The times., 1899-11-17
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.
Henderson to Arrive Today.-Rep.

Henderson to Arrive Today.-Rep-
resentative Henderson of Iowa. who is
TO be Speaker OF the House in the Fifty
sixth Congress, is expected in Washing
( ton this evening He has taken apart
ments for himself and family at the Nor
mandie Hotel for the winter. Very few
congressman have arrived in the city dur
ing the last few days but they are ex
pected in goodly numbers coincident with
the coming of the Speaker-to-be be- Among
the questions that several leading mem
bers wish to talk over with Mr. Hender-
son perhaps the first in Importance is that
OF amending the House rules; but, as has
heretofore been pointed out, it is not
probable that the changes from the Reed
regime Will. be either numerous or radical.
There is no serious disposition to do away
with the Reed method of counting a quo
rum on the part of the majority leaders.
but there IS a great deal of talk about
/ amending the rules so as TO not permit
the Speaker to refuse to recognize a mem
Der. Changes are also proposed with re-
gard TO the power vested in committee
ehairmen to cali up legislation, and there
Is a decided disposition in some quarters
in favor of curtailing the autocratic pow
ers of the Committee on Rules, which has
heretofore virtually controlled the course
of legislation. These questions concerning
the rules, it is believed, will come in for
more consideration at the outset than the
question of chairmanships and committee
assignments With regard to the latter
matter it is pointed out that Mr. Hender
son stands Ing peculiarly delicate position
toward the members of the House. This
IS the result of his already having been
practically chosen for presiding officer far
IN advance of the time for Congress to
meet, but it nevertheless requires the for
NAL action of the Republican caucus 20
settle the matter without any Opposi-
ton for the Speakership, Mr.. Henderson
will naturally feel the embarrassment of
saying or doing anything in advance Of his
election to encourage one aspirant at the
expense of another and it is therefore be-
lieyed that, appreciating this. numbers will
feel difident about approaching him on the
subject before the opening of Congress.
1t has been pretty well understood that as
TO certain members who were instrumental
In turning the tide In the Iowa mans di-
rection practical assurance has been given
Of choice plums. but for all that there has
been remarkable absence of gossip as
to specific assignments. 1t would appear
that the greater part of the anxiety as to
committee assignments viii belong to the
new members. who viii have their hrSt
draw at the prizes and who have no
prestige nor precedent to guide their dis
position. For this reason it is expected
that the new members will be early on the
ground. No shake-up to speak of Is an
ticipated with regard to the older members.
RumOrs About Secretary Long
Again rumors have been circulated to the
effect that Secretary Long is shortly to re-
sign from the Cabinet. They cannot he
verified. Secretary Long left the city
few days ago to accompany his daughter
10 Colorado, there to seek a climate bene-
ficial to the latter's health. 1t was an
nounced at the time that the Secretary
would be absent from Washington for at
least month, but it was stated at the
Navy Department yesterday that he would
return to his desk early next week Some
profess to believe that his sudden return
is significant of an intention to close up
his official duties and tender his resigna-
tion to the President although a despatch
from the West quotes him as saying he
has no intention of resigning.
1t is said by Mr.. Longs friends that he
has never been over fond Of pubic life,
but whatever his intentions may be. it
is believed that the President will prevail
upon him not to quit the Cabinet just as
Congress is about TO meet, and that he
will be persuaded to hold on at least until
next summer, if not through the Prssiden-
tial campaign.