Evening star., 1899-04-19
He Will Practice Law in New York
City.
EFFECT OF HISACfION ON LEGISLATION
House Win Be Organized on Ad.
ministration Lines.
CONTEST FOR SPEAKER


to take up the practice of law In New
York city.
This announcement by Mr.. Reed creates
very interesting situation in connection
with the assembling and organization of
the Fifty-siXth Congress. 1t was not gen.
orally known among Mr.. Reeds colleagues
in the House prior to the adjournment of
Congress that he contemplated retiring.
The fact that at about the time of the
opening of the F'ifty-fifth Congress Mr..
Reed had had an offer to go into the prac
tice of law in New York was commonly
understood, but his failure to accept that
offer led to the general belief that he de-
sired to continue his congressional career.
During the two years of the Fifty-Gfth
Congress, especially at the last session,
some antagonism against him was excited
by his weil-kDown opposition to the admin
istrauon and some of its policies. Shortly
after the close of the Fifty-fifth Congress
an attempt was made quietly to test the
feasibility of developing these antagonisms
into an opposition TO his reelection as
Speaker. This was abandoned chiefly on
account of the difficulties involved but in
certain quarters intinations had been re-
ceived that Mr.. Reed might retire, and this
was consolation to some of those who
were disappointed in their efforts to organ
ize an effective opposition 10 his election.
His Successor as Speaker.
The retirement of Mr.. Reed will insure
the election of a Speaker thoroughly in
harmony with the administration, and who
will exert himself to carry out the admin
istrations policy. This is liable to have
a very material effect upon legislation not
only with reference to our insular policy
and the construction of the Nicaragua
canal, but with reference to currency mat
tiers. Though Mr.. Reed is a single standard
gold man, 1t has been well understood that
he was not in sympathy with the propositions
for financial legislation submitted by the
administration, his general idea being that
little if any legislation on the currency
question was desirable at this time and that
the agitation of the question might inter
rupt the rapidly developing prosperity of
the country. 1t was generally felt during
the last Congress by those who were i'm
patient for currency legislation that had
Mr.. Reed been willing to assist a measure
could have been passed through the House
at least.
ORGANIZATION on Administration Lines
The organization of the House in the
next Congress on strictly administration
lines is expected to facilitate legislation
in accordance with plans which are being
formulated by the caucus committee now
sitting at Atlantic City. This committee is
working along the administration lines
rather than in accordance with the views
of the indianapolis monetary conference,
and it Is expected that it's report will be
in harmony with the desires of the Presi-
dent.
While this harmony between the admin
istratton and House organization which is
promised greatly improves the prospects
Il does not, however. insure legislation, and
too much should not be expected There
are several difficulties in the way of finan-
cIal legislation, even under these more
favorable conditions. In the first place the
n a lnrf tha
the House Is small that an inconsider-
able disaffection would hamper action. and
IN the second place the failure of the SEN
ate republicans to officially cooperate with
the House caucus committee in the formu-
lation of their plan is significant of a fail
ure of agreement there. 1t Is not certain
yet though the republicans will have a
substantial majority in the Senate that
enough of them to carry a bill through
that body. or even that an absolute ma
jortty is assured for the simple proposition
of the permanent maintenance of a single
gold standard. The House caucus commit
tee was constructed with the understand
ing that 1t was to cooperate with the Sen
ate committee. With this understanding
it was expected that the action of the
caucus next winter would be practically
binding. But in the absence Of the CO.
operation of the Senate, if there are any
members Of the House who are dissatisfied
with the plan reported by the caucus the
opportunity for refusing to obey it will
be afforded.
The plan for the retirement of such
greenbacks as are redeemed in gold until
they shall again be issued Tor gold which
it is expected the caucus committee win
report, is opposed by number of repub-
licans in both the House and Senate. if
not coupled with further legislation, their
opposition being based on the argument
that the reserve in the treasury might be
completely exhausted by taking out gold
for greenbacks and that if no other cur
laI
would be left practically without any
money in the treasury, the greenbacks re-
ceived on gold redemptions not being avail
able for any purpose.
The Spenkership Contest
This question, as well as that of the SUM-
port of the policy of the administration
generally. will probably enter very promi-
nently into the speakership contest. Thera
will certainly be no candidate on a plat
form of opposition to the administration.
but with all avowedly sustaining the ad-
ministration, the candidates will have to
go into detail in defining their positions.
1t Is quite certain that the candidate who
succeeds will have to stand souarelv In
support of the Presidents insular policy ON
the Nicaragua canal question and on the
internal economic policy, which are an
proved by the bulk of the party.
1t Is likely that the rivalry will be keen
a perfect understanding between the new
organization of the House and the adminIs
tration on all questions.
Announced in New York.
NEW YORK, April 19.-It is announced
here that Speaker Thomas B. Reed has ac-
cepted the offer to become a member of the
law firm of Simpson, Thacher & Barnum in
this city. 1t is understood that Mr.. Reed
will resign his seat In Congress and remove
to New York. The statement has been made
that Mr. Reed is guaranteed yearly In
come of $4,000. Before settling down here
Mr.. Reed will make a protracted visit to
Europe
The Mail and Express says that Mr. Bar
rum of the law firIa said that Mr.. Reed had
already practically become member of
the firm, but would not enter actively upon
his new duties until after he had taken a
brief vacation in Europe
The final decision was not made by Mr.
Reed until all the details of his acceptance
Of their offer were arranged. Mr. Barnum
could not say exactly when the Speaker
would leave for his European sojourn or
just how long he would remain.
He was to have sailed with his family to-