The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-12-05
SPEAKER REEDS BIG TASK.
The Naming of Members of the Various
House Committees.
LEGISLATION AWAITS HIS ACTION
The Speaker Non Committal as to His
Selections, and is Becoming Acquainted
With the New Members-Bingham
Preparing New Bills.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-The senate la
bored yesterday while the house enjoyed
recess, but most of the business trans
acted was of routine character. Mr..
Hoar showed the disposition toward co.
operation with the president in dealing
with the Turkish question by Offering a
resolution denouncing the recent atroci.
ties in Turkey and assuring the executive
branch of cordial endorsement by congress
OF vigorous course for the protection Of
American citizens in Turkey and the sup.
preston of the barbarities against Chris.
tianity.
The first formal speech of the session
was made by Mr.. Allen, of Nevada, on
Cuba and the Monroe doctrine. 1t was
read from manuscript, and was lacking in
the spirit expected in the treatment of
these questions. Mr.. Allen urged the
recognition of the Cuban insurgents, the
annexation of Cuba and a strong foreign
policy. The influx of bills continued, sew
eral hundred being added to those already
introduced.
After the senate Republican caucus ad-
journed yesterday the discovery was made
that one of the senate rules allows the ap.
pointment of the members of the commit
tee, except the chairman, by a plurality Of
the votes cast. The rule has become prac-
tically obsolete, but it's existence presents
a most interesting phase of the situation
Under it the Republicans can elect the
members of the committee, except the
chairman, because they have beyond a
doubt a plurality in the senate, unless all
the Populists should vote with the Demo
Gratis against them.
Members of the house who have been
closeted for brief times with Mr. Reed de-
clare that they have no knowledge as to
what the speaker intends to do regarding
committee appointments. A constant
stream of visitors have been received by
Mr.. Reed, but they have emerged with
paucity of information. They say the
speaker listens to all they tell him about
the committee places which they think
should be allotted to themselves and their
friends and then says that there is plenty
of time yet, and he will give the matter his
most careful consideration Not even by
insinuation does he let fall any scraps of
information.
1t is said on good authority that Mr..
Reed has slated but few of the many new
members for their positions yet; that he
intends to meet them first and take their
measures personally. 1t is known that
Mr.. Reed has told certain members who
have been preparing resolutions touching
upon foreign affairs TO confer with Mr..
HIT of Illinois, and obtain his views be.
fore they introduce their resolutions. There
is little information in this, however for
it has been foregone conclusion that the
craftsmanship of foreign affairs would fall
to Mr.. Hit, the only possible obstacle be
ing the fear that his health might not per-
nit him to take up the work Until the
committees are announJe it is probable
that the house will adjourn over two days
several times for lack of anything TO do
following the usual course at the begin
ming of a congress.
General Bingham will undoubtedly lead
the members of the Philadelphia delega-
tion in the amount of legislation he will
introduce at this session He is preparing
bills for re-enactment in the clauses of the
Mckinley tariff, restoring the duties on
wool, on wooden manufactures, on tin
plate and on pearl buttons.
For the increase of the circulation of
national banks, which, in effect, reduces the
tax on circulation from one to one-quarter
of l per cent and increases the circula-
ton to par value of the bonds depos 0ed
with the government, this is in accord
ance with the old Republican policy.
For the conversion of the greenbacks
and the treasury notes now outstanding,
with 2 per cent bonds interest payable
quarterly, to be exchangeable and re-ex-
changeable.
He will also introduce three bills affect
ing the League Island naval station.