The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-27
BLAINE STIRRED THEM UP.
His Reciprocity Letter Puts His Party
in Quandary.

His Reciprocity Letter Puts His Party
in a Quandary.
WASHINGTON. July 20. - Secretary
Blaine's letters are always read, and bis
reply to Senator Frye was no exception. 1t
supersedes the Behring sea correspondence
as the topic of the cloak room conversation.
Senator Frye said he would make no re-
sponse and that he had nothing to say about
IL.
Chairman Mckinley said he had nothing
to say about it, and so 10 was with all the
others whose comments on 1t would be most
interesting to the public
But there was plenty Of interesting pri-
vate conversation. The ways and means
republicans were inclined to be indignant
at Secretary Blaine's way Of telling about
the conference of Feb. 10.
BLAINE's FORMER ATTITUDE.
They insist that at that confer ence Secre-
ta-y Blaine talked free wool as well as free
sugar, and that he talked about South
America. and especially the Argentine Re-
public, and not about Spain, Gu a or Porto
Rico They consulted the President and
Speaker Reed, satisfied themselves that the
reciprc city Secretary Blaine advocated was
impia q ticable, and so dropped the subject
without ever bringing it into the full COM
mittee. They hold the same opinion still
about Secretary Blaines scheme even as
amended. They think it would ruin their
tariff bill to put it on, and they will resist 1t
If it is put on in the Senate, which they do
not anticipate.
Representative McKenna of California,
who made minority report against free
sugar, is an exception. He favors Secre-
tary Blaine's scheme for the reason that his
colleagues oppose it. Outside of the COM
mittee Secretary Baine's scheme is ap-
proved by his friends aud condemned by
his enemies, but it has very few votes In
the House.
HOW THE SENATE STANDS.
In the Senate, where opinion on the
general subject is crystallizing, the repub-
licans are all theoretically in favor of some
reciprocity, but they are far apart as to
how it shall be had. If it is practical to
have it at all, as a majority doubt. they
want free sugar. They do not want
free wool, and they make all the turns they
can. Nevertheless the demand which
Secretary Blaine has so skillfully worked up
for reciprocity is felt, and Senator Aldrich
and others of the finance committee are
trying to devise a practicable plan. They
have talked With President Harrison, who
favors giving the President power to reim-
pose duties on sugar, hides, etc., if re-
ciprocity is refused by any country, and
also power to impose discriminating duties
against exports from countries discrimi
mating against our exports.
ADVOCATING 1T IN A MESSAGE.
This is the policy he advocates in the
message he is preparing to send to congress.
Senator Pierce got bit of it in his resolu-
tion and Senator Mitchell got bit of it,
somewhat twisted, in his, but as yet the
finance committee has agreed TO nothing.
Behind it ali is their feeling that Secretary
Blaine is only trying to embarrass the Nc
Kinley bill and to advertise himself, and
the uncertainty as TO what Secretary Blaine
would be willing TO do, an uncertainty
which Secretary Blaine's reply TO Senator
Frye has not removed. One senator says
ex-Minister Foster should be sent at once
30 Spain 10 see what he can get, and report
by cable. President Harrison may adopt
this suggestion.