New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-11
PRICE THREE CENTS.
SPEAKER CRISP'S BIG JOB.
STRUGGLING WITH TILE HOUSE COMMIT.
ICES
THE STATUS OF COL. MILLs-MR .PRIxGER's
RUMORED CHANCBS-THE RULES.
fBY TELEGRAPH 70 THE TRIBuSEI


tBY TELEGRAPH 70 THE TRIBuSEI
Washington, Dec. 10-Speaker Crisps time
was fully occupied to-day by Democratic Repts-
sentatives who wanted to discuss with him the
general policy of legislation for the session, and
also to drop few incidental remarks about
I" that chairmanship.' Speaker Crisp has begun
to think about beginning more difficult task than
fell to the lot of any Of his predecessors. 1t y
true that Speaker Kerr was obliged to construct
the committees in the XLIvth Congress Of ma
terial a large proportion Of which was crude and
raw, but even then the proportion Of new and
inexperienced men was smaller than it is now.
But the Democratic majority in the ALlVth
Congress was not torn, as this one is, by internal
feuds and dissensions; the SpealSership canvass
had not divided it into two hostile factions;
there was question as to the political orthodoxy
or the integrity Of any leader or his supporters
and partisans. The election Of Mr.. Kerr to the
Speakershp did not array against him Samuel !.
Randall and his friends in an attitude or DISPOSE
ton of silent and sullen hostility The majority
at that time was animated by common pur-
pose, and it's leaders did not quarrel and fight
among themselves as to the means which should
be employed to effect that purpose. When speaker
Kerr asked Mr. Randall to take his choice OF
committee chairmanships, and at the same ume
ntimated hope that his choice would not DO
the Craftsmanship of Ways and Means Alr. han-
dali took the hint in gentle and proper Spite
and chose the chairmanship Of Appropriations.
Does anybody suppose that Colonel Mills wouio
accept like offer accompanied by like hnt
from Speaker Crisp in the same meek ana grave
ful spirit? Colonel Mills and all his friends
would feel that deadly insult had been offered
to him if Speaker Crisp should dare to offer him
a choice of chairmanships accompanied by any
hint or suggestion whatever. Indeed, If some OF
his friends are to be believed the Sage OF Corsicana
will refuse TO accept the Craftsmanship OF ways
and Means except on a condition which 1t would
be humiliating to the Speaker TO agree TO- IL Is
in effect, that Colonel Mills shall not only DC
chairman, but that he shall have the nght I'd
veto the appointment as member os the COM
mttee of any Democrat whose soundness as
tariff reformer" he may suspect or deny in other
words if he is appointed chairman. he VIII refuse
to serve unless he can choose his Democratic col
leagues. He does not intend, say his friends. who
think that Colonel Mills may be persuaded to ac-
cept the Craftsmanship on the condition mentioned,
to place himself in a position where he will be
handicapped either by veiled hostility or open
lukewamness or course Speaker Crisp could do
no less than resent the offer of so degrading
condition, to accept which would amount to a
political integrity and sincerity also.
And yet the logic of the situation" would
seem to require Colonel Mills to insist his con-
dition. He and his friends not only in Wash
iugton, but throughout the country, have been
for months past v0ciferously declaring, as With
one voice, that Crisp is unsound on the tariff;
that il not himself protection" Democrat, he
is the representative Of protection" Democrats
and the exponent Of Vandalism that the saliva
tion of tariff reform and the success Of the
Democratic party depend upon the sage Of Cor
sicana, and him alone, far the Lid
Congress is concerned. His platform in the
Speakership contest was tariff reform" and that
only, and it was said, on the authority Of some
Of his friends, that he had already prepared a
draft of bill which he would offer early in the
session for a general and thorough revision Of
the tariff-a bill framed on broader and more
distinct and radical Free Trade lines than the
famous Dark Lantern" bill of 1888
But it may happen that the Sage of Corsicana
may not have opportunity either TO accept
or decline, with or without conditions, the chair
manship of Ways and Means 1t is whispered in
more than one quarter that the IIillTammany-
German men, through End by whom Crisp
elected Speaker, determined TO pluck all the
fruits Of their great anti-Cleveland victory, and
that Mills, as the special friend, champion repre-
sentative and intended beneficiary Of Cleveland
and Ceveandism in the House of Representatives,
must be set aside and shorn of influence in that
body Rumor even continues to assert that in
pursuance Of wel-deiincd and carefully matured
plan, the House is to be rum in the interest OF
the nomination of Hill German for the Pres-
dency next year, and that one of the incidents OF
the plan is the appointment of William NJ Springer
Springer of Illinois-as chairman OF Ways and
nf tha fan ie ,hapaA hat ha
nominated Cleveland for the Presidency at Colum-
bus at an early hour one November morning in
1890, but Mr.. Springer's character is so well
understood that that indiscreton does not count
against him. lie has already proclaimed that
his policy is to devour the protective tariff morsel
by mOfsel, instead of trying to bolt IL in single
mouthful. That policy is diametricay opposed
10 the one which Cleveland and Mills represent
and advocate.
The rumor that Springer would be appointed
chairman of Ways and Means was secuted as abb
surd by almost everybody who saw it mentioned
in these dispatches yesterday, but many Of the
persons who regarded it as incredible then be-
leve it now. The proposition finds strong sup
porters, too, among Democrats who are friendly
to Speaker crisp They argue that Springer is
better equipped for the chairmanship of that
committee than the Sage of Corscana is that 10
is the peer of the Texan in ability and his Superior
in tact, industry and perseverance. and more
over, that his policy is a wiser and more sensi-
bic and practicable one than that advocated by
Mills, Cleveland a. Co. One of them to-day said
Mills has served eighteen years in the House
and has been chairman of one committee for
single term; Springer has been in Congress sin
teen years. and he has been chairman Of no less
than four different committees in that time. lie
was twice appointed chairman of committee by
Speaker Kendall and twice by Speaker Carlisle
lie wes chairman of the Committee on
Elections in the XLVIth Congress; Of that
on Expenditures in the Department Of
Justice In the XLVIllth Congress: Of
Claims In the XLIXth Congress, and of Terri