Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-04-22
REED RULES WILL GO
New Methods Likely to Be Adopted
by the House.
LESS SPOWER FOBE GIVEN The SPEAKER
Various Candidates Conspicuous
for Their AmiabiIity.
FIRM, BUT NOT OFFENSIVE

1t Is likely that the Reed rules will go
out of Congress with Reed. A change of
the rules OF the House was what the dis
contented among the Representatives want
ed more than a change in the speakership
1t is probable that ii Reed had decided to
remain in Congress there would have been
change in the rules. The force of the
Reed rules. after ALL was more in the man
than in the rules. Another Speaker with
the same rules might not have been nearly
as powerful. Under the system in vogue
during the Fifty-fourth and Fifty-tifth Con-
gresseS-or it might be more properly said,
since the beginning of the Fifty-frst Con-
gress-the committee on rules has directed
legislation and the Speaker has controlled
the committee on rules. This committee
has been essentially the Speakers commit
tee. Before it was known that Mr. Reed in
tended to retire from Congress d scheme
had already been devised to procure Il re-
organization of the committee on rules
whereby 1t should be selected by the House
direct and the Speaker should not be a
member of the committee in the earlier
Congresses the Speaker was not a member
of this committee but for a number of
years he has been the chairman and also
the balance Of power, there being four
other members, two of each party. Under
the present system the committee simply
records the will Of the Speaker.
Whatever the rules of the next House
may be it is not probable that the new
Speaker viii dominate the representation
of the entire country as did Mr.. Reed.
There is no other man of Just his character
in Congress.
Conspicuous for AmiabiIity.
1t is a circumstance worthy of remark
that all the men seriously mentioned for
the speakership to succeed Mr.. Reed are
conspicuous for their general amiabilty and
gOod-fellOwship. Mr.. Reed never had these
traits. Before he elected Speaker he
had admirers as he has always had since,
but his general manner was not such as to
invite friendship or sOCiability. His wit al
ways had poison in it, and the men who
laughed afterward went off and rubbed
their wounds in private.
Firm but Not Offensive.
Mr.. Sherman, who is being very prorni-
nenty mentioned as a candidate at this
time has considerable positiveness of char
acter and a great deal of power of resist
ance. His exterior, however. is soft and
amiable. He is extremely popular in the
House because he knows how to be bright,
to hold to his own opinions and to be very
persistent IN everything he has set his
mind upon. without ever showing any irr
liability. He has a smiling, good-natured
way about him, which is generally pleas
ing. but his lips have a way of getting thin
and his eyes Of focusing down to a sharp
point when he has a fixed purpose which
is being combatted. This popularity of his
mouth and eye is not generally noticed in
the presence of his recognized good nature
and friendliness of disposition. AS a pre-
siding officer he is one of the most success
full the House has ever had. Being chair |
man of the committee of the whole during |
the last session he had considerable prac-
tice. He displayed a great deal of firmness
without making anybody angry.
Hopkins Generally Conciliatory.
Hopkins Of Illinois has probably never
any one in the House in a way
to give offense, except Mr.. Reed. He has
opposed Reed moderately on several occa-
sions, and once, when Reed was support
ing President Clevelands bond propositions |
he antagonized him very determinedly and |
had the following of large majority of |
the republicans with him in the fight This
was the only defeat recorded against Reed |
WITHIN his own party during his career as |
iedueF. hopkins Is capable man. moder- |
ate IN most things and generally concilia- |
Icl pul not deficient in frmneSs and de-
clSioh or character. He is adroit in exercis-
ing influence over his fellow members never
appearing TO arrogate anything to himself !
nor assuming a commanding attitnda when
in the lead. He confcrs rather than dirants
ana advises rather than commands He is |
wei informed on public affairs and oen'
Ilg hHo"S "nat the common run of |
people are thinking. He is nv nature
neither demagogue nor a dictator b,It y |
generally good fellow, whom people like
and whose Judgment is fairly reliable
Henderson Holds the Affections
Heh henderson is sentimeutally amlahle |
or sentlmentally aggressive as the circum |
stances control. Conspicuously a partisan.
ne holds the affection of his most active on |
ponents and the admiration of his follow
ers' he has no enemies in either party in
the House, and he enjoys privileges of free
expression Of opinion that no other man in |
the House does. He can make most saw
age attack upon an opponent, and five min
utes afterward the man will have an arm |
about his neck. There is nothing malignant
nor bitter In his composition, and he is
couragedusly generous. When his sympa-
thies are aroused he has the courage to go |
against the popular side of question, and !
everybody gives him credit for honest good |
feeling.
GrOsvenOr Enjoys Fight
Gen. Grosvanor enjoys fight and is al
most always in one, but he has a way of
seldom getting angry, and if he angers his
opponent he generally smooths him down
afterward. He has accommodating dis |
position and is ready for either a fight or |
a tea party. His purpose is always to be
fair, and he generally succeeds, though |
his methods are sometimes irritating. He |
is always good natured when he comes out |
of a fight whether he has had the best |
or thu worst of it, and he never puts any |
poison on his arrows, though he may give |
them a vicious fling.
There is nothing of the character of a !
czar in any of those who are talked of as
Reeds successor.
Personal Mention.