Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-06-24
Pre-. Wilson 5 MONOPOLY Of
Visiting the Capitol
Creates More Interest Than His
Currency Reform Bill.
Tariff Legislation Progress Under
Democratic Lead Is Slow.

Washington, d. c., June 23.-tSpe,
eiaD--Currency reform is looming bis
at the south end of the Capitol. Al
last that branch of Congress has some
thing to do again. President Wilson
went there to read his special mes
sage. 1t seemed that currency legis-
lation was something specially in the
keeping of the house. This, however
is not altogether the ease. The plain
facts are that either the House or the
Senate might begin on the bin first
or the two might work along con
temporaneously. But the Senate, 50
To speak, has its hands fun for the
moment. Consequently the House
goes steamlng anead with cur
rency bill while the Senate goes
steaming ahead, or tries to go steam
ahead with tariff bill.
And the President goes to the House
to read his special currency message,
because the hall of the House is much
more convenient for joint meeting
of Senate and House. There is q
great deal more room in the hall. But
as the Senate was present the mes
sage was delivered in person as much
to the Senate as 1t was delivered to
the House.
incidentally, tongues do not wag M
duly now when the President goes to
the Capitol to deliver a message in
person to Congress. There was no
mighty to do about it this time. It was
taken as a matter of course. Every
body seemed rather to like ii that the
President was coming and that he did
come. At the beginning of the extra
session, be it remembered, when Presf-
dent Wilson proposed to read his own
message a great outcry was raised.
Senators of both political parties
sneered and rather unkind things We're
said in debate about 1t. But. of
course, everybody attended the joint
session and listened to the reading and
matters passed off SO satisfactorily
that the appearance of the President
at the Capitol is now accepted as
matter of fact.
Thus it was with his visits to hts
room at the Senate end of the Capl :
toll. 1t was something novel at first
and, whenever he came, there was a
throb of interest. 1t is thus no ION
ger. OF course frequenters of Senate
precincts take notice, whenever WORD
is sent to the sergeant at ARMS that
the President is coming. The to
ings fly to the Senate chamber ana
there is speculation as TO who VIII Dc
called TO see him. But there Is no
ereat turmoil about 1t and other events
of an afternoon at the Capitol may
easily be of more interest The Presi-
dent always comes without much
demonstration. Secret service guards
usually attend him and the newspaper
correspondents gather. because there
are items to be had from the names
If SENATORS called. Those names fur
rish clues to stories about nomina
tions.
Now the Public Knows.
Now with the special message reae
and with the public having a toierahiy
clear understanding, in an official way
as To how the President stands, the
task Of fashioning a currency bill goes
on apace. Members of the Houst
Ranking and Currency Committee are
looking very wise. They have oppor-
t,inities to talk with the President ant
Secretary McAdoo and they are max
ing the motions of being real legisia'
tors.
while washington swelters in ever,
nore and thinks with dread OF VIVA
Jnlv can do If June be so very not
the lobby hunt is suspended. That Il
an important item, for the lobby nun
has really become notable thing o
each succeeding official day at tn
Capitol The sight of overmah
North Carolina, sitting at the cente
of the table .fanked on one SIDE D.
two Democrats and flanked on ms lei
nv two Republicans. has been one ina
visiting tourists did not want to miss
Official guides that watch the eapito
all hours of the day see to IL that TN
..sight" is not omitted.
Democratic caucus was the IN
maaiate cause of the suspension an
II. will be q little time before Todd
hearings are resumed. Interest
held in the meantime, for matters ma
come to such pitch that atten'lo
was really focused. 1t mas pee
rrettv hard on the witnesses. many
whom have been tarrying in the cit
FIR DAVIS and days. When summone'
Is was the expectation they couid
heard forthwith, but ramihcatiohs
tho sugar lobby were disclosed. In
Senatorial questioners took oa'
where they had expected to reaull
only hours for cross examiha''o
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