Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-05-12

THOMAS B. REED.
QIow He Looked at the Beginning of His
Congressional CareerD
thority as ruthlessly as the czar of Rus
sia controls his broad domain. Speaker
Reed has often been called the czar
because of his determined character;
but there is a vast difference between
the real czar and the man who rules our
house of representatives..
The czar of Russia was born to pow
er; and by divine right wields that
power as long as he lives. The speaker
of the house of representatives. eNer-
cises complete power within his legisla-
tive domain; but that power is conferred
upon him by majority of the house
of representatives. Whenever at any
time the speaker goes beyond that
which is deemed right and proper by
the majority he may be deposed and
another representative be elected in his
place. Therefore p must be under
stood that SO long as Speaker Reed en-
erts such wonderful power in the ma
tional house of representatives he isS
simply the mouthpiece of the majority
and his every act has their sanction.
The people are apt to form erroneous
opinions concerning men whose names
are seen in print If half the stories
in criticism of big Tom Reed were true,
the people might well believe him to be
a sort of hobgoblin or other fearsome
creature. But, as matter of fact, his
individuality is such that he 5 really
q lovable character.
frnT 10
state is not an accident, but a growth.
When he first came TO congress he was
On par with every other representa-
tive OF the people. AT that time he at
tTacted attention only because he was "A
large man physically. His large round
head was covered with a crop of silky
auburn hair, and on his upper lip there
grew a delicate little boyish mustache.
To-day he is bald, without mustache,
and his general appearance in some de-
gree warranted the jocular appellation
which was given him 10y Amos Cum
mings, The moon-faced cZar.'
During all tire years of his continu-
ous service Mr.. Reed increased in
strength, and every year he more aId
more commanded attention for his in
tellectual abilities. AS he grew in
knowledge of parliamentary law aud
legislative procedures he assumed
prominence in all debates. Moreover,
il became apparent to all of MS asso-
ciates that he was u growing man and q
strong man. whose arguments usually
demonstrated that he was reaching cor
rect conclusions. His fellow repre-
sentatives began to consult HIM and
seek his advice on all important occa
SONS, so that after lapse of years he
gradually grew into the confidence of
the strong men of his party, until lead
ership was given him by election TO the
speakership.
AS the leading republican member of
the committee on ways and means, in
the Forty-ninth and Fifty-first con-
crosses, MIR. Reed was recognized as the
floor leader of his party. When the
Fifty-tirst congress convened, with a
small republican majority, Mr.. Reed
was a candidate for the speakership.
The other candidates were Mr.. Burrows,
OF Michgan; Mr.. Henderson, of Iowa,
and Maj. Mckinley, of Ohio. The con-
test was a warm one for about ten days,
and when the republican caucus met
MI hctu liltl d HIiJollAS oNei an, anu
was elected speaker. Very soon after
assuming the chair he made a rule con-
cerning Il quorum of the house of rep
resentatives which excited Il bitter con-
troversy of Virulent partisan char
meter. He claimed that under the con
stitution of the United States when
there was quorum visible the house
could do business. Previous to that
time it had been generally understood
that there must be "a quorum present
and voting"
Mr.. Reed maintained that it was only
necessary 20 have a quorum present"
Therefore although the minority MEM
berS were present and declined to vote,
Mr.. Eeed called those present by name
and caused the clerk to mark them
down as present and not voting" But
the mere fact that they were present
made up the quorum, which is a major
jty of the house, and business nroceed-
ed. Two or three years Afterwards this
Interpretation Of the constitution was
Endorsed by the supreme court of the
United States, and also by the demo- |
cratic party when it had a majority in
the house of representatives.
When MIR. Reed, as speaker of the
house of representatives., anncpnced