The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-12-13
NO. 81
W ashingtOn Letter.
From our regular Correspondent.

When Hon. Thomas B. Reed, of Me.
today took his seat as Speaker of the
house of Representatives, in the midst
of the enthusiastic plaudits of his col
leagues on the floor of the House and
of the crowds which filled the galleries
to their full capacity, he might have
been excused for feeling proud of the
honors which the republicans have de-
lighted in heaping upon him. No
greater honor could possibly be given
any man than for the majority to un-
anlmously nominate him for Speaker,
not the perfunctory "unanimous"
nomination which usually follows
when one candidate receives a major
| ity of votes in q caucus, over his COM
petitor or competitors, but really
unanimous nomination in which there
was no competitor, and in which no
other candidate was either thought of
or named. In the very nature of
things such an honor can come to but
few men, but shat it was fully deserv-
ed in this case is we'll known by every
republican in. the United States
There are other able republicans in
the House-scores of them-but it
was virtually settled by the republi
can voters more than year ago that
this honor should be paid to Mr.. Reed.
One of the most important immediate
results of Speaker Reeds being honor
ed in so extraordinary manner is
that he assumes his hi gh office AN
trammeled by deals or promises
probably the only man to so since
Congress was established.
1t is not yet certain when Speaker
Reed will announce the committees of
the House, but it is expected that he
will do so before the close of the week.
1t is an encouraging sign that there is
no scrambling for committee places.
There seems TO be a general disposition
among the republican members to
leave it entirely to Mr.. Reed to say
where they shall serve, knowing that
so far as the old members are concern
ed he is an excellent judge of the
places in which they can best work
towards making this business Con-
gress, and that the few personal disap-
pointments, which must necessarily
follow the placing of members, will be
largely overbalanced by the general
good that will thereby be accomplish
ed
The other officers elected by the
House were: Clerk, A. Mcdowell, of
Pa; Sergeant-at-arms, B. Russell, of
Mo; Doorkeeper, J. w. Glenn, of N. Y;
Postmaster, J. G.. McElory, of o;
Chaplain, Rev. HI. N. Couden of Mich.
The most interesting feature of the
first days session of the Senate was
the debut of the new senators. There
were thirty of them, but fourteen of
them served in the last Senate and
were merely sworn in for new terms,
while three of them-Sewell, of N. j.,
Walthall, of Miss, and Chiffon, of
Tex.,-have been in the Senate before.
Thirteen donned the senatorial toga
for the first time, but some of them
have long been prominent in public
life. For instance, Senator Nelson, of
Minn., has been member of the
House and Governor of his state; SEN
ator Thurston, of Nebr., has taken a
leading part in the last two or three
National Campaigns; Senator Carter,
If Mont, in addition to serving two
,erms as a delegate in the House, is
chairman of the Republican National
Committee; Senator Elkins, of West
Va, was delegate in the House from
New Mex. and Secretary of War in
President Harrison's Cabinet; Senator
Gear, of Iowa, has been twice Governor
If his state, served three terms in the
House, and was Assistant Secretary of
he Treasury under the Harrison adj
Senator Burrows, of
Mich, was one of the leading republi-
cans of the House for long period.
Those who are new 10 national politics
ire, Clark, of Wyo., Mantle, of Mont,
Baker, of Kansas, Prichard, of N. Car,
md Wetmore, OF r. l., republicans,
Ind Baker, of Ca, Martin, of Va, and
rillman, of S. Car. democrats, and
Butler, of N. Car, populist.
Owing to the time of the House be-
ng taken up with the election of
,fficers and the choice of seats Mr..
Jleveland's message will not 60 in un-
Ill tomorrow.
Representative Walter Evans, of
Kentucky, thinks the democrats start
ID the story that he had withdrawn as