Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-23

johnson and McGillicuddy Are Embarrassed by
Committee Duties in Desire to Get Home to
Fix up Fences Not Attend Democratic
National Convention - Hopes of Average
Democratic Congressman Are at Very Low
Ebb

Washington. D. c., March 22-(special).
Maine congressman are skipping away
on divers errands these days. Repre-
sentatives Peters and Guernsey will be
away for few days to attend on nomi-
nation proceedings in Maine and Senator
Johnson and Representative McGillicuddy
on similar Democratic errands. Senator
Johnson has just returned from a trip to
Indiana. whittier he went as a member
of the funeral party for the late Sena-
tor Shively. With a whole lot of impor-
tant business popping these days In SEN
ate and House these calls out Of Wash
ington are somewhat embarrassing to the
Maine legislators, but they are coming
back as rapidly as they can and plan
ming. for the most part, to be on hand
when the important votes are taken.
Vote on Army Bill
For example, there is the army bill
vote IN the House, wherein the Maine
representatives wish to be recorded. Their
presence or absence will make no differ
ence in the result, for it was certain
from the very first that this army in
crease would pass by very great ma
jorty. But these bills Of large interest
to the country command the special at
tention of the congressman, who like &c
he present as far as possible when the
roll calls are had and the proposed
amendments and likewise the final pas
sage of the bill are decided. There has
been quite a rush to make speeches or
the army bill, but the Maine representa-
tives have not urged the leaders for
time. 1t is well understood in Maine that
all the senators and representatives are
in substantial agreement on this non
partisan question, not only want a larger
measure of preparedness but want 1t as
soon as it can be had expeditiously.
johnson Not Vet Chairman
Senator Johnson has not yet been for
mally designated as chairman of the pen
sons committee but it is assumed thai
the Democratic caucus will meet shortly
and make the necessary arrangements
He has been doing the work Of the chair
man all winter. during the illness of Sen
ator Shively. AS a matter of fact there
is no one else among the Democrats O.
the committee to whom it could well bt
assigned. Senator Bryan of Florida sit!
higher up at the pensions committee ia
bic than Senator Johnson but he is no
particularly in sympathy with the pension
system and would find the work yer.
irksome Consequently it fell to the Main
senator. A great deal of pension legis
lation has already been disposed of il
| the Senate this session and much NOR
! remains to he attended to. Nearly al
of it is in the form of private bills. in
creasing the pensions of veterans and o
their dependents.
Maine Campaign
| The Maine campaign is sure to col
Tide seriously with the session of Con
! uress as far as the Maine senators an
| representatives are concerned. III
| Maine Democrats have particular rea
| son to feel uneasy on that score 10
soon they will want to be at home look
| ing after their fences. The Marcl
! landslide in Maine cities, nearly al
of which elected Republican mayors
| increases the uneasiness Of the wv
| Maine Democrats in Congress. Bot
| of them will find some embarrassment
! probably, in going back for campaign
! duty. unless it be very late in the sum
t mer because both are serving on com
| mittecs that will have to do with tn
program Of big legislative measures
! Senator Johnson is a member OF tn
naval affairs committee. which has
/ voice in revising the big navy appro
priations. ard also Of the finance com
mittoe which will revise the Hous
bill to raise additional revenues t
| meet the growing expenditures OF tn
government under the Democratic ad
! ministration. This latter bill will hard
IL reach the Senate till well into tn
| sprinc or early summer and may nan
fire there for many weeks. Republican
will naturally attack this measure Wig
orously. holding that it is made neces
! sary in large part by the current eN
travasance and also to the low tarl1
rates Of the Underwood law
As to National Convention
The Maine Democrats in Congress
| four wears ago all went to the natlona
convention of their party at Baltimore
IT was near Washington and the
could go over there in an hour and re
turn quickly if needed at Washington
II will be more difficult for them
go to St. Louis this year, even thong
MANY Democrats in Congress may Q
needed there in shaping the platforr
and framing up defense to the lndic'
ment Of the administration which ma
be expected from the Republican Ma
tional convention that will meet tn
previous week in Chicago. With tn
denomination Of President Wilson
foregone conclusion and. also prof
ably, the denomination of Vice Pres
dent Marshall. the Democratic dele
gates from Maine will not be overbul
dened with duties and responsibilities
About all they will have to do is
vote as directed. Presumably much
the platform will be written in &C
vance at the White House. or in tn
treasury department. where Secretar
McAdoo the Presidents son-in-la