The Portland daily press., 1888-11-22
IN THE OLD LINE.
Speculation as to the Nature of the
President,s Message

WASHINGTON, Nov 21.-Secretary Fair
child, who has been at work for some weeks
on his annual report, has it in such shape at
least that the President is using it in prepar
ing his message Its contents naturally are
not diyulged yet but the best information
that can be obtained indicates that it will be
very much like his last years document ana
contain financial scare on the extent of the
surplus, together with sad reflections on the
perversity Of people who would not reduce it
by the Pre- sident's free trade method. If
anything, the situation will be described as
worse than before and the action of the
Democratic economists, in spending all the
revenues for the current year, either not
mentioned or excused with new fgurings to
show that the increase still continues.
:, The Star this evening, acting evidently ON
treasury information, thinks that such an
opening will be made, "It is likely" il
says. that the President will try to make it
clear to Congress that the neee ssity of check
Ing the accumulation of surplus is SO great
that If the Democratic plan cannot carry
through Congress they should yield, under
nro'est,to the Republican amendment rather
Than have no reduction OF the revenue at all.
There will he no Weakening from the former
position and ilU confession that the popular
verdict has condemned tariff reform. 1t is
not Improbable that the Democratic policy
this winter will be tn make sure o, some
sort NJ u reduction, aud il the Republican
plan is to prevail to fix npeii them the re-
4shu' li'tlity for it By repeatedly painting
''n.i at they Co nl't consider il tie " isest
~ th.,i. Saeh :: c;lI,r,.- wni.l drpliv i've the
kcril licsis Uf one Xcti>e for l.Ling the
question 60 ever unlii iheS have both
branches of Congress, and would make it
more difficult for them to change to new
plan. or to fulfill any promises they
may have made to manufacturers during
the campaign. Mr.. Cleveland has said
that he would sign any bill that should come
whether as to tariff duties or internal taxes,
unless there were something about it abso-
lutely vicious. If the Senate bill should
pass as IL now is, tits almost certain that he
would sign it. probably with some remarks
In explanation of his motives"
All this, OF course, Is in the nature of spec
nlation. but it indicates that the Democrats
have got enough of trying to enforce finan-
clal policy, and that If they do recommend
their own fall easier by the offer to help the
republicans under protest They have no
intention of actually doing so, because the
opportunity has been wide open to them and
unlmprOved for year, but, like Senator
Gorman when he gave up the House, they
would rather stand in the opposition. make
the Republicans originate and then talk
about helping under protest. So far, how
ever, there is no indication that they are
ready to desert their Southern free trade
scheme, and the talk this evening is the first
intimation that they would even ostensibly
desert 1t in order to devise some trouble Tor
the Republicans. No one believes that they
would actually help along the Senate tariff
Dill even under protest.