The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-10-29
THE CONTEST FOR THE SPEAKERSHIP.
What the New York Tribune Has AS
certaIned About II.
The Tribune's Figures Show Mr..
Reed Well In the Lead.
congressmen Give Their Views Upon
Some important Questions.

| NEW YORK, October 2S-Several weeks ag'
a Washington correspondent Of The Tribune
addressed to each of the Republican Repre-
sentatives In the: List Congress letter, t.
which were appended these inquiries:
| the lines adopted by the Senate at its last ses
| sion?
second-To what extent would you modify the
| Third-Do you favor National control of Con
gressional elections?
Fourth-,Do you favor liberal appropriations fol
ocean mail service, looking to a revival OF the
| American merchant marise?
Fifth-Will you indicate your first aud SECOND
choice for Speaker Of the House?
There is excellent reasonTto believe that
the first four questions relate to matters
| which will be discussed in President Harri
sons first annual message, and in regard to
which he will submit certain recommenda'
tions to Congress.
To date replies, more or less definite, have
been received from 90 Representatives out OF
the total Republican membership of 169. OF
these 63, or about two-thirds, came from men
who were members of the last Congress. .and
five from men who were members Of prior
Congress, The number of Republicans who
were members Of the last House and will
hold seats In the List Congress at its organi-
zation is 81, SO that the replies also represent
about two-thirds of the "hold-over" MEM
bership, as we'll as majority of the men of
greatest experience and influence, In the
representation, at the outset from % States,
"a of which, including all the larger ones, are
represented in these 1igures. The summa-
ries which follow may therefore be regarded
the majority of the next House.
Eighty-six answer the first question in the
affirmative.
Seventy-seven favor repeal or some modi-
fication Of the internal revenue laws, parti-
cularly repeal Of the tobacco 81 cc3,ta taxes.
firmative.
ciOnly one negative reply was received to
the fourth question.
To the fifth question II replies were re-
ceiyed. % Representatives declining to com: /:
Maine is the first choice of % and the second
of II; Major Mckinley of Ohio is the first
choice of 10 and the second choice of 8; Mr..
Cannon of Illinois Is the first choice of II
and the second choice of 3; Col. Henderson
of Michigan is the first choice Of 6 and the
second choice Of 2; Mr.. Perkins of Kansas is
the first choice of 1-who, however, has de-
clared within the past two or three days for
Mr.. Cannon-and one fayors "a Western
man." without more specific statement. 1t
goes without saying that on the first ballot,
at least, each of the candidates will receive
the solid Republican vote Of his own State.
Maine will give Mr.. Reed votes; OHIO will
give Major Mckinley 10; Illinois, will give
son 9; Michigan will give Mr.. BurrowsS s. 1t
may be interesting to know that according to
the foregoing summary Mr.. Reed
has % votes outside Maine, scattered among
ten States, and that Major Mckinley has s
votes outside Ohio, scattered among four
States. The replies do not indicate, with
the single exception noted, any tendency to
draw geographical lines in the Speakership
contest. The Republican representatives
from several of the States-Nebraska, New
hold conferences and try to agree tovote
solidly for the candidate who is the choice
of majority, or two-thirds of their num-
Der. The New York Congressman are to
hold a conference about the middle of
November and 1t is understood that they
will cast their nineteen votes for the man
who is the choice of two-thirds of the dele
cation. Messrs. Reed, Mckinley and Bur
rows all have friends IN the delegation. 1'he
Republican representatives from the south, TN,
to agree as to which candidate they will sup
port. At present they are divided as to pre-
ferences, but they may be able to unite.
Mr.. Boutelle of Maine, writes:
1 am in sympathy with the main purpose Of the
Senate bill, but should wish some notifications
/ features. would increase the auties on the ar
tcles worth 5000, 100000 which are imported
and come into direct composition with the pro.
ducts OF home labor and skill, and preserve that
portion of the home market for home industries.
I would make any further reduction that may be
necessary by removal Of internal revenue taxes
etc. For Speaker, the man who has thrice been
chosen the Republican candidate for that office,
when the selection meant the lab0rs and respon-
sibilites Of leadership without the official honors
who for three successive Congresses has borne
the brunt of the battle for his party in all the ted
ious and arduous championship OF the minority on
mentarian on the Republican side of the House OF
Representatives, the Hon Thomas B. Reed