The age-herald., 1899-09-23
POLITICAL GOSSIP
 FROM WASHINGTON

a speaker or the house who was not rep resentative, it was greeted with sneers by some papers. which said that such a thing was impossible and unconstitutional. Pos sibly of all members in the house there was not one who would not have declared such a proposition likewise to be in oppo- sition to the constitution.
 No less an authority than James D Rich ardson, of Tennessee, the best parliament tarian in congress. who is seldom trpped in matters where the constitution is con cerned, said that such an election could not stand for five minutes that it was in di- rect opposition to the constitution.
 The matter was under discussion in a small gathering of politicians on the corner of Fourteenth and r streets at which Mr Richardson was present Representative Joy, who was also present, said that it was his opinion that the house was compelled to elect member of the house as speaker; that any one who was not a member of that body could not be chosen. This was the opinion of every man of prominence there and MT. Richardson went so far as to say that the constitution expressly pro- vided that the house should choose one of its own members for the speakership.
 
 Some dispute arose as to the exact word ing of the constitution and so the party adjourned to the Ebbitt house, where copy of the constitution was secured.
 Much to the surprise of every one pres ent it was found that the Hon. J. Ham Lewis was the only one who was right and that the proposition which he advances was perfectly permissible so far as the con- am esteemed document merely says that the speaker and other officers shall be elected by the house. Not a word about the speak ership being a member of the body, any more than there is about the clerk or ser geant-at-arms. MT. Joy has looked into the matter later and says that should the rep resentatives decide to elect an outsider as speaker that there is nothing in the con stitution on which such an election could be declared either unconstitutional or il- legal.
 The proposition advanced by Mr. Lewis was to elect some one for speaker who was not member and who could not dictate to the house any more than the vice-presi- dent can dictate to the senate. The speaker, if elected as Mir. Lewis would have him. could not vote save only when tie and the house would have the election of committees which would take this power out of the hands of the speaker. There seems to be no danger, however, that any one will ever usurp the prerogatives of the house to fine extent when such radical move-would prove to be necessary.
 The point as raised is an interesting one and illustrates the fact that the constitu- ton is still an unknown quantity, and the possibilities under it infinite.
 
 Representative Dalzef says he believes the approaching session of congress is the most important since the civil war. The most important legislation, he thinks, will be on the finances. and on the laws relating to the new colonial possessions. These two subjects alone will make the congress one of paramount interest. MT. Dalzell is member of the committee which had the framing of some financial bill. In discuss- ing this matter he disclosed the fact that the committees of the house and senate had not agreed on a measure, as it was thought they had, but that each will have a separate measure to presAnt to its re- spectve body when congress assemblies. This will greatly complcate matters and possibly be the means of defeating all leg islation on the subject. MT. Dazell said further, that in dealing with our new pos sessions and framing laws for them he was of the opinion that congress would pass laws for the government of the Phil ippines just as it would for Porto Rico and Hawaii, irrespective of the fact that there was a rebellion in the archipelago
 
 Secretary Gage has determined to weed out of the treasury all inefficient clerks, those who have been kept there simply through political influences, and who have been unable to attend fully to the duties required of them.
 The secretary says he has the greatest sympathy for the clerks who are mentally unable to perform their work, but that this sympathy should not prevent him from re- moving them as he would do were the case in some private institution or banking es- tablishment. Besides those who are de- linquent on account of mental limitations, there are many who shirk their work and otherwise fail in the performance of their duty. These he will put through rigid examination, and when they fail to meet the amount of work required of them they VIII De dropped.
 There is still a clamor heard for Dewey for president, and some of the eastern pa pers are prophesying that the people, ir- respective of the politicians will nominate him just as they brought about the nomi- nation of Grant. The revival of the dis cusson of the availability of the admiral just at this time is inevitable, and it may take shape later in some form that will force the hero of Manila to make some positive declaration on the subject. His friends say that he does not look upon the presidency as within the scope Of his per sonal ambition, but they are not ready to assert that he would decline the nomina- ton if offered to him. Applause and pro- motion is sweet to any man, and especial ly so if i. should come ansought and un- asked ror. Certainly he is the most en- s,a ,yino tic;lro in the national horizon today.