The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-12-24
PLAIN srArEAIENr \
OF the TarlG lGsItuatlon-Copgre Reeds
NInMn.


Maine, on his way home alter having pul
in faithful days work for his constitu
ents in particular and the country gensr'
ally at the Capitol. The brisk wind had
Illuminated the stRtesmAn's face with the
tinge Of pink, while the contemplated rest
from the cares Of state and release from
the WretChed atmosphere Of the House oi
Representatives made him look unusually
aWhat do the Republicans intend TO do
about the surplus r6venue2 Is 1t possible
for them, with the House constituted as 1t
is, to do anythingp Republicans through.
out the country are tx ,eedingly interested
10 this question and would be glad to get
your views on the subject"
"You ask me, said Mr., Reed, vi the Re-
publiCRns purpose doing anything in re-
gard to the surplus revenue, think that
implies that you do not fully appreciate
the situation, 1t Is time that when any
thing Is TO be actually done the country
naturally looks to tho Republican party,
but all revenue bills never originate IN the
House. The House to-day is Democratic
by 40 msioritY. Its whole organization
is in their hands, The initiative on all
revenue measures must be taken by the
Committee Of Ways and Means, They
must begin, nobody else can"
"Is there no other way OF aGtingY"
"Ehere ia no other way OF acting, II
that committee fails to secure the conf
dence Of the House and to propose meas
ures acceptable to the House the business
is at a stsndstill, The present committee
was appointed by Mr., Carlisle, elected
Speaker by the Democrats. Three times
it has wTeatled with the problem, and
three times has 1t been thrown, TIE
first time it went down as the pugilists
say, to avoid punishment.' The first
Morrison bill Of the current series WAS
shown by the bearings on 1t to be so un-
sound and unavailable that 1t was abRn-
doned by itH author. The second bill
was so diStssteiul to tho HouBe--Demo-
cratic by 40 msjority-that its ConsideIA-
tion even was beaten prior to election by
| II votes. Alter election with the addi-
ton OF the whole power OF the Admins
tration, with the Turkish mission thrown
in, 1t WAS again rejected by an adverse
majority Of 5, many OF those who voted
Tor consideration loudly proClaimiug their
Reputation Of the bill itself in advance "
"Under RuCh circumstances as you de-
piCt what ls the proper thing for Mr.. Nor
rison and his committee 10 doW
"Now, ! do not pretend that the gentle.
men who desire the British system Of
tariff should follow the British 8ystpm OF
parliamentary tactics, and resign but ! do
say that 1t is an entirely American idea
that the committees OF the House should
bs-and that thia Committee oi Ways and
Means should have been organized in &C.
cord with the sentiments Of the majority
OF the House. Doubtless Mr.. Carlisle
thought he was so organizing 1t, but two
decisive votes show the contrary. What
follower One Of two things; either the
Democrats on the committee should re-
sign and allow the new Committeet to rep
resent the true sense OF the House, or
their friends all over the country should
keep their mouthg shut about the sur
plus"
"Then you think 1t Is unreasonable to
expect the Republicans to do anythingP''
"While the Democrats hold an impreg.
nable negative when they can absolutely
| UhT tuH WhyN WhS bNuulO we IU hbAOA w
take the initiativeP We have not the
power to act; why should we be asked 10
assnme responsibility which we have no
power to put into an aot OF Congress2 Sc
long az the protection Democrats 70 into
a caucus which puts FREQ trade Demo,
crat into the chair to appoint free trade
Committee ol Ways and Means TO abso.
lutsly bar our way oi reducing the surplus,
how can We reduCs it7"
"ThEt would seem to be an almost In
surmountable obstacle" suggested, par
enthetically.
"Eyen the chosen people OF the Lord,'
responded the Maine statesman, "Could
not make bricks without straw. II the
people Of this country will put the Re.
publican party in power in the House
we will do the work the Democracy fail
10 do. In 1883 the country demanded q
reduction ofmore than forty millions and
the Republican House, though II had less
than half dozen majority, and although
fought at every point, under the Bkilliul
leadership of Mr.. Carlisle, by the power
ful minority, passed the law Of 1883
which revised the tariff and reduced the
surplus revenue nearly S60,000,0OO.