New-York tribune., 1888-08-26
Try TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE. ]


Washington, Aug 25.-A chaste gravity has
succeeded the indscrcet enthusiasm with which
the Presidents retaliation message was received
By Democrats less than forty-eight hours ago.
Thcy are beginning to yield to a lurking suspicion
that Mr.. Cleveland is not so much Of an inter-
national lawyer, after all, as he seems to have
imagined when lie announced to Congress that
he had discovered" the utter worthlessness Oh
Article xxx of the Treaty of Washington. lhe
Senate debate yesterday has done much TO dampen
their spirits. In that contest their speakers
made but a poor showing Not single foot OF
ground was left to them to stand on. They
were absolutely powerless to reply to the argu-
ments of Messrs. Edmunds, IIoar and Sherman.
What gricves Democrats most, however, Is the
fact that the Administration has once more In
yolyed itself in network of contradictions. On
the one hand Is the President asserting thai
Article XXIX of the Treaty Of 1871 is not in
force: on the other is his Secretary OF State
asserting with equal vehemence that 1t Is Here
is Mr.. Cleveland clamorng for more power undcr
the protest that the existing law is not suthclcnt
and that at best it is OF doubtful authority,
while his former Secretary of the Treasury, Mr..
Manning, is on record executing that law and
issuing circulars collectors of customs under It's
provisions. Then, again, there is this Adminis-
tration, which for three years shut us eyes per-
sstenly to the worst outrT,scs that could possibly
have been committed upon citizens of this coun-
try suddenly awakening on the eve OF an election
to the realization of what is It's duty, and dis
covering additional outragcs. All this, of course,
is very ludicrous, and does net IN the lcaso
contribute to the comfort of Democrats.
The principal question is what will tho
Senate do 1t seems to have taken for granted that
the Hous, will PASS the Wilson bill introduced
Immediately after the reading Of the Acesidents
message in the House on Thursday, ~ in tho
Senate by NIr. Morgan yesterday.
FEATURES OF TIE RETALIATION BILL
A special meeting of the Foreign Affairs Com
mittec of the House has been called for Monday to
consider this bill There is but little doubo
that it will be reported from the committee sub
santiay as it was introduced. Il is an Adminls-
tration measure; has the approval Of the Presl-
dent and in fact was drafted in the Treasury
Department before the Presidents message was
transmitted to Congress. II purports to embody
the demands made by the President and TO grant
to him all the powers he is at present inclined to
.sk fer IN full il reads
Ec 1t enacted etc. that whenever the President may
deem It his duty exercise any Of the powers gon to
by entitled An act to authorize the President
Of the United protect and defend the rights OF
fishing vessels American fishermen. American
trading and other vessels In certain cases and for other
purposcsn approved March g. 1857 It should DC lawful
for President his discretion by proclamation to that
eject suspend IN whole in part the transportation In
bond and without the payment Of duty OF gools wares
and merchandise imported from foreign country ex
cept Canaaa TO or from British Dominion in North
America across the territory OF the United States.
Sec 2whencvcr the President shall be satisfied that
there Is any discrimination whatever In the use OF the
Welland Canal the ST. Lawrence River canals the Cham
bly, Canal either OF them. whether by tolls drawbacks
refund OF tolls otherwise which Is or may De detri
mental to the Interests the United States or any OF
Shail bp
discretion to issue proclamation to that effect whereupon
there shall collected toll of 20 cents ten upon every
foreign vessel and her cargo passing through eithr the
saut Sic Marie Canal tie St. Clair flats Canai ana
Tho scercery OF the Treasury nag authorize and direct
any OF the customs collect the tolls levied under
This act The President when satisfied that such as
elimination ceased may issue his proclamation 10 .nas
effect in his discretion whereupon the tolls W
this act shall no longer be coiiectcL
SEE 3-Thc OF the Treasury is authorfcd 70
make any regulations necdul this act into effect
t. will be noticed that the closing part OF tho
srst section is somewhat ambiguous. AS Senator
FRYE interpreted il to-day, it means that no goods
sbppcd from England for instance TO Canada
by way Of the United States or goods shippcda
from Canada 10 England through the Unlted
States can hereafter he admitted INTO TINS country
without the payment Of dnty TIC words eN-
cept Canada" however, IN MI fpes cPimoniii nii .o o
NOT provide any remedy whatever for the evil so
much complained of-thc bonding by the treasury
Department of routes which use oanauinun 1s rah.
WAYS part OF the way. 1hc act Wouiu pun ~ n.no
IL nossible for the Canadian Pacific to reserve
goods shipped at say San Francisco, Tor bos.on;
and bring them into the United states Hc;v,xvvi Hcv 81
duty IL is this which has been such IralntiJh. nih
source of complaint and it is precisely TINS n,Sv
the Administration seems unwilling W i''"'
even row.
THE SENATE AND THE ADMINISTRATORS.
The House may not feel disposed 10 amen. n .,s
bill. MS il is an Administration measure oa' ''
senate will If il masses any bill at ALL AT prcsenS
:, Ioos rot sccm 70 see the necessity OF doing 50.
II ,ns,ly resens the trifing of the President Win
Congress % his convenient readiness to find excuses
so~ Not executnc the law. and his arrogant as
SUMPTION that his Interpretation OF the statutes
snrsr.idcs the opinion of the foremost lawyers an
oNerri.s ' ard IN the House. Mr. Frye 10 emphatic
inc u his regarding the present attitude Of
~ ~. m mSdminstration lie cannot see any reason
why the President should demand enlarged powen