The times., 1898-11-19
GENERAL POLITICAL GOSSIP.

ucW members OF tne t1lty-elxtn congress
against the reelection Of Mr.. Reed as
Speaker is that in the event of the cleo
ton Of the Maine statesman there will he
very few committee chairmanships to dis
tribute and the chances are that none Of
the new representatives would be honored
in this respect. The great majority of
the present chairmen Of the House COM
mittees have been reelected and, of
course will expect to retain their old Jobs
II Mr.. Reed remains in the Speakers
chair. 1t is said that Mr. Reed would
have only thirteen vacant chairmanships
to fill, which would make very slim
prospect for the younger element. Their
only chance to gain any prominence In the
next House is through the election of a
new man as Speaker.
Another point that will be urged against
the man from the Pine Tree State is that
his reelection will mean a continuation
in power OF the same ring that has con-
trolled affairs in the House for the past
four years. A great many Of the old rep
resentatives who have suffered under this
domination would be only too glad of an
opportunity to break 1t up. They are con-
fident that a change could not be any
worse than the old combination. Even
without the Administrations sanction. 1t
is more than likely that serious opposi-
ton to the reelection of Mr Reed will
be developed this Winter. There are
good many members of the House who
have served In that body for a number
of years without being permitted TO par
ticipate in the deliberations of the House
beyond answering to their names on roll
call and naturally they are filled with
deep disgust. But unless the President
takes a positive stand against the re-elec-
tion of Mr.. Reed the chances are that
the opposition to him will not be able to
accomplish anything.
Representative John Dalzell of Pitts
burg, who has recently had the rather
novel experience of reading his own obit-
uary in the newspapers. arrived in Wash
ington yesterday. Mr.. Dalzell has just
returned from Porto Rico. The ship in
which he took passage was reported lost,
which gave him his obituary notoriety.
Mr.. DalZell is second on the Committee
on Rules of the House, and consequently
is very close TO Speaker Reed. He takes
the position of Chairman Dingley and
other near friends of Mr.. Reed that
there will be no necessity for an extra
session of the Fifty-sixth Congress" He
favors the military occupation of our new
island possessions until We have had time
to reflect on the proper form Of gov
ernment to give them.
Asked II he thought that there would
be any general currency legislation at the
coming short session. Mr.. Dalzell said:
What is the need of 1t? We have an
abundant revenue, and as long as that
is the case there is nothing the matter
with our currency. ! do not think there
will be anything done on the subject AT
the coming session. The future depends
upon circumstances and how we find our
selves situated There may be some cur
rency legislation during the Fifty-sixth
Congress, but how broad and general 1t
will be 1 cannot say. I do not think the
country would suffer II there were none.
The people have no question about our
money as long as our revenues are all
right Some of our people are talking of
currency legislation. but there are as
many different views as there are men,
bers as to what shall be done"
DO you think there will be an extra
session to legislate as to the government
of the Philippines and other islands?'
81 do not. ! think II would be just as
well to let that matter lie for while.
We should have time to study the situa-
ton and TO determine what sort of legis-
a military government until the condi-
tions are thoroughly understood. 1t will
be time enough TO deal with that ques-
ton when the Fffty-sixth Congress meets
In regular session
Senator Hanna appears to be hedging
little on his interview of a few days ago
in which he condemned the Dingley tariff
law. said that an immediate revision OF
il was necessary to produce more
revenue and predicted an extra session
of the Fifty-siXth Congress early in March
next MIR. Hanna has made up mis- mind
that he has been misquoted. or rather
that his reporter friend did not quite
catch his idea. What he meant to say
was that the Dingley law was the best
thing of its kind that was ever invented,
but owing to our changing conditions. it
was not possible to draw up any law that
would fully meet the requirements of the
country for any length of time; therefore
changes in the tariff laws must necessar-
lily be made from time to time. Senator
Hannas explanation is evidently made
out of Difference to the feelings of Mr..
Dingley He does not, however, repudiate
his prediction of an extra session. Upon
that subject he stands pat, and is appar-
emily prepared to fight it out on that line
who dares to question his judgment
Some opposition is developing in the
Nutmeg State to the reelection of
Senator Joseph R. Hawley to the United
States Senate. Samuel Fessenden. the
Connecticut member of the Republican
National Committee, has long coveted a
seat in the Senate, and apparently he is
convinced that the time has arrived FOR
him to make the attempt to crafty his
ambition. Mr. Fessenden belongs to the
old Blaine guard. He is reputed to be a
millionaire. while Gen. Hawley is said to
be poor man. Senator Hawley, however,
has strong hold on the rank and file of
the Connecticut Republicans. and the
chances are decidedly in his favor. He Is
in his seventy-third year, and Is serving
his third term in the Senate. 1t will sur
prise many people to know that Senator
Hawley is native of North Carolina. He
was educated at the North, however, and
since his youth he has resided in his
adopted State.
The impression is gaining ground that
Secretary Alger is doomed to be disap-
pointed in the realization of his ambition
to get into the United States Senate 1t
is admitted in official circles that an ar
rangement was made with Gov. Pingree
last Summer whereby Alger was to be ap-
pointed to the Senate upon the transfer
of Senator Mcmillan to London as our
ambassador at that court. Just what
made the basis for the deal could never
be learned, but 1t is hinted that very
liberal order from the War Department
for Pingree potatoes and shoes may have
had something to do with it. But 1t is re-
ported now that Gov. Pingree would like