Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-07
FOR THE NEXT HOUSE.
Organization and the Tariff Question
Among Them.

BOTH AnE HARD NUTS TO oRAcK--prvERsrrY OF
OPINIONS ON THE TARrFF-THE sPEAKKRsHrP
coNTEsr-A TALK WITH MIR. M'KINLEY-wHAr
THE REPUBLICANS WILL DO.
1t viii probably not take the Senate long to
pass the republican tariff bill. Nothing is ex-
pected to come of it this session, and individual
opposition can afford to be put aside without
more than passing remark. That the republic
cans are not unanimous upon it is pretty gem
orally understood. Several Senators, like Mr..
Plumb, would not be satisfied to have it become
law as it now is. Under the circumstances,
however, there is likely to no serious dispute,
republicans who are not quite satisfied being
content to make some formal expression Of
their doubt or opposition to certain clauses.
Mr.. Allison and Mr.. Aldrich anticipate no diff
Guilty in passing it through the Senate with no
changes other than the committee are willing
to accept
THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE.
It is questionable whether the ways and
means committee will give the bill more than
formal notice when it comes to the House. The
general idea with the members of that COM
mittee is that their work for this Congress is
about done. Mr.. Mills is about to go away,
and his physicians will probably command him
not to exert himself at all during the session.
The other members are more or less worn
with their hard fighting, and they will not feel
disposed to open new contest with nothing to
come of it. Mr.. Breckenridge may try to do
something with his trust bills, but the general
condition Of affairs is dlscouraging to aggres-
sive work.
THE TARIFF QUESTION TO GO OVER TO THE NEXT
CONGRESS-
1t is fully recognized by the leading men in
both parties that the tariff question is to go
over as a heritage to the Fifty-frst Congress,
and it will have to be taken up then practically
as new matter. The work done by the re-
aourss assist the Congress nss by y fup
nishing basis for their measure,
but no one appears to have the idea that they
can pick up the Aldrich bill and go on with it.
The next Congress has distinctively to make
its own policy. The Senate will be practically
the same body it now is, but the situation will
be changed inasmuch as they will then
be trying to make a law, whereas they
are now trying only to make bill.
In the House there will be great many new
republican members, and this, together with
the fact of their slim majority and the natural
difficulty of securing harmonious action among
so many men of antagonistic interests will
make it
VERY DELICATE TASK
to frame a bill that will meet with approval in
both houses. One or three men might have it
in their power to dictate what they would or
would not have. The Senate bill will be made
the basis Of any action most likely. but there
may be great divergence from it. There is a
small contingent in the Senate, Speak
ing of republicans only.) who, while being
firm advocates Of protection are opposed to a
tariff 80 high as to merely exaggerate profits
far beyond what they consider just limits. In
the House this contingent Is very much
stronger, and it will have to be taken into con-
sideration in the organization of the new
House. The speakership contest will turn
largely upon this, with apparently the advan-
tage with the conservatives.
ORGANIZATION OF THE NEXT HOUSE.
1t is very difficult to tell from the surface
what is being done with relation to the organi-
cation of the next House. On the surface there
are four candidates for the Speakership in the
field canvassing more or less openly.
MIR Reed and Mr.. Cannon are seen
making an active personal canvass, and
the various delegations are discussing the mat
ter among themselves to where their in
terests lie. Burrows is making a personal
canvass, probably to less extent than the
other two, and his friends are working actively
for him. The Michigan men are all at work.
Mr.. Mckinley is not making a personal can
vass at all but is proceeding very cautiously by
a very different method. His friends are work
ing as earnestly as are any OF the rest, but by
different methods. Down at the bottom there
is being a sight of thinking and figuring done,
and the chances are that a majority of the
party figuring out certain line OF party policy
will decide upon a man and be guided in their
choice not by personal considerations. Ga large
number of them could make no choice between
the candidates on that ground, but
by their Judgment as to the best
interests of the party. Most of them will
be slow to decide upon this course. They are
all impressed with the responsibility before
them in framing the party's course and they
will think long while over it. In the end
they have got to pull altogether-to a man
and they are going to be very care
full to arouse no serious antagonists.
MR.. M'KISLEY VERY RErICENT.
A STAR reporter had brief conversation
with Mr.. Mckinley in the House this morning.
Mckinley is not talking much with any one on
the speakership question. He spoke very
guardedly and in general way on the subject
He said it was not possible at this time to tell
much about the situation. He knew through
members that considerable canvassing was
being done but could not guess what was COM
ing of it. For himself, he said, smilingly, he
was
ga VERY MODEST AND QUIET CANDIDATE"
He merely took it for granted that the mem
bers would be Influenced in in their choice by
business and party considerations and that no
personal liking for any one else or himself
would figure much in the contest.
Speaking of the general situation he said that
it was very important that the party should act
together with very great caution from this
forward If they were to continue in power
The best counsel would have to prevail The
talk Of the party now being insured for twenty
five years Of power, he said, was merely ex-
travagance.
''IF WE ARE TO WIN AGAIN IN '92,"
he said with great emphasis, sit will be upon
what we do between 'S8 and that time. We
can't win on the past"
MIR. BURROWS CANDIDACY
General Cutcheon was talking to a STAR re-
porter this morning about Mr.. Burrows can
didacy.
''There is an effort, he said" to make the
speakership contest one of sections. do not
know that approve Of that, but there are sew
eral good men in the party with almost equal
personal claims. We think Mr.
Burrows is the best suited for the
place in every way. He is familiar with gen.
eral matters, not being confined in his mode of
thought to one line of subject; is quite familiar
with parliamentary law and usage, and in addi-
ton has good voice, commanding presence, and
quick wit. II the thing Is to be de-
cided by section we think Michigan has
a claim. She gave birth to the republican
party and has always withstood the assaults of
the enemy. During the last election, with all
the work done by the democrats to carry the
state, we not only held her firm, put reduced
the number of democratic representatives to