New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-28
PRICE THREE CENTS.
WHAT CONGRESS WILL DO.
OPINIONS OF REPUBLICAN MEMBERS.

TIoNAL ELECTION LAW THE STARS
AND STRIPES TO BE RESTORED
TO THE ocEAN-wHo WILL
BE CHOSEN spEAKERf
Washington Oct 27-Several weeks aco a
Washington correspondent Of The Tribune
addressed to each of the Republican Representa-
uves IN the List Congress letter, TO which
were appended these inquiries:
/. Do you favor revision of the tariff On tha
lines adopted by the Senate at its last session.
:. 10 what extent would you modify the
internal revenue laws?
3. Do you favor National control of Congres-
sional elections?
a. Do you favor liberal appropriations for
ocean mall service, looking to a revival of the
American merchant marineP
5. VIII you indicate your first and second
choice for Speaker of the House?
There is excellent reason to believe that the
first four questions relate TO matters which viii
be discussed in President Harrison's first annual
message, and in regard to which he will submit
certain recommendations to Congress
10 date replies, more or less definite. have been
received from 03 Representatives out Of tho
total Republican membership of So. OF these
63, or about twO-thirds came from men who
men who were members of a prior Congress.
The number of Republicans who were members
of the last House and who will hold seats in
the List Congress at its organization is 81, 50
that the replies also represent about two-thirds
OF the hold-over7 membership, as well as u
majority of the men of greatest experience and
influence. In the incoming Congress there will
be Republican representation, at the outset from
20 States, "a of which, including all the larger
ones, are represented in these columns The
summaries which follow may therefore be re-
garded as fairly representative Of the opinions
of the majority Of the next House.
THE TARIFF AND THE INTERNAL REVENUE
LAWS
The first question, which relates to the tariff.
was answered in the affirmative by s6 Representa-
tives, in the negative by 3, gave no answer
and 1 declined to commit himself. good
many of the Affirmative answers were qualified.
Some favor higher rates of duty on certain
articleS-wOol, tin plates, etc-wlile others favor
greater reduction the repeal. of the duties
on sugar. Two of the negative answers were
also qualified. Mr. Coleman, Of Louisiana, opposes
the proposed reduction of 90 per cent ON sugar,
and another Representative favors only partial
revision at the coming session.
In respect to the internal revenue laws there
seems to be wide diversity of opinion as to
what should be done although ~ favor repeal
or some modification of the laws, while z oppose
any change; declined to commit themselves and
gave no answer. The replies which favoi
repeal or modification may be classified as fol-
lows: To abolish the internal revenue system,
IL; to abolish it as soon as practicable" 8;
to repeal the tax tobacco, cigars, etc, %; to
reduce it, IL; to repeal the taxes On tobacco
Il. III.
arts, 13; TO repeal the taxes on tobacco and fruit
spirits, A. to repeal the tax on alcohol and reduce
that on fruit spirits, /; 20 repeal everything
except the tax on whiskey, 2; in favor of
considerable or LIBERAL reduction, g. 10
will be observed that 65 of the propositions in
volve the repeal of the tobacco taxes while IL
favor reduction of those taxes. 1t is true,
however, that good many who the word
repeal" qualify IL with a remark showing that
they favor the retention of a small taX-suf1cienb
to pay the cost of collecton-on cigars and cigar
cites in order to protect manufacturers brands.
In number of cases the expression Of desire
to reduce or repeal internal taxes is coupled
with declaration in favor of more lib
eral pension laws and provisions by means of such
taxes for the increased appropriations thereby
made necessary. This view appears also 10 influence,
in some degree, most of the men who oppose any
modification of the internal revenue laws. The
main reason, however, given by those who favor
the abolition OF the system now, as soon as
practicable is desire to prevent inroads upon
or the overthrow of the system Of protection TO
American industries Mr. Morse, of Massachusetts,,
however, would not disturb the internal revenue
laws until after the abolition of the sugar duties
and the formation OF a commercial union between
the United States and Canada
TO the third question the number of replies in
the affirmative IS; in the negative, ; nom
cOmmittal, IA. Several who favor National con-
troll of Congressional elections express grave doubts
of the effectiveness of any legislation by Congress
to that end, and the same view controls the
opinions of three out of the four men who replied
in the negative.
TO REVIVE THE MERCHANT MARINE
Only one negative reply was received to the
fourth question: relating to liberal appropriations
for the foreign mail service, with view to the
restoration of the American flag 10 the ocean, and
that one was qualified as follows: Not in the
form in which it was presented In the Lth Con.
gress.' Two failed to answer the question;
ready % eXDreSs An oDiniOn as m ths