The Globe-republican., 1889-10-23
THE COMING CONGRESS.
The rariff, Civil-Servace. Trusts ANA Rass
Questions VIII Occupy the Approaching

The Tariff, Civil-Servace. Trusts and Raso
Questions wiz Occupy the Approaching
Session.
WASHINGTON, Oct 2l-As members.
sSect to the Fifty first Congress reach the
city gossip respecting the organization OF
the next House Of Representatives natu.
rally increases. The consen sus Of opinion
among nembers.elect now here indicates
that the Speakership will 60 either to
Maine, Mr.. Reed, or Ohio, Mr.. Mckinley.
Messrs. Burrows of Michigan. and Cam
non. of Illinois, are both on the ground,
however. and it is said will at least make
the contest interesting before balloting
begins At this time it would be q very
difficult undertaking to pick out the
stronger candidate
Msjor John Carson. of the Philadelphia
Ledger, appears to have already practi-
cally captured the clerkship of the next
House. In his modest way he has been
work ing all summer, and it is claimed by
his friends that he has pledges sufficient
TO elect on the first ballot.
Colonel Swords appears to have no rival
for the position Of sergeant at-arms, while
there are several candida tes for the offices
of doorkeeper and po ,tmas,er.
There are not many Senators and Rep
reseniatives in Washington now, but
most Of those here expect a very interest
ing and busy session of Congress during
the coming winter. The tariff, trusts, the
Civil-Servics law, the Interstate Conn
merce law, the educational al question, a
National election law and subsidies will
be among The subjects that will engage
the attention OF Congress. What are rec
ognized as the great ques, ions Of the day
will for the m ost part oe presented as
party measures and are likely to render
the coming session a very important one.
Senator Dolph thinks Congress will take
no step backward in the matter of legisla-
tion Of Interstate Commerce or Civil.
Service reform. Both the Inter- State
Commerce law and the Civil.Service law.
he thinks will probably be amended, but
not SO to destroy their efficiency. Wher-
ever amendments are made to either will
defer the purpose of eradicating defects
disclosed by experience and TO make them
more effective. The race question, he
says, will undoubtedly be discussed
in connection with the contested elec-
tion cases and Independently of them.
1t is live question and will not down
at any bidding. He feels confident that
the tariff will be revised and the source of
the revenue diminished. Some measures
not very dissimilar to the Senate bill will /
be passed. 1t is possible, he thinks, that |
some bill upon the subject Of trusts will ,
be passed, but the subject must be dealt |
with in the main by the States. The !
power OF Congress over this subject is SC !
limited as to render of little value any !
law which it may pass to prevent or con- /
troll trusts in the State. /
Congressman Brown, of Indiana. thinks |
a revision Of the revenue system the most .
important question awaiting the action Of .
Congress and favors the repeal of the tax
On tobacco and on alcohol used in the arts
and reduction of the tax ON sugar.
will probably be done regard.
ing the seal fisheries and also the Cana
1ian fishery dispute. These questions
however. will not divide the parties. He
has no dOub. there will be some amend.
nent 10 the Interstate Commerce law
md Congress will undoubtedly legislate
on the subject of trusts, if it is possible
% define trust in such a way as not t.
interfere with legitimate bu usness.
Congressman HIT, OF Illinois, thinks it
rather too early to make any predictions
lbout what Congress will do at the com.
ng session. No conference Of even the
most informal kind has yet been held, so
hat no means of judging what other
members are cons idering is to be had.
Then. shifting Of opinion on many inn
,ortant points is so likely that judg-
nent now Is not very apt to hold when
actual voting on questions begins in Feb
uary and March. Something in the way
# amendatory legislation to the Inter-
State Commerce law may be expected.
As to the Civil-Serv;cs law, too many
of both parties are pledged
o its support to allow its repeal The
ubjsct of trusts will probably be in
'olved in the discussion of the tariff.
which will of course come up next session.