The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-10-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Grave Charges Against the Presidents
The Tariff Situation.

The Tariff situation.
WASHINGTON, Sept, GA very grave
charge has been brought against the pres
ident of the United States by his personal
and political friends-that OF having nom-
mated ]. ]. VanAllen to be ambassador to
Italy, knowing that the said nomination
had been sold to the said Van Allen by
ex.Secretary Whitney for the sum OF
$4,000, which was turned into the demo-
cratic campaign fund last year. 1t is
stated by those who enjoy the closest per-
sonal relations with MIR. Cleveland that he
was cognizaut of the $4,000 contribution
and the terms upon which II was made
and that the nomination OF Van Allen
was not sent TO the. senate until he had
refused to relinquish his claim thereto for
the return of his $4,000, which certain
friends of Pres. Cleveland offered to con-
tribute In order to prevent the consuma-
tion of the scaudalous bargain, and had
threatened to make public the transaction
As might be supposed, this charge has
created sensation in congress. The
nomination of Van Allen is now before
the senate committee on foreign relations,
which may make an investigation Of the
charge, although the chances are that an
attempt will be made TO hush the matter
up by getting Pres. Cleveland to withdraw
the nomination. To judge from remarks
made bv senators, il will be next to i'm
possible to get favorable report from
the committee on this nomination, and
even II favorable report were secured
the senate would in all probability reject
the nomination by considerable major
ity.
The tariff mystery has been increased
by the official announcement that no in
formation concerning the new tariff bill
would be given out before the bill was
reported 10 the house and that II was al
together uncertain when that would be.
1t is evident 10 all close observers that a
hitch IN the tariff program has been
reached. II was only few days ago that
Chairman Wilson stated positively that
the work Of preparing the bill would be
hastened by assigning the preparation OF
the various schedules to subcommittee,
a statement that was not In accordance
with the views Of the power behind the
committee, as Mr.. Wilson now announces
without blush that no work will be done
by subcommittee. The mystery sur
rounding the preparation Of this bill is
daily adding to the number OF those who
believe that the democratic members oi
the house ways and means committee will
have little or nothing to do with making q
tariff bill and that all that will be requir
ed of them will be to accept without ques
ton and report to the house the bill thai
will be submitted 10 them by the admins
tration. That being the program, It be
came absolutely necessary TO announct
that no information would be given ou
until the bill is reported. By saying
nothing, members Of the committee will
give away nothing.
The situation in the senate remain
much the same, except that the PERSONAL
ties which have crept into the debate dur
Ing the last few days have raised new oh
stacles TO anything ike a satisfactor!
compromise. Still, compromise seems, d
the most unpreiudiced observers, the onl!
possible way 10 get any legislation dealing
with silver, but the more the senator
quarrel the more difficult compromis,
will be. Another attempt Is 10 he mad'
next week to force vote by keeping III,
senate In session twelve hours day, bu
nobody seriously believes 1t will do mor'
than to demonstrate the impossibilty o.
forcing vote. The committee on rule
has not acted upon Senator Platrs resolu
tiou proposing cloture, and 1t is not likely
that II will
All the high officials OF the government
except Pres. Cleveland, got their pay TO
last months work in gold. Each cabine
officer got about three pounds Of the meta
and Hoke Smith sent his home In a car
riage. The presidents share would hav'
weighed sixteen pounds II he had beel
paid In gold, but his monthly salary 70
the year would weigh about 200 pounds Il
gold. II is interesting TO look In the vaul
where Uncle Sam keeps his hard none
stored. Not many are permitted to pee
at this hidden wealth, and this makes
description Of the place all the more in
,eresting. The vault is down 10 darl
dungeon In the sub basement Of the treas
ury building. One OF the officials Of tha
department holds the secret combinatio
OF the outer door and another man th
ombination Of the inner door. The vaul
was pitch dark until the gas was lighted
Running straight through the middle fror
the entrance was q sort Of hallway. o.
either side Of which was a row Of iron lal
tice-work compartments. There were 4
all fourteen Of these lattice work roomi
somewhat resembling rooms along
prison corridor, and all but one Of then
were filled as full as they could hold witt
bags Of coin-silyer. The compartmen
which was partly empty held all the vol,