The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-08-08
Washington Whisperines.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 5, 1912.
The river and harbor appropriation bill
which was signed by President Taft on
Thursday carries in round numbers $685.
5000, the Senate having added to the
bill as it passed the House So, O54, 900 and
struck out $233, 1000, making a net in
crease of 81, 200. While this amount
is large the general consensus of opinion
is that much Of the increased appropria-
ton was well advised, especially that por
ton dealing with the Mississippi River
for levee work, an imperative demand
having been made upon Congress by the
thousands affected by the floods of last
spring, which not only destroyed millions
of property but lives as well.
The signature of the President to the
River and Harbor bill makes more GER
tain the policy of an annual waterway
bill, which has been one OF the cardinal
principles of the National Rivers and
Harbors Congress since its organization
ten or more years ago.
An absorbing question to those who
seek out curious possibilities in politics
and elecllon results is what would happen
in the event no candidate for President
should receive majority vote in the
electoral college, and the election should,
under the Constitution, be imposed upon
the House of Representatives, in which
the States in such emergencies vote sew
orally as units. The two great political
parties being a tie in the unit control of
the States, an election, with the Repre-
sentatives adhering to party lines, would
be impossible, unless by reason of death
or resignation there should result such a
change of the unit complexion as to per-
nit an election. Of course, it is an ex-
tremely remote probability, but still the
very existence of the possibility exposes
a defect in our grand scheme of Republi-
can government.
The uppermost question in the minds
of Senators and Representatives just now
is, when can we get away? That
very fact indicates eagerness to find
way to get away. The House leaders
claim they have about cleared up all the
essential work they intend to do this
session, or that may not be concluded by
the first week in August, and are waiting
upon the Senate. In that body haste has
been made slowly despite the squirting
by the leaders. Views on important
pending measures have developed so
much divergence that it is quite likely
that most of the big bills other than the
supply measures will go over until the
next regular session. That in itself
should promote an early adjournment in
accord with the House program. So, it
looks as though adjournment day should
come somewhere between the 10th and
Goth of August.
The remarkable changes that visited
the domain of national politics within
the past year is accountable for the I'M
wonted anxiety of the congressman to
get back to their constituencies, with
view to learning how they stand with
each other. 1t is to be great election
year, unprecedented in its possibilities
since the party break-ups of 1860 More
Senators and more Representatives than
ever before are to be elected, 80 of the
former and ABS of the latter, with an cleo
toral college Of 531 to be chosen, The in
dications are that there will be a greater
change than ever in the personnel both
of Senators and Representatives. The
number of tickets in the field backed by
earnest supporters will bring out larger
vote than ever-probably considerably
over Is, 10000 The largest vote in any
presidential election was in 1908, when
Ia, 419, 1913 ballots were cast, but that
was perhaps less percentage of the
aggregate of qualified voters than at any
previous election.