The evening times., 1899-11-20

Members of the Fifty-sixth Congress have
been slowly arriving in this city since the
election. but from Ipw on, the arrivals
will be much more frequent. 1t is thought
that by the first of next week two-thirds
of the Senators and Representatives will be
in the city.
TIE Finance Committee of the Senate
will, it is understood. meet some day next
week to consider the recommendations OF
the special joint committee which drafted
a currency reform bill at Atlantic City last
summer. 1t is known that the findings OF
this joint committee do not meet with the
appreciation Of all Of the members Of the
Senate Finance Committee, and 1t is be-
lieved that such changes will be insisted
upon by the Senate Committee as will
necessitate conference with the special
committee before the bill is presented.
"If no agreement can be reached by the
two committees before Congress coz
venes." said Representative today, there
will undoubtedly be bill introduced in
each House, which will finally go to con-
ference and the outcome will probably be
bill recognizing the single gold standard
as a basis, which bill will. it is contended,
become a law.
The members of the special committee,
of which Mr.. Henderson is chairman, VIII
60 all that is possible to have their pro-
posed bill accepted by the Senate.
The necessity for the presence in the city
! of the Democratic members of the House
arises largely from the caucus to be called
to nominate a candidate for Speaker. who
hv nf under
the rules of the party become the minority
leader in the House The minority recog-
sizes that, with but Republican majority
of thirteen against them. able leadership
may enable the Democrats to defeat some
OF the proposed party legislation.
On the poll of the House. every member
voting a change of but seven votes from
the Republicans to the Democrats Will be
sufficient to defeat any Republican meas
ure. This small majority is giving Mr..
Henderson great deal of uneasiness al
ready in his plans for arranging commit
tees. for it is his earnest desire not to offend
a single member of the majority, through
fear that the vote of such member may
be imperative to enable some party legisla-
tion TO pass through the House. An Of
Tended Representative will during the next
session have pleny of opportunity for re-
taliation upon the offender.
TO avoid giving any legislator an ex-
cuse for such action" said the Representa-
| tive quoted. ''in my judgment, Mr. Hender-
| son, when Speaker, will rot make many
| changes in the committees. He will have
| to appoint some new chairmen to impor-
! ant committees. but | believe he Will re-
| duce the number to a minimum. Mr.. Hen
| derson was chairman of the House Com
| mittee on Judiciary. Naturally he must
| appoint someone 10 fill this vacancy. This
| would probably be in the form OF a promo
| tion. and will be given to the ranking
| member on that committee. The same az
| ton. believe. will be taken relative to the
| Committee on Banking and Currency.
where there is vacant chairmanship. |
doubt very much that Representative Loud
| of California viii be removed from the
| craftsmanship of the Committee on Post
| Offices and Postrcads; Hull OF Iowa. from
the Committee on Military Affairs; Bou-
telle of Maine. from the Committee on
| Naval Affairs: Cannon of Illinois, from the
| Committee on Appropriations, or Hit OF
! Illinois, from the craftsmanship OF the
| Committee on Foreign Affairs. Mr.. Hen
| derson, to placate some of his colleagues.
will probably make some changes in his
| important committees, but l believe that
there will be very few"
| Most of the members of the House who
are in the city now do not believe that
| Mr. Henderson will announce the commit
tee much before the Christmas recess, but
there are a few who are inclined to the
opinion that. inasmuch as Mr.. Henderson
has been reasonably certain Of being Sc
lected for Speaker since last summer, he
has employed the time in arranging the
committees. and that he will b. prepared
to announce them during the first week Of
the session.