The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-09
SEATTLE. FRIDAY. NOV. ..
The dains in Congress.

The Gains In Congress.
II has been a surprise &c all close OBJ
servers Of the trend Of politics that the
Republican party. in the election this fall.
not only succeeded in retaining control Of
the lower house Of congress, but actually
Increased its majority. At the commence
nent OF the hrst session OF the present
congress the Republicans had majority
over all of but fourteen. In the next con-
gress the majority will be nearly nifty.
While every inteliissn. snd dispassion-
ate observer felt confident that Mckinley
would b. elected. there wsrs strong rsa-
sons TO feat that the Democrats would. at
least reduce the Republican majority in
the house to such a small fgure as to
mako II a question whether any legisla-
tion on which party lines would bs drawn
could pass. II secmed certain that the
Acknowledgement Of the negroes would re-
suit In tho loss OF such seats from the
Southern states ~ were filled by Repub-
iicans; and there was no assurance that
the losses thus anticipated could BE- made
up. Even the most sanguine hardly dared
to hope for the gain OF several seats In
Indiana. and the most enthusiastic pre-
dictions never reached the height of .
cinim that there would be solid Repub-
iican delegation from Maryland.
An the results are better than was
hoped for. they are the more gratifying.
The absolute control OF both houses Of
congress insures the carrying into effec,
Of all Republican pledges as to future leg
isistion; gives the administration a free
hand to deal with the many perplexing
questions yet left to be determined in con-
neetion with the country's new possess
sions, guarantees that there win be no
country has now become definitely COM
mitted. aud Is the best assurance which
the country can have OF -four years more
OF prosperity ard vigorous commercial and
manufacturing growth.
II Il interesting 20 note that the second
administration OF Mckinley commences
WITH house and a senate both In political
harmony with him ana that he will have
an experience vouchsafed TO no presiden,
since Grant OF six years tenure OF Office
without having 90 encounter a hostile ma.
iar'ty IN either house OF congress Grant
haa a hostile congress in the last hair OF
hts second term. During Hayes term the
lower house was under Democratic con.
trol Cor Tho whole four years, and the sen
ate Ter The last two years Garfield took
once With a Democratic majority IN the
senate opposing him. ana Arthur had a
hos,ila majority in the house to encounter
during tho last OF his terra During the
whole o. Clevelaua's FIRST term the senate
was controlled by tho Republicans. Har-
r'son had Democratic bst opposing
him during the last two Seass Of his term,
Both houses were Democratic during the
rrs, two years Of cievelands second ad-
minis,Easloa; bat soth houses wsre unser
conuol CT the Republicans during the las,
tso years 81 his term
wAea the term FOR waish thu present
rsnF So Is eiss shalt have expired. thu
Republican % b viii have had SIX years
~ absolute atFol q al O; the depart
ncass or shs tetcral government: sone-
ships q vt~n ~ polit,csi rarty has been
able 20 Aeasy s'nsc recons,ruotloa aays.