Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-24
The Holidays and Their
Effect on Congress.
Investigations OnHand and Those
To Come--The Kenyon Bill.
Friends Of Gov. Burleigh Watching
The Trend Of Events.

During the Christmas holidays, when
d political administration is about to
go out of business, and when a Presi-
dent is absent in a far country and
most congressman are enjoying their
leisure Washington is quite as free
from stirring events as Herculaneum
or Pompeii. The zest for doing things
has departed for public men. Lrgisla-
ton. of course, is at a standstill ana
Will be until Congress eonrenes again.
Every Committee member has QUIT on
the job. except for . man a0w ard
then, possessed with special entnusi-
asm FOR his work.
Ard thus it will he until January
2, after the New Years reception at
the White House has been held (the
last New Years reception IN which the
Tafts will partieipateI ana Until tile
lawmakers are back in town again.
presumably the return win be rather
tardily made. The second of January
comes ON Thursday and 4 grea1 major
ity of the senator's and representatives
who Lave gone to their homes viii
want To make the most of the week
end. Senate and House may resume
ON Thursday. Jan. ,, but it is doubtful
whether there will be a quorum 81 eith-
err branch in town on that date and al
so neither it will be possible to trans
act much important business before
Monday, Jan. 6, when the wheels
should begin to turn in record time.
But there are Investigations galore
still under way. These Investigators
have suspended during the holidays bit
Will fire up again as soon as the heli-
days are over. While II was thought
the Investigations would peter out
dig the end. Congress came toward a
close. the contrary seems to be true
and a number of Investigations are CO.
ing forward at rapid rate. ForeInt st
among these is the Money Trust
probe which attained SO much promi-
nence some days ago with the testi-
mony of ]. Pierpont Morgan. Mr..
Morgan asserted there was no such
thing as Il Money Trust, bur Attorney
Samuel Untermeyer and members of
the banking and currency committee
are not disposed to take mis- word on
that as altogether final There are
to be more witnesses, some of them
leading bankers and financiers in New
York.
Whatever else may he said the
Money Trust investigation has new
made such Roadway that i. will have
continued prominence in Washington
events for some time to come. The
advocates of the investigation haze
accomplished enough u silence much
of the opposition and can now pro-
coed with less hindrance They are
men who are thoroughly possessed
with the idea that there is mucn in
financial circles, such as New York,
Boston and Chicago, which should be
uncovered. and they will now go ahead
determined to find out whether their
ideas are justified by the facts.
Another investigation is apparently
to be launched soon after the New
Year, Notwithstanding the fact that
the House is now a little leary of any
more special Investigations. There has
been a great cutlery against the rail-
road monopoly in New England. This
arose from the extensive plans of the
Grand Trunk TO build it's line into
Boston and Providence ana the sud
den suspension of construction work.
followed by the formulation of a traffic
agreement with the New York, New
Haven & Hartford railroad While
this agreement was not July executed
and there is yet a possibility that the
Grand Trunk railroad viii build into
Providence and Boston, Congress has
been much impressed by the complaint
made here, especially by residents Of
Rhode Island, and the rules committee
of the House seems about to recon-
mend that n special COMMITTEES con-
duet comprehensive inquiry as to
railroad and steamship operations in
New England. 1t also thinks Of eX-
tending the inquiry to political phases
of transportation control in that Sec
ton. If this is finally voted it Will
make an investigation for the winter
months, which will rank up with the
investigation of the sugar trus. and
the investigation of tbs steel trust
which were begun by the Democrats of
the House eighteen months ago and
pressed to vigorous conclusions.
1t was thought when Congress met
that there would be little general leg
(Continued on PAGE Nine.)