The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-03
WORK OF THE FIFTy-FIRsr CON

course will be followed with interest
by the whole country and with anxiety
by the South. in spite Of the slender
Republican majority. The nomination
and election OF Reed TO the speakership
show that the most bitterly partisan
wing Of the Republican ranks is in the
ASCENDANT, Reed being especially identi-
fed IN word and act with those who
would carry out the most aggressive
policy against this section Of the Union.
one of the first steps that will be
taken by his party will look to the
adoption Of new rules for the gov
eminent Of the House. under which
the minority will be rendered pow
erless to resist by obstructive mea.
sures the passage of registration
law that will erect a local returning
board Of the worst kind at every poll
ing place. OF all the laws that the Re-
publicans will seek TO put upon the
statute book this winter they will have
this nearest at heart. for upon it will
depend their continued supremacy in
national affairs. The issue of the recent
elections. so far from discOuragine
them, will rather stimulate them to
more resolute attempt to get the South
ern electoral machinery 50 completely
under their control, that they can de-
strOy Southern Democratic majorlties
according to necessity or ex yedieDcy.
1t may be confidently anticipated that
this measure, when proposed, will meet
with the most determined opposition
from the Democratic party--an opposi-
ton that will be sustained by the best
elements throughout the Union
whether objoctiDg to Federal interfer-
ence in elections or to further centrsli-
cation of the powers Of government.
Long aud acrimonious debates upon
the tariff are certain to vary the pro
ceedings of the present CongI ess, but it
is hardly probable from the outlook at
this time that any radical change will
be very soon agreed upon. The Repub-
lican party itself is much more divided
than the Democratic as TO what is the
best coutss to be pursued, one section
of the party. the most blatant and the
wealthest section, favoring an increase
in the tariff duties. the other, which IL
the most moderate and far-seeing, being
prepared to support some measure IL
reduction. SO far as the most numer-
GUS and Influential of the Democrat,
members are concerned. there is reason
10 believe that they will be disposed to
vote for any Republican measure that
will insure tariff reform and as far as
they can, facilitate legislation in gen.
eral.
Another question that is likely to be
agitated hardly less than the national
registration law and reduction of tariff
duties is the free coinage of silver. The
demand for this will come from the rep
resentatives of the extreme Western
States, to which must be added the -four
new common wealths so recently ad
united to the union. The representa-
tives from the East will most probably
oppose, as body. any step looking TO un-
restricted coinage. Between the two
conflicting elements the Window plan
may be adopted as a general compromise,
this plan being that bullion shall be pur-
chased by the treasury department to
the full limit OF the law as it now
stands, for which silver certificates
shall be given, which shall represent
the market value of the bullion at the
time that the purchase is made. These
certificates shall have fixed value in.
dependent of any fluctuations in the
value of the bullion. To obstruct all
improper combinations Of spectators
the Secretary of the Treasury shall
have the power to sell the silver de-
poslts in the treasury vaults as far az
he may consider it advisable He shall
also convert these deposits into coin, il
he thinks the needs Of the country de.
mand it. All bullion purchased by
him must have been mined in the limits
OF the United STATES.
A bill will also be proposed in the
present Congress granting subsidies to
steamship lines between this country
and the South and Central American
Republics. AS we showed in our ar
ticle on the Pan-American Congress in
our Sunday issue, this is the real OBJ
ject for which this international con
vention Of delegates is being employed.
IL being impossible for us under the
present tamil to enter into any real
competition with European rivals in
the important markets OF the vast
country TO the south OF US. No one is
probably more thoroughly aware OF
this than the very men who have been
acting ss the directors Of the free ex-
cursion which the delegates have been
enjoying now for so many weeks.
The Blair education bill is another
measure that will be pressed in the
present Congress; also large number
NJ nav pen.,on h,lls hiils for tho
further increase Of our Notifications
and in our naval and army equip
mepts.
There will also be some agitation OF
questions growing out Of the civil ser
ice rules. and also propositions looking
o The adoption OF . penny postage, the