New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-15

examination by Nj Reed Of one Of the star WIZ
Tesses summoned By ne ma5Grt'iii liar
When the direct examination OF that wo worm emu
Mite met again On Monday hs periuries had been
spread broadcast Throughout lh5 idiu r. s~er,e
had changed; The Republicans were riding on ,he
and the Democrats were IN me Gep'Wu NJ Rned
cross-xaminaton whcl liSltl W. Ala. ~ lie
succeeded in utterly dcmolishing the edlhce u ma
nains The latter's reward was TO be called "a Har
and vagabond' IN the report OF the majority OF
Vr Reed was also prominent in the cross;ex,ami-
nation Of Samuel j. Tilden. Smith NJ Weed, Man
I or nenhew who had offered thousands or
dollars for electoral votes with tne sans Iro % IN
Joyment Nt. H. rco6ss trenchant STYLE il plain
" Fse IIorty For an example take this refer
Manton Marble He aad wIseen no rt
himself loftilv before mankind. He could nQS
therefore avoid Am an a ~ a N me bold position Of
Nr smith Weed that it right 70 rescue stoleh
Goods from robbers such an ark OF refuge would
sooa7 rI,eS Him long before reaching Ararat
Mr. Reed had fairly his spurs in the ALE IN
C9ncrdss and IN the MYTH he was promoted 10
the Judiciary Committee of which ne became chair
n an In the XLNIIth Congress. In tnlt Capacity ne
distinguished himself by bringing IN ana b farry Lyle
became a law providing for the establishment or
the Cour; OF Alabama Claims and for the dis;riDu-
ding fierce contention that had vexed Congress for
a number Of wears Chairman Reed also submitted
grants OF public lands 70 aid in ~ construction OF
the Northern Pacific. Texas and Pacific and num, UNI,
down In those reports have been uniformly upheld by
the courts Of the United States including the Su-
In the next three Congresses the House of Repre-
sentatives was controlled by the Democrats, and Mr.
Reed became the recognized leader Of the minority
He was he nominee Of the Republican caucus for
nominated and elected Speaker Of the House OF Rep
resentatives Of the List Congress.
Mr.. REED AS SPEAKER
When Mr Reed entered upon his duties as Speaker
ne found himself the head of a narrow majority,
which was confronted by a strong minority, ready
and determined 10 do everything in Its power u OBJ
struct and thwart the will Of the majority The sit
uation was most perpexing one. and 10 many the
difficulties seemed nsurmountable. Not to the
new Speaker. He had been a thorough student and
had mastered the general principles Of parliament
tary law and he possessed the courage and hrmness
70 apply them d the existing emergency and enforce
mem. When the session nearly TWO months
old. and after the Democrats had shown in every
cnceivable manner their determination not to allow
BY vo,n quorum y epS6ea ny . eesksq or
'eTihned tnat me time for him TO act had arrived
nay vote he directed the clerk to record the names
"a num''r OF democrats who We're present and
ndI Telms"i 10 respond when their names
called The scene thar followed Is indescribable
a., "a, iistitt ~. D,ulocfauc doctrine which Writ
$50 s'Nt tne minority power 70 rue the majority
Hhs overturned and shattered. and III a second the
half-frenzed mob. which the Speaker faced with
Nhriher c7Inposure. gavtl IN hand. The scenes
next fortnight. ard the country well as the
Han OF Representative, rang with vituperative and
vehement denuncdtions OF Gar Reed. but he
Needed them not. His triumph and vndlcation at
the hands n the Democrats four years later
when they. being thcn In control of the House OF
Representatives, adopted the quorum accounting rule
TIE principe Of that rule We'll the action
Of Speaker Reed had been sustained before that
however. by the Supreme Court OF the United States
Seven years have passed since the majority OF the
House was cmanc pated from the bondage OF minor
ity rule ry the bold act OF firm and courageous
Speaker. and the member who should stand up In
that Body to-day and propose TO restore the old
order Of things would be regarded with plying de-
ris!0a.
An ABLE LEADER OF THE MINORITY
In the Lid and Lila Congresses the Democrats
again controlled the House OF Representatives. and
again MI Reed headed the minority both the
floor and in the Committee Ways and Means
10 which he had first been assigned by Speaker
Carlisle In the XIIXth Congress or Mr.. Reeds
efficiency power and resourcefulness : the leader
OF A minority IL Is hardly necessary 10 speak Those
ard other qualities endearei him TO his party
socates and commanded their loyal and unfaltering
support IL every emergency. while they at the
same time extorted reluctant tributes OF admiration
from his party foes No other member or the House
OF Representatives since James O. Blaine left IL has
welded so powerful an influence over his party In
that body or done much toward shaping and con-
trolling rs policies ~ Thomas r.. Reed whether "a
Speaker or az leader % the minority -
Il was his powerful. influence as Speaker IN !sV
which prevented the passage Of free silver COIN
In 1890 It his powerful inessnse 20 isAd~r 81 "