livened the proceedings for a few days
without contributing any evidence APP
parently, that was conclusive, got out
of town and everybody seemed to be
glad
Committee service in the Senate is
apt to be long and tedious. The COM
mittee on privileges and elections
(Which has been conducting this Sec
ond Lorimer investigation has been
taking its heroic dose. The Senate
Finance Committee is likewise getting
its dose. Note how long procession
of gentlemen marching before that
committee daily to protest against
that Underwood steel revision bill be-
coming a lew. The Republican ma
jority know that Chairman Underwood
of House Ways and Means and his
colleagues cut too deeply. that our
steel and ircn industries can not stand
such reductions. Consequently, the
House bill will not be reported favor
ably.
So lot of energy is being used, not