The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-05

SI1ATTLE, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8.
WORK BEFORE CONGRESS-.
The selection OF q speaker without any
contest removed one fruitful source OF
controversy and Of loss of time at the
beginning OF the congressional session.
The certainty that there would be no
contest enabled the speaker ELECT to ar
range his chairmanships of committees
In advance Of the time Of converting.
Even when there is a contest. each prob
able speaker makes up q slate, but this
has usually to be- modifled by the course
of events when the members meet in
caucus.
The present session Of congress will
be memorable. 1t will not be SO SEN
sational as some that have preceded
It, but 1t win be full Of interest and
fraught with important consequences.
The policy Of the United States with
reference to Cuba will be In itself q
serious matter, and question of no
less Importance. but requiring different
treatment, will arise out of our possess
sion Of Hawaii. the Philippine islands.
Porto Rico and Guam. Even IL we had
not those weighty subjects. the financial
problem would be enough to call for the
best craftsmanship on the part of the
Republican majority. as it will certain-
|ly provoke the most irresponsible dema-
gogy on the part Of the minority.
The only side issue to engage the at
tention of congress before getting down
to national work Is that involved in the
seating of Roberts, Of Utah. The Re-
publican members having about agreed
that the most efficacious method of deal
ing with him il to object to his taking
the oath. and SO raising the whole ques-
tfon. the Democrats are forced to take
the opposite view, and 30 maintain that
A was unconstitutional to refuse to
swear in one who brings the regular
credentials from his state. The first
encounter has taken place, but it decides
nothing.
Had the Republicans adopted that
view and permitted him to be sworn,
the Democrats would then have raised
the objection that it was too late. and
that 1t should have been made before
he took his seat. There are presidents
for both methods of proceeding, so that
the Republicans have acted wisely in
asserting their intention to question his
eligibility at the outset.
rules in the house. Representatives
might go even further and insist that
when, in order to crafty the vanity Of
a member and that he shall make a
good showing before his constituents,
permission is granted to print a speech
which has never been delivered, 1t shall
not be taken advantage of to print whole
volumes of extraneous matter. Another
very excellent rule would be to require
that member addressing the house
should confine himself to the subject
matter before 1t. This admirable rule
is insisted upon in all we'll regulated de-
lucrative bodies. Its absence from con-
gress results In a shocking waste OF
time because useless debates are per-
mitted over trivial and apparently ir-
relevant questions. On the whole,
Reeds rules have worked well. OF
course, rules impose discipline-that is
what they are for. and there is no rule
but which at some time works an APP
parent hardship.
The senate will have two questions OF
exceptional interest before It in addi-
ton to the measures relating to islands
in which we are interested. Special at
tention will be devoted to a scheme of
finance, and a personal matter will be
presented when Quay's credentials are
offered. 1t is claimed by his friends that
he will have no trouble in being seated.
1t is not apparent how the senate can
consistently seat him after having re-
fused admission to Senator Allen, Of