New-York daily tribune., 1856-01-14
THE QUESTIONING POLICY IN THE
HOUSE.

Editorial Correspondence of The n. Y. Tribune
WASHINGTON, Friday Eve, Jan. III, 1886.
lam naturally sanguine that what ought to be
,,;U he and hence | take more hopeful views OF
the struggle for Speaker than Others do. knowing
that Mr. Banks is the man for the place, and that
the House thinks so, have never yet been made
TO believe that the mulishness or malice of one
balfdozen crooked disciples could be permitted
finally to defeat him. l believe the House must
come at last to the Plurality rule and that the only
ouestion is one of time. now believe it will be
offered tomorrow, under auspices that VIII insure
its passage, provided fair opportunity should De
afforded. and the Democrats inclined to support
il should not be deferred by some CLEAN OF hope
that breach in our ranks may be made and Rlch-
ardson thereby elected. 1t may not be tomorrow
but Monday "a week hence - a month, If you
please-we have left our hurry behind us, and ex-
hort the Democracy to take their time. Let them
say what they will, Washington is under biockade'
and must have appropriations Her people hate
Banks and his earnest friends intensely and pretty
unanimously; but they are thoroughly patriotic
and so devoted to the Union that they will not re-
fuse money from the Treasury even though Banks
signs the bills So we shall get through.
Yet / never saw a legislative assembly EN-;
ployed more absurdly than the House has been to-
day. Just consider that the most Immediate and
powerful representative body in the world has been
for six weeks in chaos, unable to elect its presiding
officer-not that the candidates are not oil well
enough essentially but that the Members entertain
conflicting and irreconcilabe opinions on certain
controyerted political questions. If there were
but one leading issue, the House might be organized
upon il; but there are at least two, with any number
of coaterals and subdivisions; and he who might
command a majority on one is In minority on
another; nay, candidate may be in majority on
two leading issues, may yet be unavailable, be-
cause they who compose his majority on one ques-
ton are not all Identical with those who make
I'D his majority on the other; and those who con-
cur with him in either case won't vote for him be-
cause of their disagreement on the other head.
Now Mr.. ZOllicoffer steps in with proposition
calculated to multiply and aggravate these grounds
of difference, and so render the concentration OF
majority on any man utterly impossible.
Had been Member to-day, l should have re-
ness has this disorganized, ehronicaly chaotic
House with passing resolves merely affirming polit-
ica distractions! Let it first choose its officers,
and then proceed to other business. Until it shall
have a Speaker no voting on distractions is in
order.
Mr. Zolicofer's resolve afiirms absolutely and un
quafedly the right to nterrogate candidates on all
political questions with the cOrreatye duty OF an
swerng. deny it. Suppose Jonas Quigg TO be
a candidate for Hog Reeve of PatchOgue or Com
munipaw, does that circumstance confer on others
the right to ask and impose on him the duty OF
answering all manner Of questions concerning the
organization of Kansas the right to hold Slaves in
Territories, and the COnstituionalty of the Fugl-
tive Slave Law What have these Obstruse mat
ters to do with our friends due and faithful per-
formance Of the duties of Hog Reeve
And herein is indicated the true solution of the
problem presented to-day by Mr.. Zollcofer. If
the questions to be proposed concern the proper
and faithful performance of the duties OF the Speak
ersbip, then candidates for Speaker ought to an
swer them; if not, not. Such seems to me the
plain dictate of reason and common sense. hope
Mr.. Banks at least will act upon it.
This new football of faction may delay the or
ganizaton for few days, but think not. The
country grows inpatient, and the House must or
ganize should not be surprised if it took long
stride toward such conclusion tomorrow.
II. G..
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE