The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-01-21
SOME VIEWS AT WASHINGTON


Washington January Is--,(Sdf Corressoadencc) In
recent letter on the Cuban reciprocity treaties under
consideration MIR Walter Wellman one OF the known
journalists in Washington took point out and
comment ON the utter inability Of the lower house OF
gess to act contrary the wishes the speaker and few
OF his favored followers. Mr.. Weman said
a. nc mouse Is falling lower and lower in the scale and
the legislative branch II is already an axiom here that the
mouse proposes and the senate dsposc Many members Of
like to have the restored 10 its dignity
and power The older members remember the time
portant OF the II had more to say about policies and
about actual legislation But since the Reed regime
me house has been on the down grade and there appears to
The trouble in the house is not lack strong and
no indueement to energetic work temptations try to
all its absolutely controlled by the speaker
and two or three OF his lieuenans Theirs is the only
Three hundred and fifty members Of the lower branch
are negligible quantities. Those $50 chafe and fret
three cronies sit tight the safety valve and the wheels
move only when they choose to say the word"
One illustration Of the poweressness of majority Of
resolutions it is claimed great majority Of the house
would like chance to vote on one the other resolu-
ons Of that character that have been introduced They
can't get long Speaker Henderson continues to
deny them the opportunity. Irrespective of the question
whether not it is the proper business Of the house of
representatives OF any other legislative body to overur1
and the verdict of the majority counted
that it is the house that ought to take the responsibility
Of action refusal to act not single member OF IT.
Those members who want action on the Schley case
forced to the cXpedient of circulating petition hum
bly, begging that the speaker will permit them to have
chance to vote Even If they get scveneghths OF the mem
yield unless he happens to feel like IT. lie may do as he
pleases 1t is undoubtedly that good many men
case at heart do not think proper function OF the
house interfere with the findings OF military courts and
ueuts who are supposed to be very much IN love with
But this does not alter the fact that it humiliatne
spectacle this of majority OF the members OF the Amer,
can house OF commons kow,ows 70 one cance to- sneak
and vote upon great public question
The house the revision Of the laws has de
eded that the United States is Whether the United
States rs" are has long been mooted question: and
doubtful If the decision OF the committee named even
though is backed up by similar decisions made IN
the past will be generally accepted as final
1t was during the of some Investigations regard
ING existing statutes that the committee encountered the
question whether the singular plural verb should be
used search of number Of authorities followed and
was found that while the constitution and nearly all the
laws documents and OF the carly days OF the re
public contained the verb in It's plural form the tendency
has been toward the of the singular for past
Later however pamphlet on the subject by eN-Secreay
Of State John W. Foster discovered, and in this was
found material which satisfied the committee that the Singh
lar form is better OF the In the pamphlet referred
Mr. Foster the Of the changing OF the verl
and quotes from Hamilton Webster, Benton, Motley c. F
Adams Jefferson Marcy, Seward, Fish Eyarts, Blaine
Freylnghuysen, Bayard Gresham and Oncy, all Of whom
used the singular He also quotes from the decisions Of the
supreme court and shows that all such decisions made ii
years used the singular In all recent treaties
the singular employed and the language used il
such selected with the greatest it is
dered that this strong point All treaties prior t.
1900 however used the plural form
1t is an odd coincidence that Representative Payne o
New York and Representative Richardson OF Tennessee
The respectively Of the majority and minority fac
tons the house OF the age and have served thu
number OF years in congress Mr. Payne born il
June IS4 and Mr.. Richardson in March OF the year
The entered congress during the Fornnth session
has successfully reelected since Mr. Payn
entered the Fortyeighth congress, but member
the FiFeth and he has served in all subsequent con
crosses his of service is Of the length as that
Mr. Richardson. Mr. Richardson is said the hghes
Mason in the world Mr.. Payne is large and and hi
hair and beard white Mr. Richardson is dark AM
spare c. ARTHUR WILLIAMS.