The Portland daily press., 1895-11-29
"A RARE CURIOSITY"
ITO Be Preserved for Future Gene
ratiOns."
WAS MIR. REEDS ENDORSEMENT
OF MIR. BRODERICK'S LETTER.
The Coming Speaker is Kept Busy-A
Deiuge of Callers and Letters-How

Deiuge OF callers and LetterS-doW
the New Members Feel-Mr. Reeds
Fatherly Advice to Persistent Members.
Washington, November 2S. S.-Congress-
man Thomas B. Reed today received q
letter from Mr.. Broderick of Kansas, say
ing that as the only Republican member
of the committee on printing, he might
properly claim the craftsmanship in the
next House, but he would not 10 SO and
he hoped Mr.. Reed would feel at liberty
to place him wherever he chose.
Mr.. Reed dictated reply expressing
his qualification at Mr. Borderick's un>
selfshness and adding jocularly that his
request was SO reasonable that it should
certainly be complied with. Mr..
Broderick's letter vas then filed away
with other papers bearing in Mr.. Reeds
handwriting his in dorsement.
ga rare curiosity to be preserved for
| future generations
| Mr.. Reed has already received 100 appli-
| cations for chairmanships and committee
assignments, and these represent about
the number of Republicans in town with
arrival has been delayed. Up to the hour
Of luncheon today, Mr. Reeds callers
were as numerous as on preceding days of
this week. The members began their
visits early and did not cease until 3
O'Clock. Mr. Reed during the late hours
of the afternoon brought up the arreas
OF his correspondence and took a short
outing. The new members, while modest
in their demands, so far as chairman
ships are concerned, are eager for ap-
pointments to the more prominent COM
mittees or to committees where they be-
lieve they can best represent their con-
stituents More than thirty applications
have already been filed for assignments
to the river and harbor committee and
this number will probably be increased to
fifty before the close of the week.
10 one of the new members who was
especially persistent today. in requesting
a river and harbor assignment, Mr.. Reed
said, laying his hand on the members
shoulder and addressing him with father
ly interest.
"You can't help yourself or your people
at home any better by going on this com
mittee Your efforts will be equally
effective as an ordinary member of the
House. Besides, if you are on the COM
mittee and don't secure as large an ap-
preparation as you desire, you will be
held responsible where you might escare
with less censure il you were Off it.
The new man concluded that this was
sound advice and informed Mr.. Reed that
he would be satisfied with any disposition
| that might be made of him.
The statement heretofore made that the
committees would all be announced at
the same time, with the exception
possibly of the committee on rules, mile
age and accounts, Is confirmed today by
of inti of fri
gentleman doubts II the list will be cum
pleted before the Is, and thinks it will
probably not be finished before the Goth
of December
Mr.. Reed has made no promises either
with respect to chairlnanships or COM
mite assignments He listens with
patience to all the requests which are
verbally made, occasionally adding bit
of good natured advice, and frequently
telling humorous story OF injecting
bon mot into the conversation. Then he
promises to take the matter under careful
consideration and after asking the mem
ber to put his wishes in writing, bids
him good day and turns to the next
caller
In making up his committees he will
be Influenced. it is said. not by personal.
but by party and public considerations.
He will not hesitate to appoint men
whom he cordially dislikes, or with whom
his relations are far rom agreeable, to
the best chairmanships, if the public in
terest demands it. He will, on the other
hand, it is asserted, refuse the request Of
his more intimate friends if he regards
them as untitled for. the places they
desire Mr.. Reed has not, SO far as can
be learned. indicated whom he will APP
point to single committee, nor is it be-
1ieyed that he will change this rule ex-
cept in few notable cases. SO far as the
members generally aIe concerned they
will not, it Is believed. learn Of their
assignments until the list OF committees
is made public.