Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-07
days bulletin offered little or no encours
u,
Mr.. Reeds Career.

Mr. tkGeuS C0fe9K.
Thomas Brackett Reed. thtrty-nrS
speaker of the House Of Representatives.
was born October 18th, 1883. In Portland
Maine in the common schools OF which
city he received nis early education. In
1860 he was graduated from Bowdoin,
winning one Of the highest honors OF the
college. the prize for excellence In Eng
lish composition. The next four years
were spent by Mr.. Reed In teaching and
In the study of the law. Before his adj
mission to the bar, however. he was ap-
pointed Acting Assistant Paymaster In
the navy. serving on the ''tinclad'' Sybil.
see, Cumberland and Mississippi rivers.
After his discharge in 1865. Mr.. Reed re-
turned to Portland. passed the bar and
entered on the practice Of his profession
Three years later he was elected as q
Republican to the Legislature OF the
State Of Maine, where during his drse
term he secured the passage or a bils
giving superior court to the county OF
Cumberland. In 1863 he was reelected
to the House, and in 1870 made State
Senator. from which position -.ep passed to
that of Acknowledgement of the State.
the same year. Retiring from his office
after effective service In 1873 he was fer
four years solicitor OF the City Of Port
land. and in September, 1876. he was
States. which assembled IN December,
1851
William and Mary Case.
In this Congress. April. 1878. he was
brought into prominence by a speech. ona
of the few formal ones ever delivered
by him., in which he argued against the
payment OF damages by the United States
for injuries received by William and
Mary College at the hands of United
States troops during the war. The sub
sequent policy of the Government in re-
lation to war claims was largely deter
mined by the defeat Of this measure. to
which Mr.. Reed signally contributed. He
also took conspicuous part in the pro-
.ceedings OF the committee appointed 70
investigate the election Of President
Hayes, of which ne was one of the MI
nority members.
Mr.. Reed had since been reelected 10
Congress without interruption until the
56th Congress. In the 10Th Con-
recognized. and at this period he made.
also set speech In defiance OF the pres
ence OF United States marshals at elec-
tions In the South
As chairman of the judiciary Commit
tee, he introduced. and secured thu
gasss of ts b, the fnr,yssvsn.h Con
OF the; Geneva award. His influence each
year becoming more strongly marked.
the leadership Of his party was finally
conceded to him. and In the Forty ninth
and Fiftieth Congresses complimentary
nonlina ton for the speaFership was ten.
dered him by the Republicans. In the
F1fty-hrst, that party having obtained
on the first ballot
The Reed Rules.
In the first days Of his administrations
. iNN rc{t l..
by the minority to the enforcement Of
what Mr.. Reed believed his constitu-
ttonal power to count members present.
in the House as participating In a vote
in spite Of their refusal to use their
privilege. The question OF silence ON
such occasions constituting legal abb
sence, and the destruction thereby Of q
~, adoption of new rules by the House.
February IL. 1880. In September OF the
same year MIR. Reed was reelected to
the Eitty-Sgeond CongIyss. by ;4, largf
fourth and F'ifty-ffth Congresses. since
which time he had been in retlrenent
from politics, and and eIngaged en- in the prac-
/ In the Republican National Conventions
of 1892. to which he was a delegate. ho
received four votes for the nomination.
for President j.
His Writings.
AS writer, Mr.. Reed contributed &c
the North American Review articles upor
"Our Outlying Province" Of AlaskA
(January, 1850: democracy at st. Louis
July, isss); '"rre Presidents Letter.
being that of Mr.. Cleveland accepttna
the nomination for the presidency tOc>
Speakership'' March. 1890}. In the cenl
tury for March 1889. he treated Tht
Rules of the House OF Representatives.
foreshadowing his policy. and IN Bei-
fords Magazine for October. 1880. "a
Protectionist's View OF rt-viz-. Protec.
CONTINUED ON NINTH PAGE.)