Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-20
1t Had Also an Important Business
Consideration.
THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS GUARDIANSHIP
Who Can Take Mr.. Hits Place If
He Remains iii?
QUESTIONS FOR CONGRESS


signing double reason for the late flying
visit to Washington of ex-Speaker Reed
Of course Mr.. Reed entertains a strong
personal friendship for Mr. Hit, and that
alone would have been enough to have
caused him to run over to the capital from
New York to Inquire regarding the condi-
ton of the sick man.
A business confederation.
But there was a business considera ton
Of the utmost Importance to the country at
large and to the republican party in par
hcular, that figured in this visit. In the
reorganization of the House of Represen-
tatives MIR. Reed regards Mr.. Hit as a
weigEty element. The feeling is unanimous
throughout the republican party that there
Is no man elected to the FIfty-fourth Con-
gress so well qualified to take the chair
manship of the committee on foreign af-
fairs as Mr. Hit Members of Congress
10 not stop at so mild a statement OF the
case as this. They regard Mr.. Hit as the
only man with information on foreign af-
fairs thorough enough and with diplo-
matte accomplishments sufficient to take
he leadership in that important commit
zee without long and careful study of the
questions now pending and likely to weigh
ierfously on the next Congress.
The One Man for Foreign Affairs.
There are dozen men who would make
good chairmen CT ether the appropriations
or the ways and means committee, because
lie nature of the case makes the questions
cefore these latter committees more con-
stantly under discussion than are the
affairs connected with the foreign affairs
Of the government. Mr.. Hit has served
with great credit in the State Department,
where he has learned a thousand things
regarding diplomatic matters that do not
ccme to the attention of the average mem
ter who understands politics better than
ed nph
student, and speaks several other languages
iCertly. He has made a habit of reading
Of the official acts of the leading nations
Of the world in the vernacular of each
country. He has proven himself to be not
only close student of international
affairs, but by nature he is well fitted to
negotiate such matters. He is thoroughly
American, and believes in vigorous
though conservative foreign policy, and
especially in the strict maintenance of the
Monroe doctrine.
Other Members on the Committee.
The question now being discussed is,
Where else can the Speaker of the next
House find such man as Mr.. Hit, to
whom the affairs of the committee on for
eign affairs can be trusted?" The general
feeling is that there is one. In view of
this condition, Mr.. Reed is placed in a po-
sition that causes him much concern. Next
to Mr.. Hit Representative Harmer Of
Pennsylvania is the senior member of the
republican member is Representative
Draper. Mr.. Harmer Is generally regarded
as good, conservative republican, who
can be counted to vote on the right side of
estions affecting the welfare of the United
States, but his long service in the House of
representatives has undoubtedly figured
largely in his acquisition of so important a
position He is not regarded as possessing
all the elements that the chairman of the
committee for foreign affairs should have.
Representative Draper is next to the last
member of the committee.
He is manufacturer, is not lawyer,
and has never been known as an authority
on International affairs. Representatives
Storer. Blair and Van Voorhis, who made
up the remainder of the complement of the
committee during the last Congress, have
all been assigned to private life Neither
Mr. Blair nor Mr.. Van Foorhis would have
been an ideal chairman of tine committee,
while Mr.. Storer, although young MEM
Der. would have been a very strong candi-
date for the place had not the republicans
of Cincinnati formed a combination which
left him in the cold and caused him to lose
a denomination. MIR. Reed and Mr.. Storer
were warm personal friends and the latter
was ambitious and worked hard to fit him
self for important duties on the committee
on foreign affairs. and would have had Il
splendid chance for success as an alterna-
tive to Mr.. Hit, had he remained in the
House.
The Most Important Committee.
The business Part of Mr.. Reeds visit to
Repres Hits bedside was to learn
whether the invalid would likely recover
In time to so recuperate his health that by
the first Monday in December he could de-
vote long hours daily to the study of ques-
tionS before his committee. OF all the
committees of the House of Representa-
tives that on foreign affairs is regarded as
likely to prove the most important during
the next Congress. The work of the COM
mttees on ways and means and on appro-
priations is old straw that has been thresh-
ed over time and again, and will require
chiefly application. No radical change in
the work of the committee on appropria-
tions is regarded as probable, while the
tariff is not likely to be taken up by the
ways and means committee. Mr.. Reeds
own declarations since the adjournment Of
Congress have been such as to show that
these are his own views on the tariff.
The Great Question to Come Up.
The great question, 1t is very generally
believed that will come before Congress,
will be the maintenance of the Monroe doc
trne, and most decisive measures are
likely to be necessary in order to teach
other nations that the United States means
that they shall not introduce their systems
of government on the American continent.
The Hawaiian Samoan, Nicaraguan and
Venezuelan complications are among the
knotty questions likely to come up to call
for an enforcement of this principle.
The problem before Mr.. Reed is who
is to he chairman of the committee on for
eign affairs, in case Mr.. Hit has not re-
covered sufficiently to take the heinz"
The best solution he can find for this prob
lem is to intimate to some member that in
case Mr.. Hit cannot take hold actively as
chairman in December he is to be pre-
pared fer such duty. Such member would
be expected to begin actively to study up
the foreign business relations of this gov
ernment. to thoroughly post himself on all
questions of international law which are
likely to be called up, and in every way
be fitted for his duties. so that the party
and the country may not suffer from in
efficient work on that committee. How
Mr.. Reed was impressed by his visit to the
sick chamber of Mr.. Hit is not known,
but every one comedies that the 1llioniS
member is a very i'll man.
Snnn ShotS nj tho prasiJauf