The morning news., 1888-09-27
The Next Congress.


1t is of very great Importance that the
democrats at least maintain in the next
congress their present majority in the House
of Representatives. OF the 325 members of
| the House, the republicans have l53, and
the democrats and independents 172, but
most, if not all, of the independents, who
are few in number, vote with the demo-
Gratis, and it may be said that the demo-
cratic majority Is nineteen. While this
majority is not large, it is large enough for
all practical purposes, if the democratic
members stand together and do their duty
| 1t might be increased, however, without
any injury to the country. Several of the
| democratic members are followers of Mr..
Randall, and with SO close a majority it
would be difficult to pass a tariff reform
bill, in the event such a bill is before the
next congress, by reason of the failure of
the republican Senate to take proper action,
or any action at all, on that question. 1T is,
therefore, matter of great Importance that
the democrats have a good working
majority in the next House. There is
possibility that they will gain sufficient
number of members of legislatures, in some
make the Senate democratic ON a very close
vote in year or two. With democratic
majorities in the Senate and House, and
with democratic President, there would
be nothing in the way of that system Of
safe and careful tariff reform which has
been attempted by the democrats at this
session, and which the country so greatly
needs.
But, to all appearances, the democrats
don't seem to be putting forward very great
efforts to increase or maintain their ajori-
ty. 1t may be that the democratic congress
sional committee is at work; 1t is certain
that the republican congressional committee
is. The last named committee proposes to
make the fight chiefly in the following dis
tricts, which gave close democratic ma iori-
ties in the last election: Tho First and Sec
ond California, 900 and /, 100 democratic
majorities: First Connecticut, $50; Fifth
Indiana, 532; Sixth Iowa, 466; First Ne
braska, Ninth Massachusetts, 2l1; Fifth
and Eighth Michigan, 447 and CSC; First,
Third and Fourth Minnesota, democratic
majorities said to be exceptional and hoped
to be overcome in the next election; First
New Hampshire, 105; Fourth New Jersey,
1873; Tenth New York, 527; Fifteenth New
York, 46l Seventh Ohio 3 majority; Sec
ond, Third and Fourth West Vir-
ginia 80, S95, and TAT majorities.
Besides these, there are four districts in
Pennsylvania in which the republicans pro-
fess to hope for gains. This makes the
alleged doubtful districts number twenty
four, and there can be no doubt but what
the republicans will make an earnest effort
to carry enough of them to obtain ma
jority il the next congress.
1t must not he forgotten, however, that
there are districts in which the republicans
obtained very narrow majorities in the last
election. Neither should it be forgotten
that although the republicans claim that
they are going to carry quite number Of
close democratic districts, yet claims are
about the easiest thing in the world to make.
For instance, two democratic districts.
not mentioned above, which they claim they
will carry are the Third and Eighth of
, Tennessee The Nashville american says:
''Taking this claim as basis, we should
say that the minority in the lower House
will do mighty well if they hold the seats
they now have. If they have no more
chance Of increasing their hold in other
states than they have in Tennessee, they are
in pitiful plight indeed"
No doubt the democratic congressional
committee will get to work, if it has not
done so already, and the democrats in the
different close districts will see to it that
the republicans don't steal a march on
them. Congressman Thomas B. Reed, of
Maine, has his eye on the speakership of the
House in the next congress, but probably
he Will get nothing better than an empty
caucus nomination by his party.