The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-05
The Speaker Makes an Elaborate
Apology for the Work Of
Congress.
He Specifies About Three Bills
That Have Been Passed In
Nine Months.
His Own Despotio Acts set On High %
Precelts for Future Congresses
to Approve.

PORTLAND, Me-, Sept. 4.-Speaker Reed
arrived here this afternoon. He received
ovations at several points along the road
where the train stopped to-day. Tonight
he was welcomed at the city hall by crowd
of three thousand people. and made an
address. the substance of which follows:
Speaker Reeds address was devoted to a
review Of the work of the present house OF
representatives. He spoke of the threats
Of the minority before the assembling Of
congress and the declarations that they
were to rule in utter disregard OF the will
of the people, and of all the flibustering
tactics they we're prepared to employ. The
house of representatives, he said, is not
body quick to do business under any set Of
rules. Its large numbers, and the diverse
interests they represent, will always make it
slow and cumbersome, but the system
which enabled one member to hold the
whole house at bay until the going down Of
the sun and then to hold it until physical
exhaustion set IL free, and one-fifth to hold
it forever, ~as evidently system which
rendered elections useless and called halt
to civilization itself. II there be
in popular government it
means that when the people have elected
one party to take control Of the house
or senate, that party shall have both power
and responsibility. It was with far other
ideas of public duty that the minority met
us at the opening Of the session. Not only
were no measures to pass which did not
have their approval, but no rules even Of
procedure we're to be permitted except those
which seemed suitable to the beaten party.
So we began without ruies. After two
month. tha orroa;t;or fornd th.t 49,.
Cne pasAla'neAeaFy law Wnicn nao Deen
built up by the American people in conso
nance with their institutions, public busi-
nesa was going IN every dav vithont tha;r
.o.,...4 % 49, ' ''.V4-
0onsen.' "nu eney DeRan 70 oiamor ior the
very rules they had denounced; ! need not
:! nasoEiDe 20 you tne scenes OF disorder pre-
ilminary TO the establishment OF the sound
business principles OF the house. It is
enough 20 say tnat good Work was done
ana the house has taken large stride to-
wards business and the performance Of
duty. Any time these last eight
montns !! nave Deen subject to much
indiscriminate praise and much indiscrim-
lnato blame. One 10 just as much desired
as the other: Great events do not turn on
one man. Inc mouse q representatives was
reauy ana ripe for the change. and the
people $1,000 ready to approve. What all
the world wanted was easy to DO: am not
greatly proud to be speaker, but am proud
with an my heart to be one OF that maRnif-
cens maJorlty OF me mouse or Representa-
lives OF the tltty-nrst congress, which, for
nlne long months. mas never Tor one mo-
menu iaiteteo IN its duty. We have
acnleved all the republican party promised
ana more; We promised the people that
sne taIln snould nave falr ana exhaustive
:, IIeaGment; tnet tue prlncip!e OF protectlon
nave fuil RECOGNITION. and we have
Kept I ke that promise. By the administrative
Dill wise ana discriminating effort has been
made to secure to our manufacturers and
the complete benefit of the rates
y duty imposed by the law. Two years ago
me democrats IN the house admitted that
owing TO the change in the methods OF
the whole woolen industry
was totterlng to its fall unless woolens and
xorsteds were put upon an equality. New
'rtheless, Tor the purpose Of adding to the
votes Of the Mills bill. which could never
PISS, Pass, they sacrificed the woolen industry.
without delay and without waiting to