Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-25
To Come Together in a Friendly
Way, and Talk Over Matters.
PARTY AND NATIONAL IMPORT.
Tho AdVisability Of an Extra Session Is t.
lave Precedence.
CRIsPS REELECTION A SURE THING.
rrRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT ]

HO1u tuo Two SOH6HuaG 8lOOI 1IOm CdCh
other, that Mr. Cleveland may no longer
stand in the way of the Speakers am
bition to succeed himself The correspond
ent of The DISPATCH is informed by the
best of authority that this is not at all the
object of the visit. So far as his reelection
to the Speakership is concerned, not only
Mr.. Crisp's friends but his opponents as
we'll know that Mr.. Cleveland's support is
not necessary to the accomplishment ofthat
reelection.
This authority asserts that the House of
Representatives would resent any interter-
ence from the Chief Executive, and there is
but one result possible, no matter what Mr..
Cleveland's wishes may be in regard to the
matter. No one else in the field has been
able to make the least headway in opposi-
tion to Crisp. Most of the leaders of the
opposition to him one year ago are now
his warmest supporters. According to the
authority referred to, the contemplated
meeting of the two gentlemen will be
merely for the purpose of talking over the
situation, with view to harmony of action
between Congress and the Executive.
Mr.. Cleveland Not at All Obstinate. :.
| Mr.. Cleveland is not disposed to be
| obstinate in dealing with the question of an
extra session. His desire is TO discover the
| real sentiment of the representatives of the
people in Congress, elected at the same
time as himself, and presumably knowing
the sentiments of the masses on the sub
jects at issue better than he. Mi. Cleve-
land is said to be anxious to learn the prob
able policy of Congress on all of the ques-
| tions which will come to the front, that he
may keep in line with the law-making
| power in his message, or shrewdly divert
that policy, if possible, to conform with his
own views
1t is a fact that many of the Democratic
leaders in Congress have had their ardor
cooled considerably since the craze of an
unexpected victory with an undesired can
didate has spent its frenzy, and they calmly
| look the situation in the face. The caution
with which Cleveland has expressed him.
self on the tariff question has led them to
suspect that there may be several ways of
dealing with the tariff other than to slaugh-
ter the idea of protection outright. Mr..
Crisp has also shown desire to be cautious,
and 1t is probable that he and Mr.. Cleve-
land may very easily come together on that
point
Mr.. Crisp Anxious to Be Reelected.
| 1t is the opinion of Mr.. Crisp, however,
that whatever change is to be made should
be made as soon as possible, and the ques-
|
that in his mind should be promptly set
tied in the affirmative. Mr.. Crisp believes
that the business men Of the country should
J know at the earliest moment what they are
| to expect in the way of q revision of the
| tariff and in this he is in harmony with the
mass of the leaders of not only his own
party, but those of the Republican party
also
There is no doubt in the mind of any
| fhot the a1lin0 of aorlu
sion would advance the revision of the
| tariff at least six month"; If the next Con-
| gress could be organized and the Committee
| on Ways and Means directed to sit during
the recess and prepare a bill to be pre-
sented to the reconvened Congress in Sep
tember or October, the bill could be made
a law before the date of the meeting of
the regular session in December. If the
organization be postponed until the regular
meeting, or even until an extra session in
| September or October, the usual delay in
| organizing would obtain, committee work
| would drag, the whold body would have to
await the report of the Committee on Ways
and Means, and no bill wolId be PASSED be-
fore June or July, 1894.
What Is Wanted Generally.
The mass of the advocates of the extra
session still hope for the passage of law
! changing the time for meeting of the regu-
lar session, but they don't want to depend
entirely on that contingency.
With Mr. Crisp the question may be a
personal one, to some extent He is we'll
| aware that he now has the Speakership
within his grasp, but that there is no tell
| ing what the spring and summer and
autumn might bring forth in the way of op-
| position, should the organization be de-
layed. While the probabilities are that he
would be reelected in any event, he would
| feel much more comfortable 10 have the
question settled before the ides of March.
1t is very important that the two men who
will hold the two most responsible posi-
tions in the whole land should have a
thorough understanding, and that is what
they are going to try to reach.
The Demand for Reform.
Within the next two weeks the electors
of the various States will begin to meet to
formally cast the electoral votes. 1t is a
general belief that an elector is legally
bound to cast his vote for the candidate of
the party which is responsible for his cleo
ton. This is not the fact, though the cleo
tor may be morally so bound. Waving
the question of morals he can vote for
whomsoever he desires, and his only pun
ishment would be the contempt of his fell |
lows 1t is this and other anomalous feat |
ures of the present constitutional pro-
vision in regard to the election of national |
official which has led to q movement for ali |
amendment to the Constitution getting rid |
of these absurditiea
The division of the electoral vote of |
the States in accordance with the ratio |
of the votes cast Tor each candidate
seems to be the most popular form of |
amendment, as this would infallibly repre-
sent the voice Of the people. When the |
electoral votes are cast in the various |
States, delegated electors will carry them |
sealed to the Capitol, to be deposited in the |
room of the Vice President. In the right |
hand corner as you enter this room is
small Marvin saie, upon which is marked
in gilt letters, ''Vice President OF the |
United States" This safe is used as a re-
pository for the electoral votes until they |
are counted in the House OF Representa-
tiveS.
The custom prevails, and probably will |
always prevail, that during the period |
when the electoral votes are within the |
safe, tN officers of the Capitol police force
are detailed to watch them night and day, |
and they are SO vigilant that even the Vice
Presidents private secretary is not ad
mitted to the room without one of the Off
GERS accompanying him. The combination
of the safe is at that time known only to
the Vice President then holding the posi-