The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-12-19

WAsHINGTCN, Dec. 14.-The positive state
ment is made here by man very near to
Speaker Crisp that Roger Q. Mills will not
be appointed chairman of the committee on
ways and means By his own acts he has
made the appointment practically impossi-
BILE from the standpoint of Speaker Crisp.
William NJ, Springer will be named for the
position, by virtue of which he will become
leader Of the house.
1t is alleged that Mr.. Mills unfortunate
temperament made it impossible for him to
control his anger over his defeat and he has
taken no pains to conceal his discontinue.
On the contrary he has improved every
opportunity to make manifest a sullen and
uncompromising attitude toward the ad-
ministration of his successful competitor.
His friends, if not himself it is said, have
taken it for granted that Speaker Crisp
would be obliged to offer him his old posi-
ton as chairman of the ways and means
Acting upon this assumption they have even
gone so far as to insist that he and not the
speaker should name his colleagues. This
would not only give Mr.. Mills absolute con-
troll of action on the tariff, but would place
In his hands the power to direct the bust
ness Of the house. irrespective Of the speak
er's Judgment.
Recent precedent has made the chairman
Of the ways and means a member of the
committee on rules. That committee com
prises the speaker, two Democrats and two
Republicans. Without the unqualified sup
port of both Democrats the speaker is help
less Mr. Mills, therefore, would be master
Of the situation Mr. Crisp would be mere
figurehead.
Right there is the rock upon which Mr.,
Mills craft has broken. II Is not question
Of personality, but of party policy. Mr..
Mills believes one course to be right. Mr..
Crisp favors, and was elected, he believes,
to enforce another quite different. To give
TO Mr. Mills the power which he would have
as chairman Of the ways and means would
mean disregard of the judgment of the
majority which elected Mr.. Crisp.
Another Mills Bill.
The essential difference in opinion as to
policy is readily understood. Mr.. Mills in
sists that the first duty of the party is to
place itself upon record as opposed to the
Mckinley bill as a whole and In favor Of
another measure as distinct as the one
which bore his name in 1888. He would
frame another Mills bill, pass it in the house,
let it die in the senate and go before the
country on the issue thus made This plan
does not meet with Speaker Crisps approval.
Speaker Crisp's idea of the true policy is
this; Introduce and pass either one short,
compact bill, or several very brief measures
of whose meaning there can be no possible
doubt strike at the root of the question by
putting wool, salt, binding twine and few
other Of the most important articles which
are designated as raw material upon the
free list and stop there.
Then see what the northwestern Repub-
lican senators will do The chances are
more than ever that the number compelled
by the convictions Of themselves or their
constituents TO support the measure would
be sufficient to send the bill 10 the presi-
dent. He might sign or veto it, Approval
would testify to the strength Of the Demo
cratic position. A veto would lose to the
Republicans who shall say how many west
af-fl gtatpEg