The times., 1899-01-16
GENERAL POLITICAL
NOTES AND GOSSIP.

Inc Leuuershfp or the HOuse.-
There is more or less speculation in politi
cal circles as to who will succeed to Mr..
Dingley's mantle as leader of the ma
Jority on the floor of the House. Speaker
Reed. 1t is understood. has not given the
matter any serious attention as yet. At
any rate, he has not discussed the subject,
so far as is known, with any of his irti-
mate friends. Mr.. Reed will have a diff
cult task to find a man who can fill Mr..
Dingley's place. The relationship between
the two men was of the closest and most
confidential character. Mr.. Reed had un-
bounded confidence in Mr.. Dingley's judg-
ment and his loss, will be almost ire
parable to the Speaker.
Representative Serene E. Payne, of Au-
burn, New York, stood next to Mr.. Ding
ley on the Ways and Means Committee.
and his friends will naturally expect MIN
to succeed to the chairmanshp of the
committee and also to the leadership of
the majority on the floor 1t is recalled
that when Mr.. Hooker of New York re-
signed the chairmanship of the Committee
on Rivers and Harbors recently to accept
a judgeship, that Mr.. Reed left it to the
committee to- select its chairman. This
precedent, however is not likely to be
followed in the matter of the present
vacancy at the head of the Ways and
Means Committee, as the position carries
with it the additional responsibility of
the leadership, of the House and conse-
quently the personal representative of the
Speaker upon the floor. Whether Mr..
Payne measures up to the full require
ments of Mr.. Reed in this respect is largely
4 matter Of conjecture. Payne is an old
and experienced representative in length
,f in, hn hn
thought of by his associates. He is man
of quite an imposing presence-much more
so than Mr.. Dingley for that matter-but
he has never given any indication OF pos
sessing any special brilliancy or qualifca-
tions that would make him naturally
leader among his fellows. He has been
mentioned for good many things
Speaker, senator and governor of New
York but somehow he has never succeeded
in getting beyond that stage Mr.. Payne
was in the line for the chairmanship of
the Ways and Means Committee when Mr..
Dingley was selected for the position
The fact that Mr.. Reed overlooked his
claims then leads good many people to
believe that he will be likely to do so
again. If Mr.. Reed only had to appoint a
Chairman of the Ways and Means Com
mittee to serve out the remainder of the
time of the present session he would prob
ably not hesitate, it Is said, to select Mr.
Payne But Mr.. Reed expects to be the
Speaker of the next House. and if he hon
ors the New York representative with the
formal appointment at this time it might
prove to be a source of embarrassment TO
him later ON when he comes TO make up
the committees of the new House. Mr..
Payne it is pointed out, would have
claim upon him that could hardly be ig-
nored. Mr.. Reed it is thought, is not pre-
pared to virtually make known his choice
for leader of the majority of the Fifty
sixth Congress, which the official selection
OF Mr.. Payne or any other man as Chair
man of the Ways and Means Committee
would amount to at this time. He does
not know what combinations may be made
against him by the representatives of the
Administration. for instance. II the Ad-
ministration should decide to oppose Mr..
Reeds election as Speaker of the next
House, which is not altogether outside or
the range of possibilities, the Maine auto
crat will have need to surround himself
with only true and tried friends-men who
will stand by him as against Mr.. Mckinley
or anyone, and whose support will amount
to something. 1t is thought that Mr.. Reed
will finally decide, in order TO avoid any
possible complications hereafter to let Mr..
PAYNE continue to serve as acting Chair
man of the Ways and Means Committee
during the remainder of the present ses-
sion. BY adopting this course he will not
be committed to Mr.. Payne and will be
free to act as the exigencies of the situa-
tion seem TO demand when the Fifty-sixth
Congress assemblies
Representative John Dalzell, of Pitts
burg ranks next to Mr.. Payne on the
Ways and Means Committee. and after him
comes Mr. Hopkins of Illinois. Both of
these are veteran members of the House
and will have plenty of friends who will
press their respective claims upon the
Speaker for the leadership OF the majority.
However Mr.. Dalzell is a candidate for
senatorial honors and has hopes" OF sue
ceeding Mr. Quay. If his ambition should
be realized, of course he would be re-
moved from the list Of competitors for Mr..
Dingley's mantle. 1t is said that Mr. Reed
has very kindly feeling for Representa-
tive Moody of Massachusetts. MIR. Moody
is comparatively young member. but Mr..
Reed. it is stated. has been greatly i'm
pressed by the capacity he has shown. II
Mr. Reed goes outside of the present mem
bership of the Ways and Means Committee
in picking out successor to Mr.. Dingley
on the floor it is regarded as just possible
| that his choice may fall upon the Massa-
chusetts statesman.
An Opinion on EnGan.-"I have not
I