Evening star., 1899-06-07
That Mr.. Reed Would Retain His
Seat in Congress.
SPEAKERSHIP SITUATION SIMPLIFIED
Effect of the Action of the New
York Delegation.
COMMITTEE POSSIBILITIES

in New York is pronounced absurdity
by those who understand the situation. 1t
is known that Mr.. Reed does not intend to
retain his seat, and the idea that he would
do so, while spending most of his time
in New York practicng law, is utterly in
consistent with his ideas of propriety. 1t
is so distinctly understood that Reed will
retire from the House as well as from the
speakership that his private secretary, Mr..
Allen, who is surely in position to be
Informed on the subject, is an active candl-
date for Congress to succeed him. During
his terms as Speaker, Reed has been most
active in trying to break up the abuse OF
absenteeism among members of the House.
Some of his most sarcastic filings have been
at members of the House who could spare
but Il little of their valuable time to the
performance of their duties. He has never
left any room for doubt as to what he
thought of such members, and he has done
from time to time whatever was in his
power to put an end to the abuse, his idea
being that a man should either perform
the duties of his office or else resign. 1t
is not at all likely. therefore, that he would
himself adopt III" practice which he so
earnestly has condemned, nor is it at all
consistent with the circumstances OF MS
employment in New York that he should
take time from it to devote to the duties
of member of the House. When Mr.. Reed
determined to accept the New York offer
he at the same time concluded to retire
from Congress. 1t does not necessarily fol-
low that he contenpiates permanent re
tirement from puOliC Efe.
Eject of New YorA's Action.
The action of the New York delegation and
the retirement of Mr.. Sherman from can
didacy for the speakership, assuring una
nimity in the choice of Gen. Henderson for
Speaker, relieves the situation from any
hin
the interest of a candidate 1t is said that
Gen. Henderson will go into office when
elected freed from entanglem ants and at
liberty to make committee assignments ac-
cOrdinG to his own free choice. The belief
is that this will result in the construction
of committees much on a line with those
of the Fifty-fifth Congress- though neces-
sarily there will be many changes on ac-
count of the changes in the personnel of
the HOUSE. 1t is likely that the leading
men having favored committee assign
ments which they desire to hold will not
be interfered with, and that there will not
be any very radical shaking up except in
the committee of banking and currency. A
committee which has heretofore been re-
gardcd as of comparatively minor import
ance will develop into great consequence
III the n9Xt Congress. This is the commit
tee territories. Except during times
when 1t was the policy of Congress to ad
nit certain territories to statehood, this
committee has had little work of a sort to
ship on 1t has not been sought by many
members of the House. Last winter how
ever, the question of legislation for the
government of Hawaii, annexation having
already occurred, was referred to the ter
rltorleS committee, and it was established
by ruling that measures relating to
territory belonged to that committee.
Therefore, in addition to the Hawaiian leg
islation, the questions relating to the gov
ernment of Porto Rico and the Philippines
Will have to be dealt with, and the com
mittee will become one first in importance
and interest. The foreign affairs commit
tee will consequently lose much of its con-
sequence, and some Of the men most eX-
perienced in international and colonial
questions will want positions on the terri
tories committee. The Cuban question will
probably remain with the foreign affairs
committee, since Cuba is still foreign ter
ritory, and, moreover, the spirit of COM
mercial expansion is likely to enliven in
terest in the consular reform bill which
there will be an effort to pass during the
coming session.
Some Committee Possibilities
1t is said that Mr.. Knox of Massachu-
setts. who was chairman of the territories
committee during the last Congress, would
like to succeed Mr.. Walker as chairman of
the committee on banking and currency,
and 1t Is expected that some man familiar
with foreign questions, possibly Hit him
self being willing to leave the foreign
affairs committee, will be placed at the
head of territories. No doubt is felt that
Payne of New York will remain at the
head of the ways and means committee
and Cannon at the head of appropriations.
The committee on rules will probably more
than ever be regarded as the ranking COM
mittee in point of dignity, since there will
be an effort to change the rules in some
material respects. and the committee will
be the new Speakers cabinet.
Sherman and Henderson,,
in wit
Henderson's favor, sent the following dis
atch to Gen. Henderson last night:
NEW YORK, June 6.
Gen. ID. B. Henderson, Dubuque, Iowa:
The republican representatives from New
York state, at q meeting held today, Mr.
Wadsworth and Mr.. Ray withdra wing
therefrom, and Mr.. Payne not being pres
ent, rendered me their support for Speaker
L acknowledged with gratitude the honor
but stated that in my opinion q majority of
the republicans of the Fifty-sixth Congress
had already voluntarily expressed a prefer
ence for you, and that support was not con-
hned to any section; that with long ac-
qualntance and service with you | was
aware OF your eminence and fitness for
Speaker, and that unanimous election
would tend to strengthen you, whereupon
the meeting at my request instructed me to
notify you that the New York republican
representatives rendered you their support
JAMES S. SHERMAN.
The following reply was received:
]. s. Sherman:
l have just received your telegram of this
date, in which l am notified that the New
York delegation had rendered you their
support for the speakership of the Fifty
sixth Congress, which you declined and
that at your request you are instructed by
that delegation to tender me their support
The close friendship that has existed be-
tween us for years makes it unnecessary
for me to give any personal assurance of
my high regard for you. But this action
on your part, backed by great delegation
must recognize with an expression of
gratitude sincere and profound l am par
ticularly grateful to you for pointing to the
fact that my support comes from every
part of the United States. This has been
my highest enlbition In the race for the
speakership and WILL you say, greatly
strengthen me for the arduous duties and
responsibilities of that Office 1 assure you
that | comprehend the fun meaning of yOur
manly course and of the action of your
delegation. May / ask you to make known
to them my sincere appreciation Of their
friendship and confidence?
ID. b. HENDERSON
Mr.. Sherman paid a hurried visit to
Washington this morning and had con-
ference with Representative Curtis of Kan
sas at the Arlington. Mr.. Curtis is the
member of the Kansas delegation who de-
ciared for Sherman and tried IN throu