Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-17
PREDICT AN EARLY ENDING
Members of House and Senate Expect to
See Legislation Rushed.
TOM REED LOSES MUCH OF HIS BLOOM
Plan for Popular Election OF United
states Senators steadily IN
strength-MOOdy Missed
In the House.
prom a star corrssponasnt.l

sized up the legislative situation predict
that the present session OF congress will
come to a close earlier than usual and that
final adjournment will be reached in June.
This prediction is based upon the assump-
ton that an understanding will be arrived
at on the Cuban tariff question and an
agreement for speedy passage OF imperative
measures in the house. The Philippine bill
was passed by the senate after a debate of
several weeks and it is likely that the
Cuban tariff measure, whatever " may be,
will provoke a discussion in the upper
house that may continue for at least a
month, but, allowing for this delay, the
business Of the session can still be brought
to an end about the time indicated.
The appropriation bills are all In . more
advanced stage than is usually the case at
this period Of the session and the only other
important measures to be considered are the
isthmian canal bill and the ship subsidy
bill. The former may not be pressed to a
final consideration. but by general consent
go over until the next session, and as the
subsidy project was discussed thoroughly
in the last two sessions its consideration
will not develop many so-called long
speeches to postpone adjournment.
Members Of the house are especially anx-
ious to leave Washington early this year
because OF the congressional campaign. The
democrats seem to take some encourage
ment over the division In the republican
party on the Cuban tariff, and many Of the
minority leaders believe they have been
furnished with an issue they can use to ad-
vantage In the fall elections. Holding this
view some OF them are In favor Of cooper
ating with the republicans in any program
that will end the session early.
sheIved by the Speaker.
Some Of the bills that were expected to
provoke exhaustive debates have been ar
b~itrarily shelved by Speaker Henderson.
Among them are the measures admitting
Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico to the
union of states. Early in the session the
delegates from the territories started an
agitation for statehood that proved popular
on both sides of the house and the state-
hood bills were reported favorably. The
republican leaders. however, have decided
they will take no political chances on ter
~ritories, which may or may not be repub-
lican states, and therefore through the
speaker they have checked the statehood en-
thusiasm by quiet intimation that legisla-
ton of that character should be postponed
until next session.
Former Speaker Thomas b. Reed was In
washington this week to argue a case be-
fore the supreme court. When Mr.. Reed
was speaker he deprecated the freedom
with which former members appeared upon
the floor during sessions of the house for
the reason that many OF them were en-
gagged in lobbying and took advantage Of
the rule giving them access to the floor to
work up sentiment for their schemes. Con-
sistent with this attitude he has not been
seen on the floor since he left the speakers
chair. When he goes to the capitol he
meets his old friends at a committee room
or in the members private lobby. He has
also given two or three dinners when he re-
newed his former associations with friends
In the house and senate. On these occa-
sions Mr.. Reed was at his best and made
free with that wit and sarcasm with which
he is so generously gifted. His caustic
comments on current events, political and
otherwise, kept his guests roaring through
out the dinner and some of them suggested
that in parliamentary language he BE
given leave to print his views in a book to
be entitled Statesmen 1 Have Known"
shOrn of His Awe.
The manner of some Of the capitol habi-
tues in greeting the former speaker when
he appears In the corridors now is In
marked contrast with the awe and reverence
shown him when with an iron will he ruled
the house and is a striking illustration OF
how soon the king dead is forgotten. A
few days ago as the former speaker passed
through a corridor to the supreme court
chambers. the men and women in line
awaiting admittance regarded him curiously.
who's that?" Asked a man at the head
Of the line. That's Reed replied the
messenger at the door. He used to be
speaker"
Mr.. Reed is no longer the picture Of
health he once was. The exacting duties
of office lawyer in a New York firm are
wearing on him and while here he informed
some of his friends that he would soon be
compelled to take a vacation for his health.
He has lost nearly fifty pounds in weight.
During a visit at the White House he told
President Roosevelt Of this. Mr.. Roosevelt
replied that he had gained steadily in
weight since he became president, despite
the laborious duties OF chief executive, and
that he had never before enjoyed such
good health. He prescribed for Mr.. Reed
horseback riding and long walks in the
country.
HOaP Against Popular Vote.
In his speech opposing the proposition to
elect senators by direct popular suffrage,
Mr.. Hoar of Massachusetts,, fully main
talned his reputation as leading authority
on constitutional laws. The senator is nearly
76 years Of age and he has served about
thirty-two years in congress. He is still
a vigorous man and when aroused to his
subject speaks with that IRE and eloquence
he used SO effectively in the early years
OF his congressional career.
In opposing the constitutional amend
ment, changing the plan Of electlng sena-
tors, Mr.. Hoar took the position that Il
presented a proposition revolutionary IN
character and one which. II adopted. would
destroy the principle upon which the leg,
i~slative powers OF the government are
founded. In this connection he recalled IN.
great struggle in the constitutional con
vention to establish the principle Of equa
representation OF all the states In the sen.
ate and asserted that II the power TO cleo
senators were taken from the legislatures
Of the states and vested In the people d.
rectly, there would result a re~arrsngemen
Of the branches OF congress. by which tn
senate would cease to exist and Its plac'
be taken by a second house OF represen
tatives.
Eight states Openly Favorable.
The house in three congresses has passsI
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