The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-04
House Has Practically
Finished Work.
SENATE IS BEHINDHAND.
Speaker Reed demonstrates H 5
Power cS a Lelder.
VICTORY IN THE CUBAN MATTER


WASHINGTON. May 4--fSpecial l-Cou.
Rress Ia expected to adjourn in short
time. So far as the house Of representa-
tivos Is concerned 1t is practically ready to
knock of work now. 1t has passed all tho
regular appropriation bills and there does
not seem to bc anything more of impor-
tance for it to do. The senate. as usual, Is
far behind in its work that is. IL Is awny
In the rear of the house Of representatives.
The senate is one OF those ponderous bodies
that move slowly. But when the hour
comes for rushing through the final bills In
order TO clear the decks for adjournment
tho senate Is as swift as any one could
wish. 1t has way of voting millions
upon millions In hurry, and tho chances
are that ere many days hnve passed tho
upper branch will get hustle upon itself
and bring the proceedings Of this memo
rable session to close
Two most interesting developments
have. marked the closing session. do not
speak of the Cuban crisis, for of course
that has monopolizod attention. ! mean
certain phases of parliamentary activity
which are worthy of note. These are the
increased strength Of Speaker Reed as the
general manager of the lower branch of
congress and the power of the older sem
ators in the upper branch 1t may be said
In a general way that the forces OF reac-
tion against the power welded by the
speaker have had their best opportunity Of
success and have failed, thus apparently
fixing tho spcakership system upon the
house for long time to come.
BIZ. Reed rs a Leader.
OF course IL was the Cuban question
which gave Mr.. Reed another and most
signal opportunity to demonstrate the eff
cheney Of his leadership. At one time 1t
looked az II he must surely 90 TO the wall.
One will remain In Washington long
time before no encounters another such
state OF feeling as that which marked tho
Republican side Of the house before the
Cuban resolutions were adopted. Tho re-
volt was more against the administration
than against the speaker, but the speaker
stood In the breach for tho president and
had to carry on the fight. a large majori-
ty of the Republican members of the house
were pledged 90 overthrow the adj
ministration and the speaker together IL
necessary to carry their point. They
were not only determined, but thoy were
insistent and angry. And yet in the ond
the speaker carried the day. He worked
out tho Cuban resolutions to his satisfao
tion and to the satisfaction OF the admins
tration. Itwas great victory for tho sys-
tenn which Mr.. Reed has instituted Ia the
house aud for the man himself.
Tho triumph was not won without hard
work and without serious fears az to the
outcome It was late Monday night that
the Cuban resolutions were passed. The
Sunday before was not day OF rest for
the speaker and his leutenaDts. They
were at work from early morning till lato
mt night. They rounded up the rebels and
whipped them In. Mr.. Reed folt. am
told that this occasion was tho climax OF
his career. II he could win that battle,
the speakership system was established,
probably to remain long time. III no
were defeated, IL meant that the method
Of running the house OF Representatives
which no had so carefully devised and so
patiently built up was to fall W the
ground.
Since the victory rested with Mr.. Reed
u may be well To inquire what his system
Is. II il, IN short, the idea that tho speak
er of tho house Of representatives is vastly
moro than a more moderator or presiding
officer or preservcr Of order, ~ ID the case
under tho English practice, from which
our parliamentary methods were borrow
ed. 1t means that instead Of simply put
ting questions end declaring yesults and
preserving the rights Of individuals - the
speaker OF The Enslish house Of commons
doe The speaker of the American house
Of reprssentAsives r. . leader of polioisA
fnsesad Of being simply an honorable ng-
upshsAd he 10 % ss>ablish himsslf - the
ssoond msn IN ne eevenmsne IN power
ever lsgisla>ion end national policjeA
Pswss - Ne Speaker
Mr.. Red n . consistent advoceee OF
Shjs systsn, HS has bpi|t up tha o{3ee Qf