The age-herald., 1900-01-28
4 NEW POWER
 IN THE HOUSE LiHlefle|d of Maine Has Made
 Himself Famous, IS ABOVE PARTISAN VIEWS His Defense of Minority Report m the Roberts Case Regardless of
 Politics Established His
 Reputation.
IS ABOVE PARTISAN VIEWS

N0ShAhSlOHs JdAutiy Ei.-NopGCldlJ- The advent of a new force in in the house of representatives is al- ways a matter of interest new man of power developed in the house on Tuesday last when the Roberts case was under con- sideration. This was Representative Little field of Maine, who came here last Decem- Der as the successor of the late Nelson Dingley, leader of the house at the time of his death
 The fact that Littlefeld halls from Maine is of particular interest because for years with Reed, Dingley and Boutelle, Maine has had an influence in the house far out of proportion to her numerical rep resentation and the disappearance of these three Maine men from pubic life threatened to make Maine a very unimportant fac,or in legisla tive matters. But Maine people arc not surprised that Littlefid.d has snown himself to have unusual capacity. He was attorney general of the state before he en- tered congress and made a fine reputa non as lawyer then.
 When Littlefeld joined with DeArmond of Missouri, one of he best men on the democratic side of the house, dn disagreeing with the majority of the Roberts investiga- ton committee holding that MT. Roberts should be sworn in as member of the house and then expelled because he was proved polygamist, instead of being exclud- ed from the house the majority desired, it was evident that the new man from Maine was possessed with a mind of his own that did no permit political considera- tfons anything else to interfere with his taking a stand that he thought was the proper one.
 When the Roberts case first developed MT. Tayler, of Ohio, who protested against the administration of the oath to this member elect made reputation for himself. His speech then was regarded as being a par ticularly good one. On Tuesday, however, he did not come up to the reputa ton then made, but doubtless the analytical, logical and sustained speech of nearly three hours made by MT. Lattlefeld in opposition to MT. Tayler's contentious had much to do with making it appear that Tayler had not done himself justice.
 With experience MT. Lttlefeld should make one of the best men in the house. And it will be fortunate to have strong men added to that body for In recent years the average ability of the members Of that body seems to have been considerably reduced. There are now comparatively few men of exceptional ability there. The dat- ference between the house when Reed was first speaker and when Crisp presided over it and the house now is quite marked and
 
 matters with patriotic feeling, not, now ever, that there are not very many men of experience and ability but that there IS a paucity of men who measure up to the requirements of statesmanship.
 The Quay Case
 The Quay case will not be taken up by the senate until after the vote on the gold financial bill on February 15.' nhere is the possibility, of course, that 1t will be dis cussed during some lull in the financial debate, but no definite action upon 1t is at all probable until after the financial bill has been disposed of. MT. Quay's friends are asserting vigorously and vehe- mently that he has enough votes to give him his seat, but there Is very good reason to suspect that the friends of the Penn sylvaAia boss are making a 'Sbluff," and are not at all sure of their majority. While no poll of the senate has neen made, there seems to be good ground for believing that MT Quay cannot command a majority Of the senate. The majority report Of the committee on privileges and elections de- ciaring Quay unentitled to his seat Is very strong one. Then the senate in its most recent decision on such case was against Corbett, of Oregon, republican governors appointee, by large majority. Further, the feeling is pronounced that the seating of MT. Quay would afford prece- dent of dangerous character and encour- age senatorial candidates who could not secure majorities in the legislature, but who had governors favorable to their can didacy encourage deadlock that they might enter the senate by gubernatorial appointment Quay's champions have banked largely upon securing democratic votes to seat their man, but it looks as if they would be disappointed in that.
 Must Have Good Voices
 The senator or member of congress who has a bad delivery or a poor voice is se- riously handicapped. That was MT. Ding ley's great drawback as leader of the house. It often keeps good men from being recognized as their abilities justified MT. Ross of Vermont who succeeded the late Mr. Morrill, in the senate, Is an allustra- tion of this He has no voice at all. On Tuesday he addressed the senate on the question of the meaning of the word "United States in the constitution. He was closely followed by senator's but could not be heard in the gallery. It happens that the senator's speech as legal opinion was regarded by lawyers as the best that had been given on the question at issue. It naturally struck most favorably those who agreed with Mir Ross that Limited States" refers only to organized states and not ter ritories. Yet the effect of this carefully prepared speech was largely lost because 1t could not be heard.
 Committee on Puerto Rico Contrary to recent expectations 1t ap- pears that the senate committee on Porto Rico is not disposed to listen to the repub- lican senators who urge that a small duty be placed on importations of sugar and to- bacco from Porto Rico. The committee has not yet completed its considera ton of the Porto Rican bill, but 1t ds hoped to report it next week. Perhaps It might be ready