The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-26
THE sPEAFIERsHIP CONTEST.

That the administration at washington
sees its opportunity to get complete con-
troll of the next congress by putting a
thorough going administration man in the
speakers chair, is clearly apparent IN the
fact that Senator Hanna has taken hand
in the preliminary skirmishing IN the in
terest of the several candidates for the
place.
Even though the next speaker may not
be a Tom Reed in ability or force Of char
acter he will be able to directly control
legislation through the committees which
he will select. The power Of appointment
of committees renders It possible to pack
the jury" on almost any proposition which
is expected to engage congressional atten-
ton, Once the committee has reported,
1t is very rare that the majority in the
house refuse to adopt the majority re-
port, or even permit any amendment to
bill as 1t comes from committee.
Mr.. Reed, 'yf tho force of his indivij-
uallty and by his autocratic methods. Of
ten controlled the committees of the house
against the wishes of the administration.
| 1t is not so soon forgotten that the prcsi-
dent was antagonized in many measures
during the last congress by the big speak
er, and that there was nothing left for
! the administration to do except to pocket
Its chagrin and disappointment.
While Reed Is partisan, he has his
own ideas OF the policies that would be
best for the republican party. He is OPP
posed to Imperialism. TO a big army. to
reckless expenditures In many directions
and to some pet schemes OF the Hanna
clique. He stood during the last congress
80 squarely In the way of these matters
that congress has yet to express Itself on
some of them. He also prevented legisla~
ton which the whole country desired with
reference to the Nicaragua canal, His re-
tlrement from congress will mean tho re-
opening of these questions and II only
an administration speaker can be elected
the president and his friend Hanna will
enjoy easy sailing so far as the favorable
consideration of their schemes is involved
II Is not difficult TO imagine what the
result will be. With republican, and
for that matter a Mckinley. majority In
the senate and house, and committees or
ganized with the understanding that GER.
tain things arc expected of them, the I'd.
! minlstratlon can perfect Its expansion
policy. reorganze the army as it desires
pass a ship subsidy bill. rush through thu
house its new currency plan. secure IN
limited appropriations for whatever 1t de-
sires, block any disagreeable investlga-
tiOns of the conduct of the war nrcveni
anti-trust legislation and generally run
things with free hand.
That the administration candidate, who.
ever he may be- will wln is a foregont
conclusion nobody except Reed could be
chosen over the administration opposition
But that the successful candidate will be
compelled TO give the fullest pledges Of
subservienoy to the administration can bt
set down as equally an indisputable TACT
he Will be but another Hanna puppet
In this connection 1t Is as gratifying as
1t is significant that word comes rom
Washington that the democrats will not
IL they can prevent 1t, allow Hon Joe
Bailey to abandon the leadership OF the
minority in the house. The next congress
will afford unexcelled opportunities for
a telling popular record for compact
fearless minority under the leadership OF
a parliamentarian of Mr.. Bsileys attain
ments. No other democrat In the house Is
80 fully equipped for the task as Bailey
and this fact is so generally recognized
that he IL likely TO be pressed into the
service whether he desires 1t or not