Evening star., 1897-03-27

could be reached, ana this was Oy unAuA-
nous consent, but no man could ask Tor
unanimous consent without the recognition
Of the Speaker. If he did accord recogni-
ton, q tip to q lieutenant on the noor Sc
privileged bills might be reached on sus-
pension day. without the Speakers recogni-
ton. but the committees were again
confined to the House calendar. The only
was by the recognition OF the Speaker or
by a special order from the Speakers
mouthpiece. the committee on rules.
Speaker Reed was magnificent In his
power. He was determined, II possible. to
keep the appropriations narrowed. so as to
make the expenses of the government come
near to its receipts. 1t was herculean
task. He may have controlled. and un-
doubtedly did control some of his appro-
priation committees. but he could not con-
troll the committees of the Senate They
overburdened the House bills, and four of
them failed.
The Speaker set his face resolutely
agaiIst friend and foe. Very few men
could secure his recognition to call up
bills involving even infinitesimal appropri-
atiors
NO." was the resolute reply. ''if 1 begin
l shall he swar1ped: I can't do it,
In Absolute Control.
He was absolutely in control Of all legis-
lation involving appropriations. aside from
the general appropriation bills. He was
Imperator. More remarkable nerve was
never displayed. lie shed the curses and
opportunities of his friends as the feathers
of a duck shed water. There were rumors
of revolt, and the great wonder is that
there was no revolt. Mir. Walker of Mas
SachuSettS. Speaker Reeds own chairman
of the committee on banking and currency,
mutinied in vain. The House laughed at
him. In the republican caucus for the
nomination of Speaker fiery Rowland Blen-
nerhassett Mahany came to Walkers res
cue. and was laughed to scorn. Mr.. Reed
was renominated for Speaker without a
whimper of dissent.
But the mutineers were not crushed
There was a second revolt on the first day
of the extra session. Gen. David b. Hen
derson made the usual motion to adopt the
rule of the preceding Congress. Mr.. Hep
burn of Iowa moved to amend by inserting
the words for thirty days" Gen. Hen
derson said that he held the floor. and re-
fused TO accept the amendment. He then
moved the previous question on his resolu-
ticn. Mr.. Hepburn replied that the House
was acting under general parliamentary
law. as no rules had been adopted He held
! that the previous question was not recog
niZed by general parliamentary law. allud-
ing to the fact that the previous question
| cannot be called in the United States Sem
ate Speaker Reed promptly overru!ed
| nm The vote was taken on the adoption
/ OF the previous question, and the mutineers
| turned in to defeat it. The democrats and
! populists aided them. On rising vote the
| Speaker was defeated. but Gen. Henderson
secured the yeas and nays. The party lash
was then applied, and the Speaker tri-
! unphed. Whether any punishment will be
meted out to the mutireers will be seen
| when he appoints the committees
The same rules therefore govern the Fff-
| ty-fifth Congress, ard the same American
| nag serves as a background to the same
domed head. The same Speaker presides
in the House. He has more power than
| the President of the United States, becausa
| 1t Is absolute power. The Senate may
| check him on apprc pria ton bills, but be-
yond this the Senate is powerless Thomas
| B Heed Is certain to be most conspicuous
Hsure during the first two years of Major
| Mckfnley'S administration
| AMOS j. CUMMINGS.