The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-11-27


Washington, November 26-Mr. Reed
of Maine, who arrived in Washington
yesterday, received many callers at the
Shoreham today.
About every member in town called on
him, but there were no political confer
ences held. He is not permitting him
self to be interviewed on any subject.
There is no indication that he contem-
plates the coming session with anxiety,
or breads the responsibility that will
fall upon him. The opportunities of
members for committee assignments
have not yet begun to bother him, but
members are figuring on their prospects
and preparing the way to present their
claims, and they will hardly wait for
him to be elected Speaker before making
their wishes known. Over some of the
important committee assignments, es-
pecially the ways and means, appropri-
ations and rivers and harbors, there is
lively rivalry.
Mr.. Reed is looking as we'll as any of
his associates ever saw him, and seems
to bs enjoying the most complacent good
humor. 1t is not understood that he has
in mind any radical change in his sys-
tenn Of rules. 1t is probable that the
rules of the Fifty-frst Congress, with
but little change, will be adopted The
general principles which We're contended
for in the adoption of those rules have
since been adopted, SO that there is no
likelihood of another such fight as
that with which the Fifty first Congress
was opened. 1t is believed that Mr..
Reed will favor conservative policy for
the Republicans this winter, and will
not seek trouble for the sake of making
things lively.
His friends say, however, that if his
candidacy for the presidency is expected
| to render him over cautious and conser-
vative this expectation will be disappoint-
ed. They say that this course will be di-
rected by his Judgment and not by his
| am oitlon. He is not indicating at this
| time what : his policy will be in any
matter.
A proposition will probably be made as
soon as Congress meets to reduce the size
Of the hall of the House. 1t is held that
the great size of the hall interferes with
the expeditions performance of public
business. 1t is difficult to be heard and
to command attention while the men,
bers are scattered SO far apart and en-
gagged in all sorts of occupations not re-
lating to the business of Congress. The
habit members have got into of writing
letters at their desks in the hall Of he
House and doing much of their clerical
work there is q great interruption to the
orderly and intelligent performace of pub
lie business
1t will be proposed, therefore, if the
Democratic managers can be got to agree
to it so as not to excite party fight over
the quesUion,sto clear out all of the desks,
to provide seats only, and to partition
the hall into three parts. The central
section would, under this plan, te the
hall of the House, and the two sections
partitioned off, one on either side, would
be used as consultation rooms. 1t is
thought that the proposition will meet
with general approval as a means of IA
ciliating business. The extreme incon-
venience of SO largo hall with desks has
been long recognized, but the necessity
of members doing much of their clerical
work there made the desks necessary.
Now that each member has clerk this
reason for the retention of the desks is
removed. While the room in the hall is
more than needed, if the ks are dis
pensed with, there is scarcity of COM
mittee and conference rooms.
In this connection it will be roposed
to reduce the number of members neces-
sry to constitute quorum, and rules will
be made to provide ample opportunity
for mem bers to know what is to come up
from day to day, SO that they may be
present if their interest in public busi-
ness is enough to induce their presence.