The herald., 1897-02-25
ratification OF the proposed treaty can
not be had at this time.
RENlD,S EVE COMMITTEES

REEDS FIVE COMMITTEES.
Members of congress continue to dis
cuss the story that Speaker Reed will
appoint but five committees for the
extra session of the next congress. The
discussions on the subject are not
founded on idle gossip, for 1t is well
known that Republican leaders are
thinking seriously of corfning legisla-
tion strictly to the revenue variety. The
five committees which it is thus alleged
the speaker will appoint will be the
ways and means, banking and currency,
rules, accounts and mileage (you will
observe that the latter committee is new
er overlooked). These are all that Will
be required to run the house on the lines
of revenue legislation and nothing else.
Some have asserted that only four com
mittees will be appointed. and that the
committee on banking and curI sncy will
be left untitled. This would prevent
financial legislation Of any Kind what
ever. Nothing has been decided upon,
however, and the whole matter Will be
in the hands of Mr.. Reed, who may, If
he feels like it, consult the committee on
rules. The sentiment Of both houses
seems to be in favor of combining legis-
lation to the tariff and not even to ven
ture into the matter of finance. This
seems rather strange when one reflects
that Mckinley was elected upon the
money issue. Some are of the opinion
that the plan would not work, and that
the session would be listless under such
a program A New England member Of
the house said when asked concerning
the matter: My idea is that congress
should proceed to business and net loaf
The members must be 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 very long time ON the tariff bill. 1t
will be prepared by the time congress
meets. / do not apprehend that there
will be extended debate in the house
but the senate will take a long time in
considering it. We would become the
laughing stock of the world, sitting here
doing nothing during that time, or adj
journing from day to day"
NO FINANCIAL LEGISLATION.
Democratic statesmen assert that the
fact that the question of the non-ap-
pontment of committees is being con-
sidered proves conclusively that the Re-
publicans are afraid to tackle the f1nan-
cial question. They claim that the adop-
ton of the proposed plan would be the
very best thing possible for the Dem
ocrats, and they are hopeful that the
projected program Will be carried our
They say that the plan would dispense
session of the chairmen of other com
mittees and other influential members
Of these committees. 1t is probable that
nothing will be decided upon until M.
Mckinley has been consulted. There
will be no financial legislation at the
coming session, and if any attempt is
made it will be blocked. The Repuo-
licans are, no doubt. in earnest regard
ing an international agreement, and
they desire to give it a trial The ma
jority on the Republican side think
that a tariff bill will cure all ills, and
that no additional legislation will be
necessary They argue that if it is
found that the tariff bill is not sufficient
to relieve the country, something new
may be attempted. The Democrats WILL
of course continue to push the money
question to the front, claiming that that
is where the work should be done, an1
they will place no barriers in the way
of tariff legislation, for the reason that
they feel sure the result Will demon
strate the correctness of their position.
WHITE IS PREPARED.
Senator Gear, chairman of the senate
committee on railroads, is endeaVoring
to call up the bill authorizing cimmis-
sion to deal with the Pacific railroad 5
debt and he seems to think the meas
ure can pass the senate. l hardly think
ne can De sincere III HIS dSStIliollo "
this effect, as Senator White has noti-
fled the friends of the bill that he will
not allow it to pass. He has started
that if the measure is really pushed in
earnest he will be compelled to make i
little speech in which he will incorpor-
ate the report of testimony taken by
the Pacific railway commission in 1881.
This report consists of eight volumes,
containing in all 1894 pages Of printed
\ tol lxaS tim IN rnQd ri
this interesting book, and as the ses-
sion is drawing to a close it is more than
probable that the commission bill, like
many others, will be laid aside until a
more convenient time. Representative
Harrison of Alabama had a conference
with Senator Gear today regarding the
bill Mr. Harrison is in charge of the
bill in the absence of Mr.. Powers, the
chairman, and will endeavor to get it
through the house next week. He says
he is confident the bill will pass and
thinks that if he is successful in the
house Senator Gear will be able to pass 1t
through the senate. The Pacific rail-
roads committee of the senate Will nc
doubt report the bill favorably, but not
many of it's members will care to listen
to the reading of the report above al
luded to.
NOTES.
Quite an effort Is being made to de-
feat Congressman Bowers for the col
lectorship of San Diego. Mr. Bowers
has secured the endorsement of the en-
tire California delegation and is conse-
quently sure Of the appointment. II
is understood that the Spreckles' inter-
ests at San Diego are deemed by Their
friends to be of sufficient Importance to
permit them to name federal appointees
for the southern county. Mr. Mckinley
, will no doubt see things in another light
and he will not antagonize whole dele
cation, or even single member Of it, to
satisfy such statesmen"
Congressman McLachlan Is doing his
best to secure the office of United States
attorney with the chances very much
against him. Those whose endorsements
would do him some good are already
, tied up to others, and he will be COM
PEELED to make his fight unaided by Off
cial endorsement. If my opinion were
asked, 1 should say that Mr.. Frank
Flint will be the next district attorney
| Mr.. A. w. Francisco is the leading
/ candidate for collector of customs. He
is highly endorsed and it is believed by
Californians here that he will be the
lucky man. Mr.. Osborne would doubt
less like to have his old position, but hi
will not be favored in this respect.
If Mr.. Osborne fails in his aspirations
for the collectorship, it is supposed tina
he will endeavor to be appointed mar
shall.
| Mr.. Wardall is here looking after thu
interests of the fruit men, and Is yer!
| deSirOlls of passing at the extra session