Evening star., 1896-01-04
REED AND AL LlSO N
1t Was Feared They Would Be Handicapped
BY Congress
Legislative Record Now Made Up
The Speaker Has Shown His Capac-
ity in an Emergency.

EVERY feature of politics now seems 20
have its bearing on the coming presidential
contest. When the present Congress assem-
bled 1t was observed by party managers that
two of the presidential aspirants. Messrs
Reed and Allison, would be at some disad-
vantage in the race by reason of the taxing
character of their: public duties here, and
the fact that not until the important work
of the session Jwhst completed could the et-
feet of that wSJkspn their candidates. safely
be computatede it was thought they would
be more or less int peril up to the day tie
legislative account was closed Any bad
break on the part Of the republican House
would be likely to injure Mr.. Reed. and any
bad break on the. part of the republican
Senate would fnjure Mr., Allison. A session
of seven anio1Ihs At least, was confidently
counted on, 50 that while Gen. Harrison.
Gov. Mckinley and Gov. Morton, all with
their RECORDS made up. and free-handed In
the hunt for delegates, were directing their
Albany, Nessrs. Reed and Allison. in fetters
here, would be going the rounds of official
toll and consuusedI with anxiety.
Leeislatdve-R Record Made Up.
In moment-in The twinEling of eye
this has all been changed:r The legislative
record of this session of Congress- in any
bearing it may have on the presidential
lace, is now made'up. The projected work
of months has been crowded into as many
days. The House has passed upon both the
revenue and the bond questions, which
leaves Nr. Reed ffee-handed, and while the
Senate will not be so expeditions as to
either, the republican policy in that body as
to both stands already revealed. This will
add to Mr. Allisons comfort. There re-
mains, therefore, the work of this ses
sion still to be done, only that necessary to
putting the appropriation bills into shape;
and whether, this takes four or five months
time is not much to the point as affecting
any advantages in this years great race.
Mr.. Reeds Friends Feel Good.
Mr.. Reeds friends feel decidedly good
over the results SO far achiEYed. The work
Vt the House is the work of his hands He
cut 1t out, they. claim, and"directed it's ex-
ecutioh: The President, with two big sur
prises, failed signally to take him at dis
advantage. There was first. a call for the
supportaof an assertion of the Monroe doc
trine. That was promptly! given. The
House even refused to add a word to the
Presidents suggestions. 1t considered that
he had spoken for the country. and it
backed him up as Loyalty asjthough he had
been republican. 1t wisely decided to
recognize no party politics in the matter.
What he had claimed it claimed as the
mission OF the United States1in the affairs
OF this hemisphere. Then came the almost.
frantic appeal for financial legislation, and
that was as promptly responded to. In
this matter the House, naturally. took
counsel of its own convictions as to what
the emergency called for. 1t could not af-
ford TO permit the President, TO dictate that
legislation. His right under the Constitu-
ton ended with the exercise of a recon-
mendation on the subject. But the House.
to be certain of meeting the requirements
of the case, seized both horns of the di-
iemma. 1t passed a bill increasing the rev.
enue, which squared with it's own conten-
ton on the subject, and then passed bill
authorizing the issuance of a low-rate
bond in times of depletion of the gold re-
serve, which was intended to square with
the views and requests of the President.
Thus at the very time when the country
was, rocking with the excitement caused
by the Presidents inf1ammatory deliver
ances, and suggestions as to what the oc-
casion required were numerous and con-
fusing as views expressed around sewing
circle. Mr.. Reed and his lieutepants evolved
the plan which both quieted the business
world and brought the politicians up with
a'turn for Thinking 2r 2c e.
The speakers Real Size.
When Mr.. Reed went upon the Speakers 5
stand this time it was pointed out that the
real test of the man for the largest affairs
had come. 1t was to be demonstrated
whether not he possessed the large ex-
ecutive capacity. It was denied that the
trial in the Fiity71rst Congress had settled
that question: It was contended that the
fill measure of his accomplishment then
was the mere reyolationizing of parlia-
rientary procedures The credit of the other
work performed was divided among his
ieutenants. MI. Mckinley =, getting the
greater part Of it. by having, his name at
tached to the most notable of all the enact
me1ts." The"speaker's friends think the
record so far made by this House well cal
culated to SILENCE all those heretofore
doubtful on the score of Mr.. Reeds real
size. That he has shown himself to be
man of the first order of readiness, ca
pacity and courage in the greatest of emer-
genetes they themselves freely assert