Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-09-16
MORE TALK ABOUT TARIFF
indications Point 10 Hopeless Task
For RevoIutionists.
NO ACTION BY CONGRESS-
Speaker Cannon Expected to Hold
the New House In Hand as
He Did the Old.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14.-Careful
calculations as TO the strength of the
tariff reyisionists in the house this win
ter compel the conclusion that the re
yisionists have an impossible fight be
fore them in case they determine to
force the tariff issue. Not only are the
revisionists among the Republicans in
conspicuous minority, but as things
stand now Republican reyisionists
could not carry the house in tariff re-
duction contest even if they were to
unite with the Democrats. Predictions
that congress will take no action on the
tariff are therefore made adyisedly,
says the New York Globe.
Indications are that the tariff revi-
sion talk will be more vigorous than
usual this winter, but that it will end
in talk, as usual, is quite evident when
a careful survey is made. Speaker
Cannon will not have the new house
quite as well in hand on tariff as he
had the last one, but he will be able to
Control it about as he wishes
One Of the weak spots of the house
from the Cannon and high tariff view
point is the ways and means commit
tee. Four of the eleven Republican
MISUNDERSTANDING of Minnesota. Me-
Call of Massachusetts, Babcock Of Wis
consin and Hill of Connecticut--lean
toward tariff revision. This does not,
of course, give the revisionists control
of the committee, but as there are six
Democrats it makes the revision senti-
ment rather too formidable for com
fort.
1t Is expected Speaker Cannon will
find way to mend this situation. One
suggestion is to give Tawney the chair
manship of the committee on appropri-
atoms and transfer McCleary of Min
nesota, strong high tariff man, to the
ways and means. Something like this
wiz probably be done, and at the same
time the number of Democrats on the
committee may be reduced to five.
The control by the opponents of reyi-
sion of the ways and means committee
would give them an immense advan-
tage. Should a revision contest become
so bitter as to induce the Republican
revisionists to unite with the Demo
Gratis, something not at all probable,
there would be great practical difficulty
in getting the revisionists of the two
parties to agree. But, even If this
should happen and an agreement
should be reached, 1t Is calculated Eore
than two-thirds of the Republicans
would 60 with the speaker and would
enable him to defeat any tariff revision
plan that might come up.
There are but two delegations in the
house, considering states that have del
egations of any size, that would line up
solidly for revision should a fight be
made. These are the Massachusetts
and Wisconsin delegations. Even in
the Minnesota delegation, a state where
there is strong revision sentiment, Nc
Cleary would have no support in oppos-
| ing any change in schedules. In Iowa,
Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Kan
sas and Nebraska the revisionists have
a decided minority of the representa-
tives.
The Pacific coast has no revision
members in the house, and there are
few from the Rocky mountain states.
In the east, aside from Massachusetts,
the revisionists have little place on the
delegations to the next house.