Evening star., 1897-04-17
HE MAY APPOIN T.
Speaker Reed May Name the House
Committees.
ALARM AMONG HHE DEMOCRATS
They Do Not Really Want General
Legislation.
THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW

The story is started today that the
Speaker has about concluded to appoint
the House committees before long. If this
proves true it will not signify that his hand
has been forced. The idea that he did not
intend to appoint the committees at all
during this session has not come from any
thing he has said though the assumption
that he would not make the assignments
until the last moment was fully warranted
by the general policy of combining legisla-
tion to the tariff which has been declared,
and by the general attitude of the Speak
er's lieutenants. Mr.. Reed himself has
simply said that he should take all the
time necessary for the making UP of the
committees, and has left himself free to
follow the course he might think best at
any time. If he concludes to appoint the
committees earlier than was anticipated
it will not necessarily result in general
legislation at this session.
Alarming to the Democrats.
There is something alarming to the DEM
ocrats in the suggestion that the commit
tees may be appointed. While the demo-
Gratis are fighting among themselves 10
whether or not they shall try to force
legislation, neither faction wants Congress
to proceed with business at this session.
The faction who, under the leadership of
De Almond and McMillin, insist on de-
manding action and who resist the three
day adtournments would be as much dis
appointed as would the Bailey faction If
the committees were appointed and iegis-
lation were begun. There are individual
interests demanding legislation, SO as to
promote particular projects, and individual
members are inspired to insist on action
by a sincere desire for legislation, but
there Is no political object in forcing the
House to action. and all the factions of
the composite opposition" will have the
wind taken from their sails if Speaker
Reed decides to appoint the committees.
May Become Serious.
II those who pose as demanding action
are taken at their word seriously the legis-
lative comedy will cease and the play will
become very serious.
A great many conflicting elements are
confusing the situation. There are many
measures, good and bad. the bad sometimes
being more clamorous, which are clamor-
ing for consideration. In all parties there
ticular measures through, but the repub-
licans have thus far put aside their In
dividual interests, in order to permit
policy to be carried out. The opposition on
the democratic side seems to be inspired
chiefly by a desire to make trouble
Two or three things render entrance into
general legislation dangerous Besides the
danger OF extravagant expenditures result
ing from too much legislation there ap-
pears danger of some bad legislation which
Will probably be avoided by delay of action.
e The Civil Service Law.
1t is apprehended that if free rein were
given to legislation at this time one of the
things that would first come to the front
would be proposition to repeal or to
greatly modify the civil service law. 1t is
believed that at this time, wnen attention
is being pointedly called to the partisan
purposes for which Mr.. Cleveland used this
law, and when hungry Office seekers are
thronging the White House and hanging
onto the door bells of members of the
House, a proposition to repeal the civil
service law might have an unnatural
strength in Congress. Being forced to face
this question. or one to seriously change the
law, many members of the House Nigh;
feel compelled, against their better judg-
ment to yield to the demands of those of
their constituents who are now crowdiny
around them demanding patronage.