New-York tribune., 1891-12-16
AN EMBARRASSED SPEAKER.
LITTLE PROGRESS ON APPOINTMENTS
HOSTILE CRITICS IN HIS OWN PARrY-THE
GREED OF THE INEXPERIENCED.
~ rryxonApH TO THE TRBUNE.s


,br TELEGRAPH 10 THE TRBUSE.f
Washington. Dec, 15.-Speaker Crisp was con-
dned to his room today by a severe cold, ana was
therefore unable TO mako much headway with HIS
task Of committee making lie was able TO see
few Democratic Representatives who called NJ MS
hotel, however, and from them he learned somc
thing about their preferences. IL he Is able 10 30
TO the Capitol tomorrow he will probably announce
the appointment OF tine Committee on Rules Inc
composition OF this committee will throw no he""
however on the probable selections for chairman
ana other members Of the Committee on ways a'N
Means or the Committee Appropriations. AS 'ie
speaker is chairman Of the Committee on Rnies' nc
win doubtless choose as his colleagues men VINO
are not only personally friendly but VINO VIII oe
In fun sympathy with, and viii hearaiy anu
effectively support whatever limo OF pohcy he may
suggest. Upon the Democratic members OK ',,o oo,i
mittce especially he will have to depena ior ii'e,u,S
advice and counsel as well as for loyal anu i''''
full support - - .,,
The truth is that none Of his predecessors on uak
,ne osscc sound himself so beset and menaced by
hostile influences and feelings among members OF ms
own marty as Speaker Crfsp is. He can eApece no
friendly aid or advice from large majority OF u'o
los Democrats who supported and voted ior oo'oaei
Mills and even some Of the men who voeeo ior MN
because they lacked the courage or independence 70
70 otherwise ar strong in their sympatny ior MILLS
n his defeat which they heartily depiors, that 'hey
nc,d .,oof from the Speaker in the cold, repeant at
utude NJ hostile critics While il is true that a rev
of the Texans friends and supporters begin 10 snow
q disposit IN to accept the situation" ana MAKE 'e
best of IT, large majority of them continue 10 occupy
an attitude OF hostile observation Judge crisp was
never popular with the "big four as Messrs. hils
McMiln and the two Breckinridges were styled auf.
the incumbency of Speaker Carlisle and also IN me
last Congress Ii is recalled that the only chairman
ship which Judge Crisp held while Mr.. Carlisle was
Speaker he received by vote OF the House ns'eaa Oh
by appointment at the hands OF the Speaker.
There Is no doubt that Mr.. Carhsle's opposition to
Judge Crisp's election was more active and enersouc
than IL would have been except for the influence OF the
four men MENTIONED, who In conjunction with Coione
Morrison dominated him so absolutely and completely
during his incumbency Of the Speakership. The un-
expected defeat OF Colonel Mills was staggering pow
to the ambitions and hope Of his old associates VINO
had expected TO dominate the policy Of the majority
in this House absolutely tney did In the ALVlt
xLIXth and Lth Congresses. They still retain' now
ever great influence over large number OF the men
who supported the Sage OF Corscana and there are as
vet no indications that this influence will not he ex
erted to embarrass the Spesker; indeed. there are
strong positive Indications that it Will be used to throw
obstacles in the way he shall construct Commitee
on Ways and Means with view TO attaching the
tariff in detail rather than by general assault one
of Colonel Mis's intimate friends said TO tribune
correspondent to-day:
att is most unjust and ungenerous to assert that
Mills is ssuling' he has been confined to his room by
illness for nearly week, and is unable even 10 see
his friends 1t is true that Colonel Mills mas not
been out since Tuesday; 1t is equally true that none
of his confidential friends and supporters so far as can
be learned from themselves, has gone or expressed
a desire TO go and consult with the speaker. Mr
Mcsillin had short conference with him, but 1t is
said that even he feels that the future OF the Demo
cratic party is trembling in the balance on account OF
Judge Crisp's election. Another OF Mr. siils's In
Innate friends in reply to the inquiry OF Tribune
correspondents to-day, said:
"No have not been to see the Speaker and talk
with him about committee assignments. Why should
I do so? There Is a disagreement between us In re-
gard to the policy which should be pursued in respect
to revenue legislation When man has been kicked
by a calf, there is no sense in his turning to and
Kicking the calf 1 have no complaints to make and
shall make none in the future, whatever may happen
Another Representative who is strong friend Of Mr.
Mills said to another friend
"If place on the committee upon which have
served is offered shall try to find out what other
men are TO be members Of II before copsent to ac-
cept."
Several Democratic representatives who had hoped
to be members Of Ways and Means are said to have
intlmated that they will not serve under Chairman
Springer, and others that they will decline unless
Colonel Mills shall be appointed chairman. Probably
Speaker Crisp hears of all such inmations and yelled
threats, and they do not serve TO relieve his en-
barrassment or molfy the resentment which he must
naturally feel against Of the members OF his own
party, who have inspired circulated grave accusa
tons against him and OF his most active and In
fuental supporters. One Of his friends to-day said:
"From my knowledge Of Judge Crisp's character,
feel no hesitation in asserting that Mills will not be
chairman OF the Ways and Means Committee OF this
Congress; and moreover that the charmanshp of that
committee will not be offered TO him unless it is known
beforehand that he will decline IT," This man. 1t was
evident felt that he had the best to believe that
what he said was correct. New-York representative
who supported Judge Crisp SAID 10 IrlDune cor
respondent to-day:
"If the Mills people think they promoting the
political prospects of Grover Cleveland by assuming
and maintaining the attitude which they now occupy
toward Speaker Crisp, they will find themselves
grievously mistaken. Why, Clevelands friends seem
10 think that Judge Crisp had no right to be elected
Speaker and that his friends ought to be ashamed OF
themselves for supporting and electnG him.
The expressions quoted and many others which
may be heard among the opponents as well as among
tho friends of the Speaker all show that he begins
his administrations amid great difficulties and dis
sensions In his party, and that the prospects OF
harmony and united effort are extremely faint and
remote There is the best reason TO believe that
Judge Crisp fully realizes the gravity well as the
difficulties of the situation which confronts him.
Even II Speaker Crisp found difficulties to contend
with in his own party, his task would be the most
difficult one ever undertaken by Speaker OF the
House of Representatives. The House now consists
OF 332 members the last vacancy having been hlled
OF these only 179 in the last Congress. leaving
1853 men Of whom the Speaker personally knew a
comparatively small proportion until within the last
month--a month OF excitement and anxiety and busy
occupation. which prevented the forming Of ac-
ouaintances except of the most superficial sort.
OF the new men, twenty eight are Republicans and
nine are Farmers Alliance representatives. leaving
ZIG Democrats, or only three less than one-lnf OF
tho total Democratic membership Of the
House. Now it appears that Of these 116 new
nem0crsfg hfty-One men wholly destitute Oh
1egisafiye experience and training, even such may
he gained by service in a state legislature OF the
other twenty twenty have served only single term
have served two terms. while the others have served
.,.ao fnrnns or more Never before has there been