The evening times., 1899-04-20
GENERAL WASHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP

Exit Thomas b. Reed.-The die In
cast. Thomas B. Reed has decided to quit
public life. He has not actually rendered
his resignation, and there will be time for
him to recon ider his action between now
and the as( sbling Of the Fifty-sixth
Congress. bglhose who know Mr.. Reed
are satisfied et his decision is final He
Is not va4 Hating man. whatever else
may be charged up against him.
In leaving Congress the majority OF po-
litical forecastsrs think that Mr.. Reed has
said farewell to any future political am
bition. Visions Of the White House will
no longer disturb his slumbers. But, OF
course. II his party should call upsn him
In 1900 or alta later period to become its
standard bearer Hr. Reed would in all
probability not decline. He is but human
after all.
"The financial inducement," said a
friend Of Mr.Reed today. probably had a
great deal to do with influencing him to
leave public life. but am satisfied that
that was NOT the only reason that swayed
his Judgment Mr.; Reed realized that even
il he should be reelected Speaker 1t
would be impossibie for him to continue
his autocratiG7 and arbitrary control Of the
House. The Reed rules will not be adOpte 1
by the next House and no one appreciates
that fact any more than the gentleman
from Maine. Naturally it would be most
humiliating to Mr.. Reed to occupy the
Speakers chair stripped Of his former au-
thority."
The Speakership COntest.-The fight
for the Speakership of the next House may
be said to have opened with the announce
ment of Mr.. Reeds intended withdrawal
to private life.
Representative Sherman of New York is
believed to have had the advantage Of
several weeks advance notice OF Mr..
Reeds intentions: in fact. it is said that
Mr.. Reed has picked out Mr.. Sherman TO
succeed him in the Speakers chair. How
ever, this fact may not operate to Mr.
Sherman's advantage. The contest will
probably narrow down to a fight between
the East and the, West. There are seven
ty-six Republican representatives from the
States east of the Allegheny Mountains.
and 100 from the West. 1t is fair TO as
sumo. therefore. that IL the Western men
stick together. that they will name the
next Speaker. General Henderson, Of Iowa.
seems to be in the lead in his section, al
though Mr.. Hopkins, Of Illinois, has quite
a strong following. Henderson will un-
have the united support OF his
own delegation. as Mr.. Hepburn. his only
possible rival in the delegation, has grace
fully retired in his favor. General Hen
derson was made chairman Of the House
Caucus Committee. appointed at the close
OF the last session. to outline "practi-
cable scheme of currency reform" The
committee is now holding meetings at
Atlantic City. and will be engaged on this
work most all summer. Cen
eral Henderson. however. is not likely to
permit IL to interfere with his canvass for
the Speakership.
The Administration" said a prominent
Republican today. will be forced 10 take
a hand in the -Speakership battle. whether
il wishes to do SO or not. Mr.. McKinley's
fate to a certain extent is involved in the
matter. The record made at the next ses-
sion will have an important bearing on the
Presidential election next year. and for
that reason the President and his friends
will endeavor- to have man elected Speak
er who will cooperate with the Admin
istration.
: ..The situation. is rather embarrassing
to the Administration friends. II they
put a weak 3lnan in the chair he will do
more harm than good, as he will not be
able to control the House.
II believe that the President is inclined
to favor an Eastern man for political
reasons. but that is only surmise. There
will undoubtedly be a conference Of Ad-
to discuss the situation from every point
Of view and decide on a line Of action
FlOridn's New SenatOr.-James P.
Taliaferro has been selected to succeed
Senator Pasco of Florida in the Senate.
He is native OF Virginia. His election
will add another millionaire to the Senate
He has made his fortune since the war.
Residents OF Florida who know Mr.. Talia- /
'erro speak very highly Of him. He is not
IN orator they say, but has great execu- |
i've ability and will serve the interests of
lis State in the Senate acceptably. Former |
Senator Wilkinson Call OF Florida was |
candidate for the Senatorship. but he was |
very bad third in the race. receiving only |
,ix votes. Mr.. Taliaferro is said to be an |