The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-01
SpeakerSetS Face Against
Appropriation.
For Doing So He Is Subjected
to Much Criticism.
Only One Man Got the Best of Him
by Pluck and Endurance.

their passage public building and other
| bills In which members are directly inter
csted becomes so great the wonder is that
| the speaker withstands it. The speaker
has resolutcly set his face against all such
measures BY his position as speaker and
ex oliicio chairman Of the committee on
| rules he Is able 10 say what measures shall
I and what shall not como before tho house.
| No complaint IS made that the speaker fa-
! vors his friends. He turns down all COM
ers. When his friends go to him. almost
with tears in their eyes, begging TO bc per-
| mittoG To call up their little bills, the
| speaker tells them 1t is hard TO deny the
| requests of friends and that their appeals
only make his duty the harder TO perform,
hut that nc must perform IL. "If let the
! bars down for you, he explains, II will
have to let them down for all the others,
and the first thing we know there viii not
be dollar left in the treasury"
The Bill Suppressor.
While there Is great deal OF muttering
at this antocratic suppression of bills, the
speakers friends defend him. They say
that some one must stand between the
treasury and the desire of congressman TO
pass little bills for public buildings and
similar purposes, every one taking money
IF Mr.. Reed were not one of the most
courageous and determined men in public
life, 4" said one of his friends TO me, ''the
treasury would be looted before March 4.
In the words of Captain Tanner, God help
the surplusl'
In connection with the speakers cam
paign against extravagant appropriations
i have heard some good stories One of
these relates TO the man who served two
years in the house without ever being rec
ognized by the speaker and without once
taking the floor. He was Judge DE Havens
of California. Early in his congressional
career he called on the speaker and asked
permission TO call up his bill for some pur-
pose in California.
what is your bi-llY' asked the speaker
In his characteristic drawl.
'Oh, it Is n little thing! 1t doesn't take
much money out of the treasury, very
small sum, replied the congressman.
"But must know what your bill Ia.
must kisow ell about It," retorted the
speaker.
Whcreupon the California member lost
his temper He damned the speaker to his
face. He said to him that he (the member
from California; bad been elected to the
house Of representatives in the same way
that the gentl eman from Maine had been
elected and il was beneath his dignity and
the dignity of his constituents who had
sent him thither for him TO explain TO any
one the terms of the measure which he
wished 10 call up. The big speaker only
smiled at him, and the angry congressman
bolted out of the speaker room, slamming
the door after him. He was never recog-
nizcd on the floor for the purpose of calling
up that bill or for any other purpose and
to this day enjoys the distinction of being
perhaps the only man who ever served two
years in the house without once getting his
name in The Congressional Record, save
on roll call.
Wanted to he Recognized.
Another California member, and, as
chance would have IL, the successor Of
Judge De Havens, came TO congress deter
mined TO pass a certain local measure or
die trying. One day he called on the speak
er In that gentleman's room.
Mr.. Speaker" +" he said "I wish to be
recognized for the purpose of calling up
bill of great interest TO my people"
"What is your b-i-ll?" asked the speaker
The member explained that It was u bill
to create life saving station on the coast
of California.
"We are not in the life saving business
this session" said Mr.. Reed.
Very sorry, Mr.. Speaker" said the
congressman blandly. Good morning."
Next day he WAS in the speakers room
again.
"Mr. Speaker, " he said, "I have come to
see II you viii recognize Inc for the purpose
of calling up bill'-
lis that the same bill yeu were here
about yesterday
a. .t .s.t
"Well, told you could do nothing for
now"
81 am very sorry, Mr.. Speaker. Good
mornisgr'
But the third and the fourth day he
was therc again making the same request
in his blandest tones. The speaker finally
exclaimed the fourth day:
Bring me a copy Of your bill"
In ten minutes he had copy Of the bill
on his desk. He looked it over and then
said
"I'll see the department about it,"
"Thank you, Mr.. Speaker. Good morn
ingw
That very day the congressman went TO
the treasury, secured n letter recommend
ing the life saving station and next morn
ing was ut the speakers room for the fifth
time.
"Mr Speaker" he said, "hcre Is let
ter about that little bill of mine"
He Finally Reiented.
The speaker looked at the letter, glanced |
up nc the congressman ard then drawled: |
"I will take the matter under consider
atom
"Thank you, Mr.. Speaker. Good morn
ingl'
The next day was Sunday, and nothing |
could be done. But Monday morning, as
soon as the house mot. the member from
California was soon on his feet. "Mr.
Spcakeri' ho shouted. Some one else was
recognized A few minutes later the Cali
forns.n, who had voice that could bo |
heard a mile away. yelled MIR. Speaker
again Every five minutes for an hour he
sang out "Mr. Spcakcrr' i'm u tone that
made the desks rattle. Finally Mr.. Reed
turned his head with N jerk, glanced quiz
lically at the Californian, smiled queer
smile and exclaimed: