The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-10
Our Special Correspondents Comprehensive
Survey of the Political Field.
SPEAKER REEDS POLICY OUTLINED.
&ow the Virginia Members VIII
Stnnd on the ComInittces-'Ehe
Contested Scnts-Lnmb ana Brady
at work-The Presidential Nomi-
nation at Stalko-Out in the Cold.
Especial Correspondencc.)
Eirginian Bureau,

:
Washing ton, Dec. 9, 1895.
The Congress Of the United States
has been in session one full week to-
day, but aside from the election OF
the officers of the House and the
introduction of u few trinirg bills no.
thing whatever has been accomplished.
and in the Senate the reorganization
which Is now regarded as certain has
not taken as yet any definite shape.
1t had been expected that as the
present Congress has been elected for
thirteen months, and as from the date
OF their election there has been no
doubt as to the present Speakership,
that MI. Reed would have been fully
prepared with u list of his committees
and their announcement would closely
follow his formal election, but as IL
matter of fact Mr. Reed was compelled
TO wait until he could personally meet
the great influx or raw material before
he could possibly locate many Of his
new followers. Mr.. Reed also is shrcwd
enough to know the value of these ccm-
mtttecships, and the bearing that many
of them will have toward his presiden-
tial aspirations, and II was just as well
TO wait and have Il talk with the
boys" before he scattered his Gifts to
the eager statesmen who are ciamoring
for public prestige The committees
will, however, ull be fixed up this week,
and then we shall know how well the
Car has worked his choice opportu-
nifty. Should Air. Reed follow the
precedent OF retaining former members
OF committees upon the new ones. Nir
ginia is obliged to fare Very well, and
this will not be difficult to do as the
Democratic forces are so reduced In the
House that in nearly every instance
their former majority on the commit
tees will now leave only a bare full
minority II all those are retained who
are re-eiected. In Virginia we would
have Mr.. Jones OH the Rivers and
Harbors. onr OF the very best commit
tees in the House. Mr.. Tyler should
certainly be retained on Naval Affairs.
Mr. Elicit will naturally follow his
predecessor. Mr. George D. Wise on
Interstate and Foreign Commerce, al
though q place on Appropriation or
Foreign Affairs would be much TO his
fancy From the Fourth district of
Virginia the contest of Mr.. Thorp
against Mr.. MckennE may influence
Mr. Reed against placing the sitting
member upon any OF the very impor-
tant committees. but the Speaker has
decided to make two or three elections
committees, and these contests will he
very speedily settled, probab all of
the thirty-two at the present session.
Mr.. Swanson Is on the Pnstoiiicc and
Post Roads Committee and i'm addi-
fion to this he may go on the Judiciary.
as Mr. Reed personally likes him. and
his record In the last Congress was
we'll In keeping with n bold, yet new
and youthful member, and he made
friends among the Republicans.
Maj. Otey, from the Sixth District,
comes as new man. but he Is not un-
known to Mr.. Reed and his fitness for
the Committee on Banking and Cur
rency is well appreciated
Representative Smith S. Turner sue
ceeded Gov. O'Ferrall in the last Con-
gress after the committees were made
up by Mr.. Crisp, but he will. no doubt
be well taken care of possibly on the
Elections Committee. MIR Meredith
will undoubtedly be retained upon the
District of Columbia Committee, which
Is one requiring possibly more work
than any other In the House, and upon
which he has accomplished IA wonderful
amount OF labor and made himself
very popular both IN the House and the
District. Gen. James y. Walker. the
Republican member from Virginia will
certainly go upon the Elections Com
mttee and 1t is supposed will largely be
responsible for the action that commit
tee will take OH the contests from the
State.
Mr.. Tucker served upon the Foreign
Relations last session and as that will
be the leading committee in the next
House he will be we'll satisfied to be
retained.
Tho virginia Contests.
With regard to the contested cleo
fions from Virginia a new life has been
given them by the action Of Mr. Reed
Ill increasing the Elections Committee
and his evident desire to do what he can
for the Republicans of the State, and in
return 1t has been generally made
known to him that Virginia will be in
line for him at the next national con-
vention. Col. William Lamb, who is
now here. has had several interviews
with Mr.. Reed, and 1t would not he
surprising if the Republican contestants
from the Fourth. Fifth. Sixth and Tenth
Districts did not urge their claims with
renewed vigor just as soon as the com
mittees are appointed. Col James D.
Brady is generally intrusted with these
contests here and has already had visit s
from Messrs. Thorp In the Fourth and
Yost in the Tenth Districts Col J.
Hampton Hoge. who is opposing Mai
Otey. was here last night, and will re-
turn after the holidays to press his
contest 1t is generally believed that
Mr.. Reed will make a big strike for
himself out of these thirty-two contests,
especially those coming from the South
ern States.
Reed and fhc Presidency.
Nowhere in the history OF the Repub-
can party can there be found a parallel
for the present activity among the
Presidential possibilities.
All of the big oneS-Reed Allison