Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-08
Effect of Tariff Consideration.

In congressional quarters the opinion IS
widely entertained that the speakership
fight is soon to become involved with the
question of tariff revision. The disposition
of the craftsmanship of the committee on
appropriations and of the committee on
ways and means will also enter into the
equation.
The two candidates most likely to be af-
fected by tariff considerations are Mr. Bab-
cock and Mr.. Dalzell. Mr.. Babcock is an
advocate of the scaling down of some OF
the alleged unnecessary duties of the pres
ent tariff law. He has the sentiment of the
west with him, he believes. and he also is
of the opinion that practical revision. along
republican protection lines, will be popular
in some parts of the east. Mr.. Payne, Mr..
Dalzel and Mr.. Sherman are regarded as
ultra-p -protectionists. They would not touch
the tariff until the last horn blows. Mr..
Cannon and Mr.. Littlefield have not de-
cared themselves very positively on the
tariff revision question, but both are keen
of hearing when their ears are to the
ground. Probably they would sound public
sentiment very carefully on that subject.
Some persons prominent in congressional
circles think that a Showdown" on the
tariff question will be demanded by the sew
eral delegations in Congress before the con-
test proceeds much further.
Conflicting Views.
1t is interesting to note the conflicting
claims put forward by the two tariff fac
tions to the significance of the Congress
elections last Tuesday. The ultra -protec-
tionists loudly proclaim that the result Of
the elections shows that the people have
taken Senator Hanna's advice to stand
pat" and will demand continuance of
existing tariff and administrative conditions
for another term.
The reVisionists for their part insist that
as pledges were made to the people Of the
west that the tariff would be revised along
rr-tfh h11
their support from free-trade heresies, 1t
now is the duty of the republican party to
fulfill those pledges or suffer the resent
ment Of the people in the next election.
These varying analyses of the significance
of the election will be put forth by the op-
posing factions and the common, everyday
representative will have to make up his
mind according to the belief of his constitu-
ents and vote for Speaker accordingly.
Committee Assignments.
The relative weight of the Craftsmanship
assignments is being eagerly discussed in
congressional circles in connection with the
speakership contest. Assuming that Mr..
Cannon should win the speakers gavel,
the first vacancy would be in the chairman
ship of the committee on appropriations.
General Bingham of Pennsylvania is sec
ond on that committee, but as he would
have espoused the cause of Mr.. Dalzen, he
probably would be put aside, 1t Is said.
Ihat brings Mr.. demenWdy OIL HcAt
in line. The gossips say that it Is useless
to deny that the prospect of securing the
Craftsmanship of appropriations committee
for their state could not be put lightly
aside by the Indiana delegation, and there
fore, that Indiana may safely be counted
as going into the caucus with Illinois.
II Mr.. Cannon is chosen, it is by no
means assured, 1t Is said, that be will re-
tain the present composition of the ways
and means committee. Some other candi-
date might be SO strong in the caucus and
his forces so obdurate for their choice thae
it might be necessary in the assignments
of chairmanships to gratefully remember
the turn of those delegations in the de-
cisive voting and award the Craftsmanship
of ways and means to the man who had
led them.
Possible Resentments.
Another element likely to enter into the
contest so far as Mr.. Payne AMI Mr.. Dal-
zel are concerned, is the possible resent
ment of the old 'insurgent'' faction in the
House. 1t will be recalled that an infiu-
entail section Of the House last winter
murmured greatly against the rule of~the
acknowledgements Henderson party,
as they were called. On one or two occa-
sions the insurgents manifested their feel
ing by voting down the leaders. 1t IS NOT
at all ceri ain that the smodertng embers
of resentment will not blaze up in the west
and determine some of the old members OF
the House in their choice for Speaker.
The many views that can be taken or the
contest the various and sometimes con-
sonal, geographical, and above all economic
reasons, contribute to make this an intense
ly interesting battle, the outcome OF when
is not yet in sight.