The age-herald., 1899-08-26
SPEAKER REED
 OUT OF CONGRESS

Chicago, August 2S.-lThe Times-Fzsraid's Washington special says; Thos. B. Reeds resignation from congress has long been accepted as foregone conclusion. and caused little comment in Washington. Re- publicans naturally regret his retirement. though. because he was a masterful spirit and powerful leader, speaker of such great force and remarkable resources as to insure his party every possible advantage in parliamentary struggles. It has been a noticeable fact during the recent discussion of his determination to retire that even his political opponents have expressed strong admiration for him as finetype of AIneri- can characts1, and many democratic con- gressmen have vuEeed their regret at his leaving the national legislature. It is conceded on all sides that with the resignation of the distinguished represen- tative from Maine congress will lose it's biggest man and it's most conspicuous character
 MT. Reed was elected to congress last fall for his twelfth consecutive term. and his determination to resign was apparently a sudden decision. He was offered part nership in New York law firm on tempt ing terms, and 1t was street gossip that ne had been guaranteed an income or soo'OoV' That report may or may not be true. put MT. Reed permitted 1t to be understood that he made the change to provide for his old age.
 He Is 60 years old. He has spent all his
 
 poor man. Besides his income as speaker he had salary as referee for certain ih- surance organizations. and he earned something from contributions to neWspa- pers and magazines but his total income was small compared with what he might have earned in the practice of his profess sion, and his scale of living, though nor extravagant, left little surplus. His friends think 1t both wise and natural that he should have accepted the offer ot the Ne" York firm to join it's forces.
 The best opinion in Washington is that MT. Reeds primal reason for the change is the financial advantage for himself. It is generally believed. however, that he Is not blind to the presidential possibilities in 1904 in an Identification wrth New York and its republican organization.
 Mir. Reed will leave a strong impress on the methods of congress. He revolutionfzed some of it's rules and earned the title of "Czar," but most of his innovations have been approved by experience He greatly curtaled the powers of a filibustering mi- nority by his famous decision to count quorum, and the democrats ratified his ac- tion by adopting the same rule when they came into power. He had despotic rule that enabled him to refuse to recognize members of congress who wished to speak and against that even republicans rebelled, but, as he exercised his tremendous power periodically. it is agreed that the benefit to the country far outweighed the injury to individual pride and purpose.
 MT. Reed served the people in many posi- tions Born at Portland Me, in 1889. he was graduated from Bowdoin college. Then he studied law For year and a half, to- ward the close of the civil war, he was an assistant paymaster in the navy.
 He was elected to the house of represen- tatives of Maine in 1869, and to the state senate two years later. This was followed by three years as attorney general of his state and by nearly four years as city so- Hcitor of Portland. He was first elected to congress in 1876 and was reelected every two years by largo majorities. He was chosen speaker in 1889 and when his party returned to power in 1895 he was again in- stalled in that exalted position.
 While 1t was expected that he would serve in the next congress there no talk of any other candidate for the speak, ership but his retirement insures the elec- ton of Congressman David B. Henderson. of Iowa.