New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-16
WASHINGTON.
A GOOD REGINNING.

n
THE HOUSE VOTES soUARhLY AGAINST SUBSIDIES
AND THIRD TERM-MR. BLAINE on PRIssI-
DENTAL VOTE.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE JRIBuHE.l
WASHINGTON Dec. 15.-1he Democratic majority
in the House. in pursuance of the wise policy dis
closed in the election Of Mr. Kerr to the Speaker
ship, has spoken on the question of subsidies,
and has given forth uncertain sound. Led by Mr..
Holman, the House declared by overwhelming
majority of all its members, well as of those who
voted, against all Government aid to private enter
prises of any kind, whether they be on sea or on
land, or whether aid be in the form OF money subsl
dies land grants. or lending of the credit OF the
Government. After this the Texas Pacific LOBBY
may well give up its expensive quarters in this
city and go home, for argument however
spccious, no consideration however strong, will
induce the House to make exception in favor OF
its scheme to the general policy enunciated to-day.
Indeed, the vote to-day was almost universally I'M
derstood to be an expression Of the House on the
expedency Of passing Tom Scos BILL since that has
been prominent among all schemes that have been
waiting for chance to slip into Congress, that the
mention Of railroad subsidies suggested in the mind
of the average Congress man nothing but Texas
Pacific; and there is little doubt that great major
ity of those who answered to their to-day did
so with the feeling that they were voting for or
against this great job, rather than declaring their
opposition TO subsidies principle. The result Of
tie vote has caused considerable discussion this
evening in regard TO the formation OF the Pacific
Railroad Committee and not few of the most
strenuous opponents of the Texas Pacific scheme
have expressed the opinion that, the House having
declared its judgment on the subject, the Speaker
ought to interpret il an instruction to him to make
mp that Committee of men majority OF whom are
pronounced opponents to Tom Scotts bill. The vote
on subsidies was generally understood not to refer to
the proposed ard the Centennial that having been
expressly excluded by Mr.. Holman.
While the Democrats put subsidies OF every KIND
out of the way they also afforded an opportunity to
the Republicans to 90 upon record on the thId-term
question. Repeatedly, during the last Congress,
resolutions declaring against the election OF any
President to third term were introduced by Demo-
Gratis, but the Republicans never allowed them to
come to a vote. To-day they could not prevent it,
and while they squIrmed good deal, most OF them
finally came up manfully and voted against third
term OF eighteen who recorded themselves in favor
of third term, large minority were negroes, and
among the remainder there was not single ProIni-
nent Republican Representative. The same could
not be said Of those who lodged, several of them,
headed by Mr.. Blaine, having such important bust
ness In the cloak-roons that they had 10 time to
come out and answer to their names 1t was re-
marked in the galleries that this the first time
that Mr.. Blaine had publicly announced himself as
a candidate for the Presidency. The adjournment
to Friday probably postpones the debate on the cur
rency, which was expected to begin Tomorrow until
after the holidays. Mr.. Blame was expected to lead
Oft. and he was to be followed by Mr.. Kelly, 80 that
the first split on this question in the House is likely
TO be in the Administration party.