Daily Republican., 1883-10-02
Political Sigma.

letters to every member of the next
Congress asking them series OF qnes-
tons upon subjects that are expected 10
be introduced, and also upon the choice
Of both political parties for candidates
for Speaker of the House. As might
naturally be expected not fifty per cent.
of the melu bers answered the interroga-
tories those not answering no doub5 con
Guiding that they could do rs well, per-
haps better, by keeping their views to
themselves aud be governed by circum-
stances. The questions propounded to
The Democr ITS asked Tor an EXPIRE ssion
of views upon the tariff question the
repeal Of the compulsory provisions Of
the silver coinage act, the suspension OF
the further issue Of silver certificates
and the choice tor the Speakership. The
letter addressed to the Republican rep
resentatives Elm braced the same topics
and in addition solicited an expression
of views in regard 10 a proposition to
repeal or reduce internal taxation in
regard to making liberal appropriations
for the Mississippi river and other i'm
prOvements and the attempt contempla-
ted to declare forfeiture of land grants
to railroads now building. The House
is composed of 1926 mem beers, divided
politically into 1875 Democrats, 40 Re
publicans, Readj usters and there are
6 vacancies. Answers have been re-
ceived from so Democrats and a. Repub-
licans. All the Republicans answering
are opposed to any atterni TO reopen
the tariff question for general revision
though of them would be glad to have
a reimbursement of the dut les on ,r1ain
items. Seventeen of them want the
duty Oh wool restored and only one,
strange to say, wants lumber placed on
to the high duty on sugar ; are OPP
posed to repeal Of the compulsory pro
visions of the silver coinage act, while rs
favor it and the hers are non commit
tai. There should be general rejoicing
that only three are u favor of recoin-
age of the trade dollar" Eleven are
in favor OF the repeal of the internal
revenue laws 8 desire to have the tax
retained on whisky alone, and that
they want reduced; ~ are opposed to
any mobilization and have nothing to
say on that subject. Nearly all favor
liberal appropriations for internal i'm
provements; Is are opposed to the
levee system for the Mississippi river,
and 80 qualify their approval of inter.
nal Improvements by saying that APP
preparations must be governed by the
necessities of national commerce. All
maintain that the Government must
keep faith with the railroads, while II
favor strict construction OF the rail
road grants. As it is fore gone that
no Rel ublican speaker can be elected
huyboN ~ CAI'iCoS ~ hhoI'S, " Hiig
II favor Mr.. Hiscock ! the reelection
Of Mr.. Keifer, & are for Mr. Reed, one
for either Reed or Keiter, 3 for Mr. Rob
inson Of Massachusetts and one for Mr..
ElwoOd.
OF the 70 Democrats who responded
to the inquiries, - favor the Ie-openlng
of the tariff question only 4 oppose it,
while % express no opinion. One
Maryland and one New York Delnocra'
are afraid TO open 1t for fear it would
hurt the Democratic parry, Two think
it would be useless t. open it and sew
eral could express no opinion until a
Democratic caucus was hell and pol
icy agreed upon. In other words they
favor anything to benefit the Demo
cratic party. SiXty-tour out Of the -
are opposed 10 u REPEAL of the comrul-
sorry provisions Of the silver coinage
act, 4 favor it and II express no opinion
but several favor HE unlimited coinage
of silver AS to the Speakership 50 tai
as expressed, Carlisle is the flvOrite he
being the first choice of q, while II
declare Tor ). S. Cox, s lor Randall =
for Springer and 81 are Ou.counittaL
In these preferences, However, the rep
rescutatiyos Of Pennsylvania, Mary
land, New Jersey aud Ohio are NOT in
cluded.
Though only a minority Of either par
ty has re- bonded to the Tribune, call
the drift Of sentiment il plainly iudi
Gated on the tariff Question and the
compulsory silver coinage @cr.
There are no Rrrublcans VIII, have
expressed themselves in favor Of ye-
vision Of the tariff though there are Ter.
tain items they would ike to have
modified, but rather than to open up
the whole question and paralyze the
business interests OF the country. they
prefer to lot tie tariff law stand as If is.
Not so, however, with the Democrats.
an DuJ lDul VI IH' ~ WIN
are in favor of opening the question In
all its details and they are prepared toI
wage Il war on the tariff regardless If
disturbances to business interests. The
depression of trade and manufacturers.
is nothing to them so they bnt vanI'
Themselves INTO pow er on a free trade
platform. The lines it will be nntlrcd
are more distinctly drawn upon the
question Of II alitt' than upon amy Other
subject proppunded, though there is
almost the sam" muanimity Of expires.
sion by the Republicans in favor of
sound finances and by the Demo- ra,