The San Francisco call., 1899-12-04
READY FOR WORK.

IRON the promptness with which the members
OF both parties in Congress succeeded in per-
forming the caucus work preliminary to the
organization OF the House, good omens be drawn
OF the outlook for business during the session Both
parties is evident, fairly free from fac
ton fights, and may consequently expect the re-
suits that flow from harmony.
In selecting Richardson OF Tennessee for their
leader the Democrats have acted more wisely than
expected and have done about the best they
could under the circumstances. He has been in the
House long time, and while he is not strong de-
batter. is in any way aggressive fighter, he is
thoroughly familiar with the rules OF the House and
with the members OF il. His speeches. while not
eloquent have the merit OF being comparatively short
1t has been said OF him by Washington correspond
ents, who have watched his course for years, that
while he is not irresstibly genial mixer" he
knows the House better and is better known by it
than any other Democrat 1t is to that fact probably
he his election Certainly a man OF his expert
will be safer and better leader for the minority
than the errac Bailey OF Texas, than the elo
quent Sulzer. Tammanys candidate would have been
had the New Workers succeeded in carrying the
caucus for him.
In the Republican caucus il foregone conclu-
sion that Henderson would be named for the Speaker
ship and accordingly there is no surprise the
fact that his nomination was given by acclamation.
The feature OF the caucus was the collapse of the
agitation to bring about change in the rules by
which the House is to be governed A motion pro-
vidng for a modification of the rules made by
Hepburn OF Iowa and was supported by Reeves Of
Illinois. but strong the opposition to it that
after some debate the motion was withdrawn and
resolution carried declaring be the of the
caucus that the Reed rules should be adopted by the
House
One OF the causes which impelled the caucus
tain the rules is the slender majority by which the
Republicans will have control OF the House. The
election OF 1906 had the singular effect of increasing
Republican strength in the Senate and decreasing it
in the House. Instead OF the majority OF fifty
which Reed had at his back in the last Congress,
Henderson will have hardly more than ten over the
combined Democrats and Populists. 1t would there
fore be manfesty inexpedent to deprive the Speaker
OF any power at this time for he will need all that
can be given him TO enable him carry through the
important measures which to come before Con-
gress.
Il is to be noted moreover that the Reed rules,
while depriving members OF the House OF many of
their oldtme privileges of speaking and lbustering
has been much more crushing upon the lobby. The
business OF the House is in the hands OF respon
sble committee and the lobbyist has no longer the
his work done by almost any member. Il is known
there will be a strong lobby in Washington this win
ter to fight the Nicaragua BILL the shipping bill and
the currency and banking bill That knowledge also
had much to do in determining Republicans to keep
to the rules which have proven effective in the past
against the Vaccinations OF that class OF people.
Judging then by the results OF the caucusng the
outlook for the session is good. We shall probably
have business Congress and one free from merely
partisan action be expected in year OF a
Presidential election