The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-03
ACTION OF THE MINORITY
JAMES ID. RICHARDSON NOMINATED
FOR THE sPEAKERSHIP.
VIII Also BE Democratic Leader on
the FIOor--COI. Bright TO Be Ousted
ed-Bonds to BE Refunded.
nscial 70 the Indianapolis Journal.

Special 70 the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-This has been q
busy day in congressional circles. Repub-
lican and Democratic members of the
House held caucuses. The former nomi-
mated Henderson for speaker by acclama-
ton. and agreed to re-enact the Reed rules
The minority selected Mr.. Richardson as
it's candidate for speaker. thus virtually
making the Tennesseean the Democratic
leader in the House The other event of
interest was the meeting OF the Republican
members of the Senate committee on
finance, which practically decided to pro-
vide in the new financial bill for the re-
funding OF the bonded Indebtedness OF the
government. -
There was an arrangement for Col r. ].
Bright's retention as sergeant-at-arms, but
he has made bad break which threat
ems his position. Colonel Bright attempted
TO aid Sergeant-at-arms Russell. of the
House, in his unsuccessful campaign for
denomination. day or two ago the two
gentlemen met and reUrganized the Capitol
police force, Bright trading OF bunch of
Senate dead ones for some House ''live
ones" who might be OF use to him in his
House sergeant-at-arms let his friend swell
the Senate list to about two-thirds of the
total. The details Of the arrangement were
carried to Henry Casson. who is slated for
the Russell berth. Casson is never asleep,
and when the Republican representatives
came TO him for soLlething from the pie
counter he told them he could do nothing
until his hands were united and the Re-
publican Senate put Republican sergeant
alarms in the place OF Democratic Dick"
Bright. Go TO work on your senator's"
was Casson's advice TO the pie hunters.
Tell 'em TO put in some ono as sergeant
alarms who is square, and with whom !
can do business,S AS result OF this sage
advice several dozen Representatives are on
the war path, lobbying for Colonel Bright's
retirement. Some OF the Southern friends
Of Secretary Cox, of the Senate, are also
after Colonel Brights scalp, having been
told that he had been conducting a cam
paign for himself at the expense of his
brother official. -
General Clarkson's proposed appointment
as secretary of the Senate Is arousing op-
position. If this opposition should take the
form that is threatened the Clarkson end
OF the slate will be knocked into fragments.
General Henderson has a pleasant sur
prise in store for the new Democratic
House leader. He has let it be known that
he will let the minority leader make up the
minority committee assignments. This will
add dignity and Importance TO the position,
and will enable Mr.. Richardson to maintain
discipline in his ranks Much OF the dis
order and Generalization in the Democratic
House ranks last year were due to Speaker
Reeds habit of dealing with Leader Bal
leys rivals direct. They went over Bailey's
head whenever they could. and impressed
on him the fact that he had no more infiu-
ence with the speaker than many others
This cost him his influence as a parlia-
mentary manager, and deprived him of
power to enforce discipline. General Hem
derson believes that responsibility for mi
nOrity floor management should be lodged
somewhere, and he proposes TO locate 1t on
the shoulders Of the caucus nominee for
speaker