Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1890-01-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Special Correspondent.

From Our Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D. c.. Dec. IT, 1880.
Speaker Reed has had something very
much resembling the Irishman's monkey and
parrot time this week, although one would
naturally have supposed that having worked
SO hard to get the House committees an
nounced before the recess, lie would have
been allowed to enjoyed the quiet SO we'll
earned for him. But it was NOT so. He has
been the most sought for man in town. The
cause Of all this unexpected trouble for Mr..
Reed is rumor that has been generally &C
cepted here as a fact, to the effect that the
Republica an members Of the House committee
on Rules, If which the Speaker is Chairman,
had agreed to report to the House early in
January Rule giving the Speaker authority
to declare a quorum of the House present
whenever the requisite number Of members
are in the chamber, whether the members
vote or not. This is a very important matter,
from Mr.. Reed whether the rumor was based
on truth, but SO far no one has succeeded,
though Mr.. Keed has been very much wor-
ried and his Republican colleagues on the
commttee-Messrs. Mckinley and Cannon
have not escaped. All that Mr.. Reed would
say on the subject was that the committee
has not discussed it. That was of course
known before. But he does not say that the
Republican members of the committee have
not discussed it. The proposed change is
approved by every Republican member that
your correspondent has talked with, and they
all expressed their readiness to vote for such
Rule il given an opportunity, on the other
hand the Democrats are solidly opposed to
it, because it would take away their princ-
ral weapon.-lhe power TO break a quorum
of the House at pleasure.
Not even Christmas can stop the talk con-
corning the Federal election bill upon which
Representative Lodge, OF Massachusetts,, is
at work, at the request Of the Republican
members Of the House committee on cleo
tons. 1t is now generally conceded that
this committee will report a bill providing
| for the control of Federal elections by the
United States Government. Whether such
bill will ever become law is not so GER
tain. II it was to be voted on at this time
it would undoubtedly iail to pass the House,
as number of Republicans are opposed to
it, and the Democratic leaders have given it
out hat-fo oted that the Democrats will not
allow it 10 go through if hllibustering will
prevent it. If it should be made caucus
question after the Republicans have been re-
inforced by the admission of a number of
those now contesting seats, it may be pushed
through the II ouse, but it will only be after
one of the bitterest partisan fights ever seen
in Congress.
| For the first time in nearly twenty years
there is Christmas tree in the White House.
Last Tuesday night the President laid aside
the cares of State, together with his coat,
and proceeded to help erect and decorate
Wednesday he romped with the delighted
children, and the amount of pure unadulter-
ated fun he got out of it can only be under
stood by us grandfathers who did the same
thing for our own broods. May he live to
repeat it many many times. No man is so
learned, or great or good that he cannot be
improved by association with children.
1t is highly pleasing to Republicans to see
the leading Democrats dividing between Hill
and Cleveland and engaging in BLACKBOARD
ing each other, as they have been doing for
some time. If they will only keep it up
long enough the Republican nominee in 1892
will have a walkover.
| Mr.. Blaine smiles when anyone asks him
If he is, as certain newspapers allege, can
didate for the Republican nomination in 1899.
It's enough to make anybody smile to think
that man Of Mr.. Blaines brains and expe-
rience should even be asked such question
at this time.
The House committee on Ways and Means,
under the able Craftsmanship of Maj, Nc
Kinley. is losing no time. 1t has arranged
a schedule Of hearings on the tariff bill, and
expects to have that measure perfected and
reported to the House in February.
Senator Teller proposes ma king a hard
fight for his resolution providing for open
executive sessions of the Senate. The peo-
pie have long ago decided that they should
be open.
MIR. Wanamaker is the only member Of the
cabinet who spent Christmas outside OF
Washington.
The Grave Gets Tired Hawuing