Evening star., 1897-02-17
EXTRA SESSION COMMITTEES
A Feeling Of Antagouism to the Proposed
Plan.
Reasons why Other Bodies Than
Those Suggested May BE
Omitted.

Much feeling is manifested among men,
bers Of the House over the proposition to
confne the work of the extra session to
the tariff legislation. What has been sug-
gested as a possibility that the only COM
mittees announced at the outset would be
the ways and means. rules, mileage and
accounts has, in fact, been practically de-
cided upon as a fixed policy by those who
usually control. The bare suggestion of
this policy excited antagonism and led to
talk of combining against the power of
the Speaker to fix the policy Of the House
without reference to party caucus. But
now tina. 1t Is understood definitely that
Mr.. Reed intends to adopt the policy of
restricting the extra session to the con-
sideration of the one question, the spirit of
resistance Is growing very weak.
The fact that whenever the committee as
signments are made Mr.. Reed will have
their making is sufficient to make ambitious
members hesitate to antagonize him. 1t IS
not thought to be wise to jeopardize indi-
vidual chances of preferment. If the mat
ter lay in the discretion of the republican
members of the present House they might
make combination In advance of the cleo
tion Of Speaker, sufficiently strong to
control Mr.. Reed himself; but it Is too well
understood that the new members of the
next House could not be got into such a
combination. They realize, therefore. that
1t Is useless to attempt fight against him.
The policy contemplated is to appoint
but the four committees named above; to
have the tariff bill reported Immediately
and passed by the House as speedily as
possible, and then to have the House ad-
journ from time to time. pending action by
the Senate. There are three good reasons
for following this course. First of ALL it
will save considerable time If the Speaker
had to revise the whole committee list be-
fore appointing the ways and means COM
mi-tee considerable time would have to be
consumed in this work before the tariff bill
reported to the House. Two or three weeks
might be consumed in this way before the
House could begin work.
To Control the House.
Another reason of perhaps more practical
Importance than this is that it will be cas-
ier to control the House to the carrying out
Of a definite policy to tariff legislation
If the bill IS acted on while the committee
assignments still pending However
important it may be to the party in power
and to the country at large to put through
a tariff bill constructed on definite scien-
tihc lines T. Is a very difficult matter to
hold representatives in the House back
from pressing for certain things of local
interest which may conflict with the gen
eral plan. AS nearly perfect as the bill
may be when reported, 1t cannot be entire
ly satisfactory to every one, and there
might be enough malcontents to combine
and break down the work of the committee
III some particular.
The success of tariff legislation at the
extra session will depend largely upon the
power of the committee to preserve the in
tegrity of this bill after 1t is reported to
the House. If there are any discontented
and selfshiy inconsiderate members of the
House disposed to make trauble they will
be less apt to indulge in bushwhacking If
they have yet to go to the Speaker for
favors. If the committee assignments were
all made they might be more independents:
and. moreover, many of them might be
nursing disappointment as to commit
tee place which would add to this gen.
eral discomfort. 1t is a plain proposition
that the tariff bill can be passed more
easily before the general committee assign
mentS are made.
To Avoid General Business.
A third good reason for not organizing
the committees at once is that If they are
organized there will be restless desire to
get the House to work on lot of things
as soon the tariff bill has been sent over
TO the Senate. 1t is recognized by all men
of experience in Congress that indiscrim-
mate legislation should be avoided at the
extra session. If the decks are cleared for
the tariff 1t will be got through both houses
more satisfactorily, and it is realized that
until this measure has gone into operation
1t cannot well be known what the further
needs OF legislation
One thing is suggested today that may
interiors little with this general de-
sign. 1t is feared that the general de-
ficiency fill may fail to become law at
this session and that 1t will have to go
over to the extra session. There Is positive
danger of this. and 1t would necessitate
the appointment Of the appropriations com
mittee at the same time with the ways
and means.
The situation in the Senate is shaping
up so that it can be fairly we'll calcu-
lated what treatment may be there an
ticipated for the tariff bill. It's adoption
is safely assured. but the general ten
dency there will probably be to increase
the House rates. 1t will not he the policy
of the opposition to make a fight for re-
due tion Of rates of duty and increases may
be necessary here and there to secure
votes. 1t Is not probable that any vote can
be secured by reduction Of any pro-
tective feature.