The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-12-18
MILLS AT SOLITAIRE.

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doubt next to the president of the
United States in power and influence in
this government. Much depends, Of
course, upon the man, but in the speak
er's Office man Of active brain and true
qualities of leadership need never fear
that any one, the president alone ex-
cepted. will overshadow him. This is
distinctively government by congress.
Some one has said that it was a govern
ment by bureaus, but that is not true.
The executive departments not only
derive their authority from congress,
but the scope of their powers, their func-
tons, are from day to day regulated by
congress to suit its own fancies This
applies to details as well as to funda-
mentals. What will congress think,
what will congress say, what will con-
gress do? are the questions the chief
men of the departments are always ask
ing. In congress the majority body, the
more important branch. is pretty well
under the thumb of the speaker and the
men who made and sustain him. The
house is more powerful than the senate,
not only for constitutional reasons, but
because it is nearer the people, because
it is composed of the men who are the
real leaders Of public opinion in this
country.
See the power the presiding officer Of
the house has within his grasp, in the
very nod of his head.
Two members are on their feet beg
cling recognition. One, more eager than
the other, has walked down the aisle till
he is within few feet of the speakers
dais. There he lifts up his voice and
waves his arms, crying: mr. Speaker
Mr.. Speakerr' But the speaker does not
see him, is apparently oblivious of his
presence. What the speaker does see is
gentleman away OFF in the corner of
the hall. who is not making so much
noise, but who gets the recognition
which he wants, just the same. The
speakers failure to see and recognize the
somewhat frantic person directly in
front Of him may forever bury in the
great legislative tomb the bill which
that gentleman had in charge; may
affect favorably or unfavorably the
fortunes, the happiness, of many indi-
viduals or large communities. The
speakers eye is sun which falls not
upon all alike, but here blights and
there causes blossoms to sprout and
flourish. The president of the United
States may veto legislation with his pen.
The speaker of the house prevents legis-
lation by looking over, under, around,
through u man, and seeing him not.
No wonder, therefore, that large
number of prominent members of the
majority party in the next house are
ambitious to be speaker. Already there
Isl plentitude of candidates, open or
covert. The list of possibilities includes
Mills of Texas, Springer of Illinois,
Crisp and Blount of Georgia, McMillin
Of Tennessee, Breckenridge of Ken
lucky, Bynum Of Indiana, Hatch Of
Missouri, Gu 1waite of Ohio, Wilson of
West Virginia, and Lockwood of New
York.
The prophets are saying the next
speaker will be Mr.. Mills, Mr.. Crisp,
Mr.. Springer or Mr.. Wilson. The first
named is, undoubtedly, the leader Of his
party in the present house, and accord
ing to tradition succeeds to the speak
ership. 1t was Mr.. Mills who first sug-
gested Carlisle for the speakership, and
the remarkable friendship between these
two men have already noted in these
letters. When Col. Morrison, Of Illinois,
the former chairman of the committee
on ways and means, was defeated for