The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-09
NO LEADER NAMED YET.
MILLS TAKES a BACK SEAT AND
HAS NOTHING TO SAY.

Blount, McMillin and Springer Each
Make Motions Usually Made By the
Leader-A Possibility That Mills VIII
Soon Become a senator-The Ways
and Means Chairmansh.p.
WASHINGTON, Dec. s.-The House
elected Mr.. Crisp speaker to-day, but it
did not select a leader. Temporarily, at
least, the leadership appears to be sin COM
mission" Mr.. Blount made to-day one Of
the motions usually made by the leader of
the House. Mr.. McMIllin made another,
and Mr.. Springer finally made a third, the
motion to adjourn. Mr.. Springer, after
having gotten a rear seat in the lottery.
was given one Of the most central seats on
the democratic side, through the courtesy of
Col. Fellows, and took occasion, in his
Enthusiastically cool and cheer
ful way, to direct affairs more
or less. The galleries, and even some
Of the members, especially on the republi-
can side, thought that perhaps Mr.. Springer
was to be the leader, that Speaker Crisp de-
string to put northern man at the head Of
the ways and means committee and feeling
very friendly to Mr.. Springer for his oppor-
tune and dramatic vote, had determined to
make Mr.. Springer chairman Of the ways
and means committee. Mr.. Springer him.
self was not entirely free from responsibility
for this view. but Speaker Crisp is authority
for the statement that there Is no warrant
for it. He said TO the News correspondent
this evening that he had had no time yet to
think OF the committees.
UP LATE.
It was after 3 O'clock before the last en-
thusiastic Georgian left his room and he
could got to sleep last night and be was
awakened early this morning, taking pos
session of bis comfortable office behind the
House before II o'clock, The fact was, he
said, that he felt more like taking a nap
than taking the gavel, although nobody
else thought him sleepy. AS to his COM
mittees. except that he must speedily ap-
point that on mileage, he knew nothing as
yet. The fact is that Mr.. Mills took back
seat literally and fguratively in
the House to-day. He acted
apparently as though his party had voted
want of confidence in his leadership and in
his policy and as though he proposed to
abide by its decision. He was smiling, IL
not happy. He voted heartily and cheer
fully for Speaker Crisp. He escorted him
to the chair. lie chatted and shook hands
and was as agreeable as ever, but he seemed
TO be rather spectator than an actor. He
did not make the leaders motions because
he did not feel himself to be the leader, and
for the same reason declined service ON
committee to which he was appointed as
leader.
MILLS SIMPLY SILENT.
Mr.. Mills cannot pretend that he did not
think he was the leader any longer and he
would not play that he was. He was not
sore, sour or sulky, but simply silent. This
is embarrassing to Speaker Crisp, who will
probably hardly know whether Mr.. Mills
will accept the craftsmanship of the ways
and means committee or not if it should be
rendered him. 1t will probably be rendered
and declined. Mr.. Mills friends in
Texas want him to go right to the Senate.
They telegraphed here to-day that pressure
would at once be brought to bear upon Gov.
HogG to make him call together the legisla-
ture for the purpose Of electing Mr.. Mills to
the Senate. within three months" said
one Of his friends to-day, "Mr. Mills will be
in the Senate. The people of Texas want
him there, and they will have him there
whether Gov. Hogg, who wants to succeed
Senator Chiffon, wants him there or not. "
Mr.. Mills, himself, will say nothing for pub
lication about it, but 1t is well understood
that his ambition was toward the senator
ship rather than the speakership.