The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-14

Mr.. Cleveland and an Extra Session.
Leading democrats who talked with Mr..
| Cleveland at the dinner of the Tariff Re-
form Club say he is opposed TO an extra
session Of congress in the spring, and will
not call one at that time, out that he may
favor an extra session in the fall. He
thinks much more would be accomplished
in the direction Of tariff reform il the Sec
rotary of the Treasury and number Of
leading tariff retormers should frame 6
tariff bill and have It ready to submit &c
congress at its regular session, or perhaps
at an extra session In the fall.
This is about what the MORNING News
supposed would be the policy Of Mr.. Cleve
land. II would be an extremely difficult
matter to hold congress together very long,
if it should be called together Immediately
after MIR. Clsveland's Inauguration. because
there would be general unwillingness at
that time to take up routine work. Unless
that sort OF work were taken up there would
be nothing for congress to do for many
weeks, because tariff bill, such as would
satisfy the country, could not be framed
in week, or even in a month. Inc
framing Of such bill is the
work Of several months. 1t is true
the Mckinley tariff might be repealed in
short order, but what would take its place!
The tariff that existed before the Mckinley
tariff was adopteda But that was not salts
factory even to the democrats. The country
DOESN'T want that tariff, and it would be the
hight of folly to re-enact it with the GER
tainty that 1t would be changed in very
| few months.
The commission plan that is understood
| to be satisfactory to Mr.. Cleveland would
hasten tariff reduction very greatly. espe-
| C Tally if some Of the commissioners should
be members Of congress who would be, in
all probability, members Of the House aud
Senate committees that shape tariff legsla-
ton. A commission of that kind would
come very near framing a tariff
bill that would be acceptable 60
congress- The ways and means committee
might change il in some particulars, but 10
would not take long to do that. and con-
gress would have tariff bill before it soon
after it was organized.
1t Is pretty safe to say that very little
would be done toward framing tariff bill
by an extrs session. There would be q
great deal Of talk and little work. Congress
men would be anxious to return 20 their
homes, The consequence would be that the
session would end without anything being
accomplished. and the impression would go
abroad that the democrats found reforming
the tariff much more difficult than they ex-
pected, and that they had led the people to ex-
poet much more than they could accomplish.
1t would be better from every point Of
view TO go at the work Of framing tariff
reduction bill calmly and deliberately, with
full appreciation Of the difficulties
to be encountered, and with the UNDER
standing that the interests OF the great in
dustries of the country would be given care
full consideration. The tariff that the next
congress will give the country should be- the
tariff for generations.
Bat it is not certain yet that the Demo-
cratic party will be in position to change
the tariff at all. The republicans are leav-
ing no stone unturned to retain control of
the Senate. The political complexion Of
the legislatures of several Of the northwest
ern states is yet undetermined. II the
schemes the republicans now have for
capturing the legislatures Of these states are
successful the work of reforming the tariff
will have to be postponed, unless done
along lines marked out by republican Sen
ate. The democrats are still hopeful, how
ever, of having a majority. of the Senate.