The San Francisco call., 1897-03-14
Unanimous Choice of the
Caucus of Republican
Congressman.
Makes a Happy Little Speech
in Acknow edgment of
the Honor.
Dingley Urges Party Harmony and
the Prompt Passage Of the
New Tariff Bill.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 49,
| Speaker Reed was unanimously nomi-
mated for Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives at to-night's Republican caucus.
The attendance of members was unusually
large, 1872 of the 203 being present. The
| new members were conspicuously nu-
merous
Payne OF New York was selected to
place Mr.. Reed in nomination. He re-
ferred in fiattering terms to the Speakers s
popularity in the House.
He said that the man from Maine was
nominated when this Coneress was
elected; that he was the choice of the Re-
| publican party, and that it was the busi-
| ness of the mem bers to respond to this
popula ar demand. When Payne had taken
his seat Grosvenor of Ohio, who occupied
| the chair, put the motion and it was
adopted without dissenting vote.
Payne of New York and Cannon of Illi-
| nois, two of the veteran me embers OF the
House, were designated to escort the
| Speaker, who was quietly seated in his
private Office to the floor. AS he entered
all the mem bers rose to their feet ana
greeted him wit b hearty burst of ap-
| pIause. Mr.. Reed bowed his acknowledge
| ments and, standing before the Speakers s
desk, said:
Gentlemen: / am very greatly gratifed by
| your kind action to- might and shall try to
serve your wishes with whatever ability l
| have. We have again, as in the last Congress,
a politically divided legislative power. The
| House of Representatives Will be Republican
| by q considerable majority, and fresh from
| the peope will endeavor to carry out their
w I n h eft
| do all in your power TO bring this session OF
Congress to a speedy close.
Our duty Is simple, and the people expect
us TO perform IL at once and tnen leave TO
| them the recovery of the country from the
staguation and depression ofiuusiness which
have so sorey tried the patience OF a vigorous
Wnat others may see fit to do we do not
know. but we have strong hopes t.iat all
branches of the Govern ment will be in accord
as to the policy OF giving to the people lmme-
diateiy Whatever their wisdom may devise.
Dingley of Maine, chairman of the
Ways and Means Committee of the last
House. was called upon to stale what had
been done in preparation for the work for
which an extraordinary session had Leen
called. Dingley said:
I congratulate the Republican members
elect of the Ffty-ffth Congress upon the prompt
and harmonious manner in which the prelim-
mary work OF this caucus has been accom-
plished. fAppiause.I
l trust that it Is an augury of the p-omptitude
and harmony which will be exhibited in the
extra session which will be opened on Monday.
The Republican members of the Ways and
Means Committee of the last House, in re-
| sponse to general demand for this course,
| has occupied several weeks in revising the
| tariff with view OF providing sufficient rev.
enue 10 carry on the Government without the
necessity OF borrowing in time of peace and
at the same time so adjusting these duties as
to encourage the industries of this country,
which nave been SO badly stricken. partly by
excessive foreign competition during the past
three years. tApp ause.l
w nope to complete tnis work by Monday,
SO as to be able 10 present tariff bill to the
House for reference TO the Committee on
Ways and Means, which will probably tnen be
| sppoi ted, anu for prompt report back to the
House for its consideration and action.
viii not undertake at this time to fore
shadow the provisions of the bill which we
shall present. Rest assured that whatever
shortcomings it may have it will NOT be the
result of want of careful consideration, but
of the inherent difficulties in framing
measure of such magnitude.
The Republican mem bers of the Ways and
Means Committee, who have framed this
| meas re, believe, however, that barring the
| temporary interference arising from antici-
palIng importations for the purpose of avoid
| ing new duties-an interference that will de-
| pend entirely upon the prom ptltude or The de-
lay i'll It's passage-the proposed bill will secure
| the TWO ends so earnestly desired by the coun-
| try-suficient revenue to run the Govern
ment, the encouragement OF American indus
| tries and the pening OF abundant opportuut-
ties for labor. [Applause.]
| The Congress which will meet in extraordl-
| nary session on Monday will meet the expec-
tatlons of our peope without party uistinc-
! tions If ii shall promptly put upon the statute
| books tar. measure that will meet Sthese
| two needs. Capita. and la Dor unite in asking
that there be no unnecessary delay. zap
| plause.
Let me again indulge the hope that the
/ promptness and unan NIFTY OF our preliminary
action tonight may presage the same results
! in the work OF the extraordinary session
which has been convened by the chief execu-
| tive, who has Just been inaugurated amid the
| plaudits OF the people. lLong-con tinued ap-
rlause.
Walker of Massachusetts, offered a reso-
| luton providing for committee OF seven
mem oers o revise the rules.
w. A. Stone of Pennsylvania made a
motion to adjourn. This. amid some con-
| fusion, was voted down, and Walker was
permitted to proceed with his remarks.
| that an impression existed that they did
not permit that freedom OF debate which
| the House desired.
| Mahany of New York followed in few
remarks, in which he asserted that the
| ''gag law" which was so prominentin the
| Fifty-fourth Congress. did not die in that
| Congress, but had been re-enacted here;
| that it was the usual trick of selI-consti-
tuted leaders temporarily to move the
| adoption of the rules of the preceding
| Congress. but that 1t was easier to move
Mount Etna than to secure their amend
ment afLer this was done.
| WalKer's resolution was tabled.
| A resolution was adopted which re-
| quires the chairman of the caucus to call
| caucus when q request is made by
| twenty-five members in writing.
The present House officers were then
reelected. They are: Henry D. Couden
| of Michigan, chaplain; Alexander Nc
Dwell of Pennsy lvania, clerk Benjamin
/ f. Russell of Missouri, sergeant-at-arms;
w. ]. Glenn of New York, doorkeeper.