The Press., 1899-11-23
Washington Letter.
Washington, Nov. 20, 1899.

The advance guard of the fifty-sixth congress has already reached Washington, and congressional talk is heard on every side. Hon. D. B. Henderson, who enjoys the unique distinction of having been chos- en speaker of the house, many months in advance of the assembling of congress, has opened headquarters, where members of the house can talk to him about their committee assignments and oSher matters pertaining to the coming session, and one of the four gentlemen who are aspiring for the minority nomination for speaker Richardson, of TeLnessee-which carries with it the floor leadership, has also opened headquarters. MT. Richardson claims to have more pledges than any of his rivals, but he does not claim to have a sufficient number to nominate. MT. Bailey, of Texas, was the minority leader in the last house, but in fit of pique, he announced during the last session that he would not be a candidate for the honor again, but would throw his strength to Mir. Bankhead, of Alabama The other candidates are MT. Arnold, of Missouri, and MT. Sulzer, of New York, who is said to cultivate resembling Henry Clay. Shrewd observers would not be surprised to see deadlock in the caucus, and the nomination of MT. Bailey again, as a compromise.
 There will be marked difference in the relations of the president and the speaker of this house, and those which existed during the last congress. One of the first things that Col Henderson did after set ting himself and family in their Wash ingtun quarters, was to call at the White House, and hold long conference with ! the president, with whom he is and has been for years in perfect accord, and these conferences are likely to be frequent as the work of tho session progresses. While 1t Is not true that the president and speaker Reed were enemies, they were a long ways from being in accord on some very important questions, involving not only the policy of the government, but of the party of which they are both promi- nent members, and neither seemed able to forget that they had been rivals both for the speakersbip and for the presi- dency. What effect this harmony hetwe, n the president and the speaker will have | upon legislation. remains to be seen. hut that it will make things pleasanter for al concerned is certain.
 Owing to the settling of the speaker ship in advance, and of the general pellet that with one possible exception, the i'm portapt house officers will be reelected there is none of the excitement in Wash ington, which usually precedes the open ing of new congress. With everything practically settled, there is nothing fol anybody to get excited about. Even al of the old chairmen of house committees will get the same assignments or some thing that they prefer, in the present house. That only leaves few important chairmenships to be filled, including that of the judiciary committee. filled by Col Henderson in the last congress, and O. 
 filled by MT. Walker, of Mass. who was not candidate for reelection.
 MT. Andrew Carnegie has promised te appear before the industrial commission sometime next month to testify about trusts. He should be very interesting witness, if he tells all he knows about trusts, especially about the big one that was planned but not actually formed, to controll the steel business.
 It looks now as though there would be more radical changes in the senate com mittees at the coming session of Cong Iess than in those of the house. If pres ent plans are carried out, the senate com mittees having eleven members, which for some years have been composed of sis from the majority and five from the oppo sition, will he reorganized early in tht session 90 as to have seven members from the majority, and the committees having thirteen mbers will have nine majority senators. The cause for this change is said to be that for the first time in years the senate will have large party major ity-sixteen if Senator Hayward, of Ne braska, is able to take his seat. and four teen if he dies and 8 fusion senator is ap pointed by the governor of Nebraska, te succeed him. One of the most important results of this change will be that it will give the gold men control of the finance committee, which they have not had for a long period. In fact, the silver men say that 1t is for the purpose of getting con troll of that committee that the change has been determir cd upon.
 Commissioner Wilson, of the interna revenue bureau, has made an important decision, holding that only life insurance policies issued by organizations under the cooperative plan, are exempt from tax ation under the war revenue act, and that all policies issued by insurance compan les, doing business for profit must pay the war tax.
 The cabinet has approved the propo. sition for Cuba and Porto Rico to make exhibits at the Paris exposition, and $50 900 has been set aside from the island revenues to pay expenses connected with the exhibits. which will be principally ot an agricultural nature.
 Don Inoisten your new pen between | your lips before you begin to write
 Take your cheap steal pen. dip it in the | ink then hold if in thl Aou,a oP o