The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-28
reed RECEIVES CALLERS
The First Citizens Of the Land Pay
Their Respects.
NOPROMISES HAVE BEEN MADE
The Man from Maine Will Proceed In
q Cautious Manner lie Is Pleased :.
with tho New Congressional
Timber on tho Ground.

Washington, Nov. 27.-When Con-
gresham Thomas b. Reed, of Maine,
was asked by friend II he had been
busy to-day, he replied with bland
smile that many of our first citizens
called to pay their respects between the
breakfast and the dinner hour"
This hardly expresses the situation.
The first citizens" referred to not only
called in large numbers, but many Of
the number placed their wishes in writ
ing and left them with Mr.. Reeds pri-
vate secretary. 1t Is for this reason
that three clerks were busy In one of Mr..
Reeds apartments to-day briefing let
ters and writing out the replies which
Mr. Reed had found time to dictate. So
far as can be learned Mr.. Reed made no
promises with respect to chairmanships
or committee assignments Those who
are sufficiently in his confidence to
speak with intelligence regarding his
views ridicule the report that when he
arrived in Washington on Saturday
last he brought with him complete
list of the committees More than half
of the next house Is composed of new
members who are not only unframed in
the methods of national legislation, but
of whose capacities Mr.. Reed has no
knowledge. 1t Is necessary that he
should meet these gentlemen, talk with
them, learn their wishes and acquaint
himself with their abilities.
Then there are other considerations.
Men who are in the line of promotion
expect chairmanships without regard to
the fact that in several notable cases
this would give to few states the con-
troll of nearly all the more important
committees. There are other consider
ations which must enter into the franz
ing Of the committees which will delay
the completion several weeks.
Promising New Members.
Mr. Reed Is reported to be we'll salts
fled with the new members who will
form so large part Of the Republican
majority in the next house. He finds
that they "size up" well; that they are,
SO far as he can see, fully up to the
usual standard of congressman gener-
ally, and this fact will. 1t is thought
simplify his work greatly.
The principal gossip about the hotels
where the politicians mainly congre-
gate is over the chairmanships of the
ways and means and appropriations
committees. AS the ways and means
committee now stands S. f. Payne. Of
New York, is first on the list of Repub-
lican members, with John Dalzell, of
Pennsylvania, second. Both gentle
men desire the chairmaship, and the
friends of each are making strenuous
efforts in their behalf. On the appro-
priations committee David b. ,Hender-
son, Of Iowa, a veteran member of the
house, is the leading Republican men,
ber
1t is suspected that Speaker Reed
will dispose of these chairmanships by
comforting them In each case upon the
ranking members which would give
Mr.. Payne. Of New York, ways and
means, and Mr.. Henderson, of Iowa,
appropriations.
Mr. Dalzell. OF Pennsylvania, 1t Is
suggested will be transferred to the
judiciary committee.
Ohio and Indiana Combine.
The action of the Ohio and Indiana
delegations in congress in their respec-
tive caucuses tonight practically settles
the contest over the elective Offices Of
the house of representatives. Ohio de-
cided to cast her nineteen votes for the
so-called combine ticket, and twelve
votes Of the Indiana delegation went
the same way. The ticket whose nomi-
nation the events of tonight seem to
foreshadow and which will doubtless
receive the majority vote Of Saturday
nights caucus Is as follows: Clerk
Alexander Mcdowell, Of Pennsylvania;
doorkeeper, w. d. Glenn, Of New York;
sergeant -arms, c. F. Russell, of Mis-
souri,; postmaster, ]. c. McElroy, Of
Ohio.