The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-12-25
Especial TO the Press,1

WASHINGTON, December 24.-Speaker
Crisp's departure from precedent In the
appointment of his committees on rules
and the appointments Of the other commit
tees is not the only change which is to
mark his administration. The affairs of
the majority in this House will be man.
aged somewhat differently from that which
has been the custom In recent years. Hith-
erto the policy of the majority has been In
the hands of the Speaker and few of his
intimate friends and admirers, two Of
whom at least have been his associates ON
the committee on rules. 1t has been possi-
BILE by the Speaker using the vast power
lodged in his hands to determine what mat
ters shall receive consideration and to
practically determine In advance the legis-
lation to be enacted by the Congress. By
the plan now agreed upon, the tariff policy,
silver legislation and other great matters
will be first discussed in caucus and the
wishes of a majority OF the caucus will
prevail. The votes OF a majority of the
Democratic members of Congress will de-
termine what shall be done. IG will thus
remain for the caucus to decide whether
Mr. Mills's plan of general tariff bill or
MIR. SpriDger's plan of passing separate tar
III bills shall be adopted.
Mills May Have a Chance.
In this connection 1t is intimated by some
Of Mr.. Mills's friends that early in the
session general tariff bill may be intro
duced into the House and the House will
be directed to refer it to the committee on
interstate and foreign commerce. This, of
course, would be al unusual reference but
1t could be done If the House so desired, as
any committee can be given jurisdiction of
any subject by direction of the House. 1t
is not likely that this reference will be
made but if 10 was done, 1t would give Mr..
Mills and not Mr.. Springer control of the
tariff bill. Mr.. Mills has not yet signiied
whether he will accept the craftsmanship
of the committee on commerce, although
IL Is believed he will, and his friends have
advised him to do so. While he is better
now than he has been. he is still very weak
and unable TO leave his room.
Bottling Up Springer.
The change made in having the commit
tee on rules composed of others than
the chairmen Of the committee Of ways and
means and appropriations is now
fully understood. Mr.. McMillln Is
to be the actual floor leader and Mr..
Springer Is to be the leader Of the House
only when tariff matters are up for discus
sion. In all other matters Mr.. McMillin is
to be the recognized captain Of the Demo-
cratic side. 1t Is fact which hasnow leaked
out that when MIR. Springer was offered the
ways and means chairmanship, there was
a string tied to the tender. He was frankly
told by Mr.. Crisp that the chairmanship
did not mean the recognized lead
ersbip of his party, and that he
would be expected to keep himself
very much In the background except
when the business from his committee was
under discussion. Mr.. Springer did not
like this new order of things in the least.
but he either had TO accept the conditions
or else yield to some one else. He has
promised TO bottle himself up as much as
possible, but Mr.. Springer is such an ire
pressible man that Speaker Crisp and his
friends fear that he will forget all about
his promise before the House again meets,
and that his efforts TO play at leadership
will lead to a conflict of authority between
him and Mr.. Millin, and cause good
deal of trouble.
A Pause in the Gillian Fracas.
No startling move against Chill need be
expected until the reassembling Of Con-
gress. Information comes direct from the
White House that the President will not
crowd the little South American republic
until after the new government has as
sumed office, early in the new year. Chill
will then have firmly established govern
ment, regularly elected by the people. IL
the answer of the new president is not sat-
isfactory, force will have TO be res orted to
or the entire contention abandoned. The
President, however, Is not liable to let the
matter drop if he has his way.