The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-13
AS VIEWED AT WASHINGTON.
(BY G. A. EDwARps.)

The assertion that Mr.. Reed may retain
his seat In congress while practicing law in
New York Is pronounced an absurdity BY
those who understand the situation. I'll
Is absolutely known that Mr. Reed does
that he would do so, while spending most
OF his time lit New York practicing law.
is utterly inconsistent with his ideas of
propriety.
1t is so distincly understood that Mr.
Reed will retire from the house as we'll
as from the speakership. that his private
secretary. Mr. Allen, who is surely in a.
an active cand idate for congress to sue
coed him.
During his terms as speaker, Reed has
been most active in trying to break up the
abuse OF abser teeism among member Of
the house. Some OF his most sarcastic filings
have been at members OF the house who
could spare but little of their valuable
time to the performance of their duties.
He has never left any room for doubt
as to what he Thought OF such members.
and he has done from time to time what
ever was in his power TO put an end to
the abuse, his idea being that man should
either perform the duties OF his office or
else resign. 1t is not at all likely. there
fore, that he would himself adopt the prac
tice which he has so earnestly condemned,
nor is it all consistent with the clrcum-
stances OF his employment in New York
that he should take time from 1t to devote
to the duties OF q member OF the house..
When Mr.. Reed determined to accept
the New York offer he at the same time
concluded to retire from congress. 1t does
not necessarily follow that he oontemplates
permanent retirement from public life, and
as think remarked at the time his de-
termination was first announced. the coun-
try will hear from Mr.. Reed later on. 1t
would probably have heard from him next
year II Teddy Roosevelt had not rammed
his nose in the dirt at the bidding of Tom
Plat, when he called the New York legls
lature together and emasculated the fran
chise tax bill. That act patched up the
entente cordiale between Teddy and Tom
and Mr.. Reed will have to practice law
awhile until "easy boss" Tom gets onto
his curves.
NV
The action ~ the New York delegation
in sldaracklng the Hon, Jim Sherman In
the speakership contest assures practical
unanlmity for General David b. Hender-
son Of Iowa, and the West will enjoy the
speakershlp for the first time in many
years. This relieves the situation from
any necessity in dealing IN committee
ships In the interest OF candidate. 1t Is
said. and II IA believed that General Hen
dsrson will go into office when elected
. freed from entanglements and at liberty
, to make committee assignments according
10 his own free choice
Tho belief Is that this will result in the
construction OF committees much on line
with those OF the Fifty hfth congress,
, though necessarily there will be many
/ changes on account of the changes in the
8 personnel OF the house. It is likely that
the leading men having favored commit
. tee assignments which they desire to hold
will not be lnterfered with. and that there
o will not be any very radical shaking up
v except in the committee OF banking and
=, currency.
a A committee which has heretofore been
a regarded as Of comparatively minor i'm
: portance will develop into great conse-
!, quenco In tina next congress. This is the
@ committee on Territories. Except when II
was the policy OF congress to admit certain
1t Territories to Statehood, this committee
o has had little work OF sort to bring Il
/ ,l.n.r |. t,s
J. Il has not been sought by many members
e of the house. Last winter, however, the
10 question OF legislation for the government
l. OF Hawaii, annexation having already oc-
( cured, was referred to the Territorie:
s. committee, and 1t was established by ruling
that measures relating to new territory
10 belonged to that committee.
,e Therefore, in addition to the Hawaiian
s. legislation. the questions relating to tn,
J. government OF Porto Rico and the Phil
10 ippine Islands will have TO be dealt with
at and the committee will become one frs
I'd in Importance and interest The forsigI
~ affairs committee will consequently los
le much OF its Importance, and some Of tn
rs men most experienced In the internatlona
al and colonial questions will want position
a, on the Territories committee.
to The Cuban question will probably re
main with the foreign affairs committee
since Cuba is still foreign territory, and
moreover, the spirit of commercial eS
.,. pansiou is likely to euliyen interest in tn
wv consular reform bill. which there will b
= an effort to pass during the coming SEES
h., sion.
\ ~
-, It Is said that Mr.. Knox OF Massachu
- sets, who was chairman OF the Terri
-, tories committee during the last congress
,r would like to succeed Mr. Walker a
is chairman of the committee on banking an
re currency, and it is expected that some ma
- familiar with foreign questions, probabl
"a Hit OF Illinois, being willing to lsay
sh the foreign affairs committee, will b
!. placed at the head OF Territories. N
Ss doubt is felt that Payne OF New Yor
If mn