The Portland daily press., 1899-11-15
CURRENT COMMENT.
THE NEW CONGRESS.
(Boston Transcript.

Within three weeks the Fifty sixth Con.
gress will meet and organize. since its
predecessor adjourned grant deal has
happened. Great responsibilities walt
and seasoned members win be confronted
by new conditions. while tbs freshmen In
the halls of legislation will have all they
can do to acuuit themselves Hike sagaolous
law givers, even with all tho help they
can obtain from the steering committees,
Problems will arise, or rather they are
now waiting, which have never come TO
the front before, and though almost all
the mem bers, both old and new. are with
out doubt com lifted to some definite
liue of policy. they will find the proper
working out of detail to be n much more
difficult matter than It 10 10 hold and de-
fsnd general opinions.
The change In the speaksrship will be
another variation Of conditions whose re-
suits are get to be tested. while Mr..
Reed was there he was . known quantity.
Some liked him; some disliked him; not
a few fearsd him. But In given situs-
tion all knew pretty well what he would
do and governed themselves accordingly.
The Adjustment OF the Speaker to the
aud abrupt; but It was never vague.
Now, tor q time at least. the relations
must he different. HE successor, General
Henderson, is a man who has been we'll
liked on the door Of the Houss, and 10
familiar with the routine Of that body.
1t Is not expected that he Will maintain
the same rlgidity OF discipline that char
acterizsd Mr.. Reed's ADMINISTRATION, but
perhaps he can accomplish as desirable
results by diplomacy. In any event he
will need good degrees Of nrmness and
Independence to Withstand all the as-
saults for place and patronage that Will
be IN ,de upon him In his organization Of
committees "a work upon which he IL
doubtless already Engaged.
Congressman are considerably like
school children. After selecting lead.
their next business is ID test his temper,
gauge his limitations and sound his avail
ability for personal and political ends.
so, the sooner new Speaker finds out
that even for his own protection he must
Garry a strong ana steady hand, the bstter
it will bs for him aud tor the countiy,
But there are also Influences from with
out as we'll rs from within against which
he must guard. There are rumois that
the lobby proposes to exploit its chances
once NJ ore under the new regime. Durin I
Speaker Reeds fncumbency the lobby
had rather q hard time Of 1t. A very few
OF the old guard remained at their posts.
more from forcs of habit than hope Of
gain, but they did not show forth In tn ,
aliuring light of former years No lavish
entertainments, no princsly expsnditur es
hare marked their r. C mt opsH ations. They
have seemed more like ancient splendor
gone to SEED than forces t, be rtcJkned
with IN current Legislative enterprises.
But there are signs that a renaissance
of the lobby along former lines will be
attemrL I'd this coming winter. Colanel
Tom Och iltres OF Texas and New York,
who, since he ceased to be n congressman.
has continued to haunt the scene Of so
many former good dinners, has found q
responsible employer. 1t IL said, and will
blossom out Ms giver CT dinners himself,
for purpose. But ths days have passed
when triumphs like those If the late
Sam Ward can be repeated. They are
gone with the old duelling days and
other traditions of life at the nations
capital. 1t may be possible to revive the
vulgar side II lobbying but the aesthetic
side has departed forever, and thsre is
thu rsfure no further excuse for liberation
of the evil; 81 IL 10 to he hoped that the
wiles OF Colonel Oohiltrse and his
coDeeners will hnd little encouragement.