The Portland daily press., 1893-09-19
[snecial Cnrresnondence.l

Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14.-There is moth
ing in congress like ex-speaker Reed adj
dressing the house. 1t is thing from
everything else distinct and apart. The
visitor who sees the house of representa-
tives with any other of the 356 mem
bers ON the floor gets one view of the,
American house of representatives. The
visitor who sees the house with Tom
Reed on his feet gets another view. A
historical painter spreading the house
on his canvas would find it necessary
to change the features of every member
to depict the house without and then
with Reed as the orator. There might
be the same faces on the floor, but the
general tout ensemble would be
changed, and the individual expressions
that go to make up the whole of the
scene would justify resort to the
style of patent medicine advertisements
and the marking of the paintings "Be-
fore" and During Taking"
The Maharajah of Kapoorthella, our
East Indian nabob visitor, was aware
that he was oettir,g a treat when the ex-
speaker rose to addreSs the mouse, Tor,
though do not know whether he speaks
English and could understand what was
being said, his eyes alone would have
told him something interesting had arisen
with the rising of the big man from
Maine.
There is nothing theatrical about the
ex-speaker. Nolong whetting of the pub
lie appetite precedes his speechmaking.
When he has something to say, he gets
up and says it.
Ex-senator Ingalls, was accustomed to
play to the galleries, as it were, and have
stage properties aid him in making
deep impression. remember one of In
gals last great speeches in the senate,
and what a lot of stage business preced-
ed it. Announcement was made unoffi-
cially and at first vaguely that the Kan
san would be heard from on a certain
topic, and that he entertained very rad
ical views on the subject and would say
something startling. Later a day was
named for the speech. That day the
senate was packed. The public waited
impatiently, and then it was noised
around that the affair would not come
off then, and that the date announced
had been unauthorized.
vanderbilt's $4,000 chef when asked
the secret of successful cookery said
that to have his dishes thoroughly appre-
ciated he kept his patron waiting a half
hour in expectation. Ingalls, did like
wise. Public expectation raised to
sufficient degree, he stated on the floor
of the senate that he would address that
body at certain time.
All being ready, at the proper moment
the page boys brought in the books of
reference, the ice water and accessories,
and about five minutes before he was to
speak the chief actor strolled in cold as
a winter wind. Though the day was
warm, his attenuated form was wrapped
tightly in a trim frock coat closely but
toned.
When '.Tom Reed" as he is called by
every member, is to speak is seldom
known. The only indications of it are
nervous attention to what is going on in
the house and signs that his collar is be-
ginning to chafe him from supposed
wrath and scorn. Something in the de-
bate occurs to stir him, or his darling
rules are attacked. There is a rising and
unkinking of huge, awkward form In
q loose suit of coarse Kentucky tow, a
high pitched nasal utterance of "Mr.
Speaker" as he rises, and word goes out
into the corridors that Reed is speaking.
The ebb tide of members out of the
house-for, save on special occasions, it
seems as though members generally
were leaving and not entering the hall
ceases, and return flow sets in rapidly,
constituents in the corridors being speed
lily dismissed and the pretty girls in the
ladies' waiting space in Statuary hall
told to come again.
Within the house all the chairs near
Mr.. Reed fill, the brass railing at the
back becomes lined with members, and
a deep fringe gathers in the open space
beneath the desks of the speaker and his
clerks. -
As to the Republicans, their faces
seem to say plainly :sYou fellows over
on the other side are going to catch it,
The Democrats are just as attentive and
give as good an audience to what is being
said. A majority Of them rather believe
really enjoy it and only wish that Mr..
Reed were Democrat. All of them are
keen to see an opening.
The scornful manner of the ex-speaker
and his ridicule are CALLING to the most
strongly partisan of the Democrats, and
McMillin of Tennessee, Springer, Enloe,
Bland, Martin of Indiana, Henderson of
North Carolina and others take the home
thrusts with evident dislike, while other
equally SIS good Democrats, like Catch
ings Of Mississippi, Tarsney Of Missouri,
Caruth of Kentucky, Cochran of New
York, Kilgore and Culberson of Texas,
Alien of Mississippi and O'Neill of Mas
sachusetts, admire the brightness of the
shafts, even though hurled at their side
of the house, and would really regret to
see Mr.. Reed go out of congress, tower
of strength though they admit him to be
on the Republican side.
The speech of Mr.. Reed is peculiar to
himself and inimitable. He never uses