Evening star., 1897-02-15
Talk That Speaker Reed Will Ap-
point But Five Committees.
LEGISLATION CONFINED TOTHE TARIFF
Not to Be Handicapped by Any
Other Measure.
NOTHING YET DEC1D ED

Democratic and republican members or
the House continue to discuss with interest
a story that Speaker Reed will appoint
only five committees for the extra session
of the next Congress. The discussions on
.be subject are rot founded on idle gossip.
1t is known that republican leaders have
been thinking seriously of conflning the
legislation of the extra session strictly 10
the revenue variety.
The five committees which ii is alleged
the Speaker will appoint for the House
when il meets in extra session Will be
ways and means banking and currency,
rules, accounts and mileage, just the conf
mittees necessary TO run the House on the
IiEes of revenue legislation and nothing
else The taIk goes so far as to say that
only four committees will be appointed.
Banking and currency, it rs rumored, will
not be filled. This would prevent financial
legislation OF any kind.
Much Talk on the Subject.
A prominent republican member of the
House who was asked about the matter to-
day answered that there had been a good
deal of talk the subject. but that moth
ing lad been decided upon. He said that
would all be in the hands of Speaker Reed,
who would probably consult the rules COM
mittee before acting. He thought also that
d good deal would depend upon the senri-
ment of the House. So far, he said, there
seemed to be sentiment among the men,
bers-eloct of the new House TO confine
legislation to a tariff bill. and not to even
venture into the matter of finance.
This opinion Is from a man as close to
Speaker Reed as any member of the House.
He asserted, however. that he had not
talked with the Speaker on the subject.
He admitted that there had been consider
able talk among members.
A New EnEIander.s Views.
A New England representative gave i, as
his opinion that the plan would not work.
He said that the sessio would be too .istls 3
one under this program. When the tariff
bill is III the Senate. he said. the House
would be practically an idle body My
idea, he said rs that Congress should
proceed TO business and not loaf The
members must De given something to do.
A great deal of other business could be
transacted during the session. ] do not
think the House will be engaged for a long
time on the tariff bill. 1t will be prepared
by the time Congress meets. l do not ap-
Irthend that there will be extended debate
IN the House, but the Senate will take a
long time in considering it. We would be-
come a laughing stock sitting here doing
EothIng during that time, or adjourning
from day 10 day
The fact that the question of non-ap-
polntrnent of committees is being seriously
considered. with even the banking and cur
reHcy committee left Off causes several
leading democrats to assert that the re-
publicans are afraid 10 tackle the question
They say that the adoption of that plan
would be the best thing for them which
could happen. and they are rather hopeful
mat the projected program will be carried
out.
The democrats pretend that the program
would create division in the republican
ranks, and say that some Of the republi-
cans are already chafing under the idea
4
large amount of patronage in possession of
chdirInen OF other committees and of other
ihluehtlal members of these committees
The Probability.
The probability is that nothing will be
decided upon until President-elect McKin-
ley and other republican leaders have been
consulted The fact that Speaker Reed
generally handles things without consulta-
ton is no indication that he would do SO in
this case, which might prove a benefit or
blunder 10 the party TO the admnistra-
tion. As TO financial legislation. there is
doubt whether anything would be done if a
committee were in existence and were. TO
report numberless bills unless IL is In the
direction of remedying the banking laws.
ANY legislation touching the general finan-
ctal system of the country will be side
tracked IL Is believed 10 be the policy OF
President-eiect Mckinley to give the plan
OF International agreement a trial If this
plan 1alIs ne VIII then look TO something
else, but he VIII not be in position to do
this for at least year. He would at least
De opposed 10 any action until something
definite grows out of the attempt at an in
ternational agreement. There is every in
creation that the republican leaders are
with the President-elect.
Another objection TO financial legislation
Is that many republicans think that a tariff
bill Will cure the ills which are complained
of. without addition al legislation The best
and brainiest men in the party believe this
They do not want the new tariff bill handi-
capped by any other measure. If II is ever
found that the tariff bill is inadequate to
meet the requirements of the situation
they believe II will be time enough to pro-
pose new measures
The democrats continue to thrust the
money question 10 the from; and beiittie
the idea that a tariff will bring relief. They
stake the fortunes of their party on this
and will welcome any plan which will SIM
ply turn out tariff bill In the extra ses-