The morning times., 1895-10-29

There has probably never been Speaker
of the House, not even excepting James G.
Blaine. when first seized with the Presi-
DENTAL fever, who has more reporters TO
haunt him in the selection OF committee
chairfnen than are now disturbing the calm
repose of Thomas B. Reed.
Notwithstanding theanta gonisrn evidenced
by Representative johnson, of North Ba-
kota, and other Western members. the i'm
preston has seemingly sohdified into a
foregone conclusion that there will be no
opposition to the election of Mr.. Reed az
Speaker. As has many times been pointed
out, the gentleman from Maine made many
enemies during the four years that he
welded the gavel, even causing irritation
among those of his own State delegation.
but these will apparently content themselves
with doing much talking and little acting
No Speaker since the days of James X
Polk has obtained such prominence in his
party, and SO nearly approached the Ike
lihood of receiving its nomination for the
Presidency as Mr.. Reed. He, better than
any of his friends and advisers, realizes
that the fullness OF time is at hand. In
the zenith. of his political career, and pos
sessing the utmost strength OF MS personal
popularity, he must put forth every exer-
ton to achieve success DOW rather than
trust to a more advantageous opportunity
n the future:
LAID THE FOUNDATION.
With the election Of an Overwhelmingly
Republican House to the incoming Congress
Mr.. Reed began laying the foundation for a
carefully planned and shrewdly conducted
canvass for the Presidential nomination
The very surplus of majority In. Itself con-
stituted great danger, as every member
of the party in power considered himself
especially adapted and qualified for i'm.
portant committee work. The success OF
any Speaker who aspires to the Presidency
must largely depend upon his success in
couciliating those who have chosen him
to preside over them
As q consequence, 1t Is predicted that ME-.
Reed stands to lose rather than gain in
strength during the comiag session ofGon-
gress. iAt-the outside he VIII do well TO
maintain himself without advancing. by
this it is meant that he viii barely beable,
by distributing the committee chairman
ships to the best possible advantage, to
hold his own in the position OF leadership
and popularity he occupied on the 4th OF
last March.
That the naming of chairmea Will re-
An illustration Of this is found in that OF
the Ways and Means Committee. Both lAlr.
DalZell of Pennsylvania and Mr. Payne OF
New York have been mentioned as certain
to be given this place. The one might
materially aid Mr.. Reed In obtaining the
delegation of Pennsylvania in the ma
tional convention and the other might have
influence with that or New York Both
are large and influential. delegations and
either could decide the nomination at D
critical juncture.
Much interest is felt here in the report
which comes from New York city to the
effect that Mr.. Reed has finally decided to
appoint Serene E. Payne, of New York.
chairman of the House Committeeon Ways
and Means in the next Congress
CHOICE OF MR.. PAYNE.
1t is asserted that at the conference last
week between Mr.. Reed and Mr.. Payne the
Maine statesman gave Mr. Paine to unucr-
stand that, unless the unexpected happened
! within the next few weeks, he would 6e
made chairman of this most imPostans
committee The understanding is tba Mr..
Reeds choice of Mr.. Payne has been
brought about so that, if it is possible Mr.
Reed will stand a better chance than other
wise to secure the New York delegation in
the interest OF his Presidential candidacy
next year.
No positive announcement regarding Alr.
Payne's selection, however, viii be made
until within two weeks after the assembling
of the next Congress. Meantime Mr. Reed
will look over the ground and decide icst
who he will name for chairman OF tho
House Committee on Appropriations, the
man he will place at the head of the Ju-
dietary Committee. the next chairman Of
the House Committee on Naval Affairs.
which Will be an important position in Tie
next Congress- and certain committee
rf,,, rSI,st ha n Gro
portance to the West, namely, that OF the
Hous. Committee on Interstate and For
eign Comm cree, Public Buildings, and
Grounds Indian Affairs, and others OF minor
| Importance.
1t will probably be disappointment 10
Congressman Dalzell, OF Pennsylvania, IL
Mr.. Payne has been selected by Mr.. Reed
for the head of the Ways and Means Com
Dlittee. 1t is also probable that there VIII
be n bitter feeling engendered by reason Of
the selections that Mr.. Reed Will he forced
to make in the way of chairmanships inim-
portant committees in order to further his
Presidential candidacy.
HEADS THE LIST.
1t ia almost certainty that the Dis
trict of Columbia Craftsmanship, the ons
OF greatest interest to the citizens of Washs
ington, will be given to some member whose
name has not yet been suggested in that
connection. Gen. Harmer heads the list
as being in line of succession, but precedent
in that direction will probably be recog
nized to less extent than ever BEFORE
Gen. Cogswell is dead and Mr.. Belden
will not be a member of the next House.
Mr. Aldrich has had but two months ex.
perience on the committee and Mr.. Babs
cock has served but one term Mr.. ul
viii begin bis third term and with Gen
Harnier makes only two members of ths
old committee really available for pros
motion.
The understa nding has been that Mr..
Babcock cherishes a great ambition to bs
appointed chairman of the next District
committee. 1t is doubtful, however, If he
can reach the persimmon, as 1t is not be-
lieved that his position as chairman Of
the Republican Congressional Campaign
Committee will to any great extent inflp
ence his selection. The great Republicans
victory in the last Congressional elections
has not been largely credited to his ex
ecutive ability or good mana cement.
Among those coming into the next House
as new members, but who have had Cons
gressional experience in previous Houses,