The daily news., 1900-02-28

Good Pres q az OH!ccTS In IN AfOaSe.
Ecnders",. TavOritc> - ny sir.
CoateS Held HIS JoH-Ecp.cSenth-
tivcs Who are Witty.
WAsUISGroN. Feb. 2S Special. J.
Although tie first attempt II secure
legislation for an investigation as 10
the pollution Ol water supplies
throughout the Unitcd States failed i'll
the house. the friends of such an in
vestigation will not allow the matter
to rest. but intend to push it
IN some other way. Already bill has
been reported in the senate, which was
introduced some time ago by Senator
CoCkrcll, which directs that an inveS
tigatiOn be made by the marine hos
pital service. This move is planned
with more Shrewdness than the one
which failed in the house. because 1t
proposes an investigation of the POtO-
mac river. not only as to the pollution
# the water supply for the people, but
It's effect upon the food fishes of the
Potomac. Consequently it has behind
it nearly everybody in Washington. i'll
Guiding senators and representatives
in congress. who are Obliged to use tn"
Potomac water. and it also has favor
ing il the sDOrtSmen. who wish to pre-
serve the fish. 1t does not directly
indicate any Interference with the Chi
cagO drainage canal. which was the
handspring of the opposition to the
hill in the house and which succeeded
in defeating it there. 1t is understood
that this bill reported in the senate
will be made n part of ore of the ap-
preparation bills if there is no chance
fo3 favorable action III the house.
Good Presiding officers.
Speaker Reed il the many years that
he had the selection Of chairmen Of the
committee Of the whole, who are prac-
ticaliy presiding officers of tE" house
while ii is acting Is Il committee. pick
cG ouj several good men who made cX-
cnllrnt presiding officers. lie left two
cf them as prominent candidates for
speaker. sherman of New York and
Hopkins of Illinois. Speaker Hender-
son utiilZos these same men for this
position ami Also takes occasion TO hon
or men from LIS own state of Iowa by
frequently designating them as prcSid-
ing officers lie often selects Mr.. Dal-
Zcll OF Pennsylvania. but rarely chooses
Payne Of New York, who was fire.
Quontly in the chair when Reed was
speaker This is because Payne is
now the recognized floor leader Of the
house and not because his talents as
presiding officer are unrpcOgniZcd by
the present speaker
Coates Held His Job.
The changes in The personnel Of en-
ployecs and the distribution of patron
age in the SENATE rs result Of the
Republican control Of that body bring
to mind story of Il patronage deal in
the house when thn Republicans took
control in 1898. At that time deal
was made for the principal Offices and,
In fact. the entire control of the patron
age Of the house, which was divided
among the men who went into it. 50
much to each man. 81 sweeping werh
the changes to be made that they in
cludpd every employee about the house,
including the men in the barber shops
and tie cloakrOoms. In the Democrat
ic CiOakroom there was Il COlOrcd man
named Coates. who had been there
long time. and. much against the wish
OF the Democratic side. he was booked
to 80 with the others. one morning
a short timn before the house con
vCncd q young man well dressed and
scholarly looking presented himself at