Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-19
THE SHERMAN LAW.
The Recent CanvasSes of Senate and
House on Its Repeal.
A VERY UNCERTAIN MITIGATION
Of the Actual Way Votes viii Be
Cast.
PROBABLE COMPLICATIONS.

The canvasses of the House and Senate 10 de-
termine the chances for the repeal of the Sher-
man silver law give but a very uncertain indi-
cation of the situation. While a great deal is
now being done to develop that state of mind
among Congressman which willlea TO the re-
peal of the Law, most of the work of organiza-
tion and the securing of votes for the repeal
will have TO be done after Congress meets. In
view of the strong position which Mr.. Cleve-
land and his cabinet take against the further
purchase of silver by the government, a very
large number of Senators and Representatives
are ioath to commit themselves against the
repeal for fear of prejudicing their prospects
for patronage at the hands of the administra-
ton. And. again. some who will be elected TO
sickle over the terms of the repeal are in
clined now to indicate by equivocal expressions
that they may BE- brought 10 vote against silver.
The prospects, however. that men who
have heretofore voted with the most radical
silver men, and who have thus far said nothing
to commit themselves, will be foremost In their
efforts TO bring about the repeal of the Sher-
man law and to deTise other legislation TO cor
rect the evils of the present financial situation.
There are quite a number CT Representatives
in the House and a few Senators who. while OPP
posed to gold as a single standard and preju-
diced against anything that looks like Wall
street influence. look AT the situation as
thew find it before them and are ready TO do all
in their power to bring about a change.
FREE COINAGE MEN.
Some who are earnest in the conviction that
the free coinage of silver will be benefit TO
the country will, il is believed, be perfectly
willing under existing circumstances to vote
for and work for the repeal of the Sherman
law believing that that law is a hindrance to
ultimate free coinage.
The Senate has already been organized on
what appears to be silver basis, yet there is
sufficient doubt and probability of change there
to make il uncertain how u vote on the simple
proposition of repeal of the Sherman law would
stand. II is probable thai the silver question
will not enter into the organization of the
House. If il does not. the prospect of getting
rid OF the sherman law will be better than
otherwise, since any struggle over that ques-
ton in the organization would put number of
men in awkward positions and excite bitter
ness which would interfere with harmonious
action afterward.
on WHOM TIE ADMINISTRATION MUST RELY.
1t is the opinion of the best informed men in
the House that the men who are friendly &c
silver are the ones on whom the administration
mus: rely for reasonable action. il is known
! that any number OF them ready to make
considerable sacrifice of their theories in order
| To improve a Dau sltuaIOn. anu stlll Oluefe WIG
are earnestly In favor OF free coinage OF silvel
believe that the Sherman law should be repealed
| independently of any other proposition, leaving
| the question of free coinage to be fought ou
afterward. There is little doubt left among
| those men who have been carefully considering
the question that the great struggle of this Con
gress when ii once begins will be over the silver
4 question. They think. however, that II IL q
mistake to argue from this that the tariff re.
vision is going TO be abandoned or even neg
lected. Their idea is that the revision of the
tariff will be easily accomplished; that there
will be practically no fight over that. though q
very considerable cut be made. and that while
the financial questions are agitating both house,
and causing the most excitement the tariff re-
vision will go quietly and be easily and
speedily disposed of.
| THE BANK TAX REpEAL-
There is very serious question about the
practicability OF including the repeal Of the II
per cent bank tax in bill for the repealing o.
| the sherman law. A great many Representa-
| tives and Senators are in favor OF a combina
| ton of the two bills a compromise, but diff
/ ficulty arises from the fact that MANY VIII,
| would vote for repeal OF the Sherman Law
would not vote for the repeal of the bank tax
| and many who would be willing TO vote for thu
| latter on the other hand would not vote for tn,
former. SO that the combination would be liza
BILE 10 weaken both propositions. 1t Is thought
| therefore. tnal each proposition VIII pe pre-
sented separately and That they will both b
carried through the House certainly and proba
bly, through the Senate after hard fight.
| The question of an income tax is one that vii
probably come MP late in the session, as tn
necessity for it will depend largely upon tn
figures produced by the WAYS and means com
mttee after they have perfected their bill TO
the revision of the tariff. IL by their calcula
ton it is shown that there is a reasonable pros
pect of a large increase of customs revenues b.
reason of increased ir,rortations after a heav.
cut of duties the necessity for an income Ia
will not be as pressing, but the need of raisini
revenue will probably not stand in the way O
very heavy cuts 10 the tariff, and if deficienc.
| in the revenue is caused thereby then effor
will be made to make it good by an income taA