Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-07

WASHINGTON, August 5, 80.

w WASHINGTON, August D, w.
The Congressional Campaign Commit
tees will necessarily be slow this year in
inaugurating and pushing the work they
have in hand. twill not be possible for
them to proceed with anything like sys-
tenn or intelligence until the precise issue
upon which the contest is to be made is
determined, and that cannot be done
while Congress is still hesitating about
so important matter as the National
Election Law. Of course there is the
general charge by the Democrats that
the Republicans have been wasteful of
fication offered by the Republicans that
while the appropriations are large the
money will go into channels like pen
sions and public improvements from
which the country will get liberal returns.
But, as rule, National Congressional
Campaign is conducted on something
more specific than that, and, at present,
with two great questions still awaiting
settlement at the hands of the majority
the tariff and the control of national
elections-there is much concern felt as
to which, or whether both, will by some
enactment of law mark the dividing
line between the two great parties when
they square for action next fall. The
original intention was to fight the battle
on the tariff issue alone. 1t seemed,
indeed, as if at last there was to be q
national campaign on great economic
issue. Later, however, the Republicans
brought the National Election bill for
ward, and Immediately halt was called.
The Democrats thought it best to go no
! further with their plans until the full
significance of the new move made by
their antagonists was plainly revealed.
1t might be necessary for them to face
this new direction, and if so all arrange
ments about battle on the tariff ground
would naturally have to be abandoned.
And so it Is that on activity is observed
on the part of either committee The
Republicans have yet to decide Just what
part the Elections bill shall pay in the
campaign-whether as law to be applied
or as measure they simply approve Of
and until that decision is reached the
Democrats can do little.
1t is pointed out by the Democrats that
in the coming contest they will have the
advantage in the way they will be able
to distribute their best speakers. For
tunately for them. they claim, their
Congressional leaders are all assured in
advance of their return here, and hence
can go to the relief of their friends in
any part of the country who may be
pressed closely.
The strongest of the Republican
speakers in the house will, ON the other
hand, be kept busy at home looking
each after his own individual fortunes
But, however, the issues may finally be
made up, the campaign must now be a
short one. 1t will not last over six
weeks, beginning the middle of Septem-
ber, but it promises to be an exciting
one from start to finish.
*x*
The question of new apportionment,
when it comes up in the House, will be
an interesting one. After every census
the apportionment has been changed to
meet the requirements of the increase
of population and the popular branch of
Congress has increased in membership
accordingly. Now the House has 332
members, counting those from the new
States, though 325 was the number given
by its last apportionment. This was
based on the apportionment of one Rep
resentative to every 15l 900 people. The
total population of the country at the
last census was so, 1876, ,723, and this wear
it is estimated that it will approach 65,-
100000. This large increase will make
it necessary either to increase the basis OF
representation or increase the member.
ship of the House or both. The
question has almost as many sides
as the House has members. Some, who
think the present body too large and un-
wieldly, hold that under no circum.
stances should the size of it be increased
} Other favor cutting down the basis OF
representation and allowing the member.
ship to run as high as it could, pointing
out that the British House of Commons
has about 700 members, and yet manages
to do the work required of a popular
body. Between these extremes there
are advocates of many other plans. One
of the most talked of is to increase the
basis of representation to $50, 900 or 1885,
600, which would probably give the
House membership of $50 or $50. If
this is done, the increase would scarcely
be sufficient to cut any State out of q
Representative.
~
Strange sensations must come over Mr..
Blaine these days when he notes the
quarters from which he is winning ap-
plause as he scores point after point
against the Mckinley Tariff bill and its
trainers. Mr.. Blaine shows his shrewd-
ness in endeavoring to get in line with
the Tariff Reform sentiment which has
grown strong even in his own party.
The policy which he advocates will work
out the rusult for which Democratic
tariff reformers have struggled so long,
and although it will do it under differ
ent name, the same end will eventually
be attained. r,