Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-12

mediately and goes to his hotel, which is
less than half mile away. He has had
light luncheon served in his private room
at the Capitol during the day. He takes
dinner at his hotel in the public dining
receiving members of the House or dele
cations from different parts of the country,
who come to urge the consideration. Of
certain legislation. And l am very for
tunate if get through by midnight" said
Mr.. Crisp.
This is the busy life of the Speaker Of the
me by Speaker Crisp in his apartment at
the Metropolitan Hotel few nights ago.
The Power of the Speaker.
A great dea. has been said about the
power Of the Speaker of the House of Rep
resentatives. Amy old member of Congress
will tell you that the Speaker holds the
House in the palm of his hand. The new
member is surprised when he makes his
appearance on the floor of the House to
find that apparently the Speaker has more
to do with passing bills than all of the
other 1855 members put together. He finds
that 1t is by the grace Of the Speaker that
he makes any appearance on the floor Of
the House, and that II he wishes to gain
consideration for measure 1t is not 50
as to the Speaker. He might have 354 other
members in favor of his bill, and If the
Speaker was opposed to its consideration It
could not be passed. Men who have held
the Speakers chair have been openly charg-
ed with packing" committees to prevent
legislation to which they were opposed and
with refusing to recognize members who
had a claim to the floor because they wish
ed to urge the consideration of obnoxious
legislation.
1 asked Mr.. Crisp to tell me in just what
this peculiar power of the Speaker consists.
He said THE House can consider only a
| small proportion of the business which
comes before it in each Congress. Some one
must determine what business shall be con-
| sidered and what shall be put aside The
| committee on rules. which determines this
| he
holds the balance Of power. There are two
republicans and two democrats on the COM
mittee. and the Speaker is the fifth men,
| ber.''
/ asked Mr.. Crisp what percentage Of the
business before the House was considered
| ut is very small he. said. There are
| eleven or twelve thousand bills introduced
! In the House in a single Congress, and prob
ably three or four hundred of them are con-
sidered"
l asked IL this power which is placed in
| the Speakers hands could not be abused. =.
| said Mr.. Crisp, but not systematically.
1t is a great trust which is placed in the
| Speakers hands and the House holds him
to abuse it he would be called to account
very quickly"
Speaking Of the difficulties of making
| up the committees of the House Mr.. Crisp
! said: THE Speaker has to determine what
committee places the new members of
Congress are fitted to fill Then he must
| places on important committees. There
| are certain committees, like the committee
| of ways and means. the appropriations
committee, the coinage committee and the
| banking and currency committee having
| from thirteen to fifteen members each.
| with perhaps sixty applicants for places on
| each of them. The Speaker must choose
| the fifteen men from the sixty. Then the
Speaker must take care that each state is
represented among the chairmen of the
committees"
| Recurring to the charge that has been
! made from time to time that Speakers of
| the House have arranged committees
as to influence legislation which II was
| known they would have to consider
| asked MIR. Crisp II he thought that the
| Speaker was justified in arranging a COM
| mittee In this way.
THE Speaker" he said, lis often in
| fluenced In making up a committee by
| what he knows to be the sentiment of a
| majority of the party on questions which
that committee is to consider. The will of
| the majority in the House is the will of
| the party to the Speaker. That is all that
| he can consider"
! Mr. Crisp refused to discuss the rules of
the House or the possibilities of financial
| or tariff legislation. He has given utter
| ance to several Delphic sentiments on these
| subjects since he came to WASHINGTON but
| he has not committed himself in any great
measure. Doubtless he feels the RESPONSE
| bility which will rest with him In some de-
gree for the acts of this Congress and does
not wish to assume any of that RESPONSE
| bility untilit is thrust on him.
GEORGE GRANTHAM Balm.