Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1893-12-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Dec 4, tsga

that his tariff bill needs bolster
ing up, and that accounts for the
space he devotes to 1t in his mes
sage to Congress. 1t ls not for
the democratic members of Con-
gress that he intends his argu-
ments in favor of the tariff mon
strosity which he compelled the
democrats of the House Ways and
Means committee to father, but
for the business interests of the
country which have kept the tele-
graph wires hot with protests
against the proposed outrage ever
since it was made public week |
ago. He doesn't mind the op-
position from democratic Con
gressmen; he knows by experience
that few appointments judicious-
ly placed will silence the most OF
that. 1t is the aroused public
sentiment OF the country that he
fears.
Democratic Senators and Rep
resentatives who haye been among
their constituents since the close
of the extra session bring no
consolation to the administration;
on the contrary, they bring news
of the most doleful nature. At a
private conference of the admins
tratiou democI ats held last night
it WAS generally admitted that the
next House of Representatives
would almost certainly be Repub-
lican. Instead of that knowledge
making them more conservative,
as it would wiser men, it has made
them more determined than ever
to force the whole administration
program through Congress, re-
gardless of consequences.
Republican leaders take little
or no stock in the idea that dis
contented democrats will aid them
10 modify the Cleveland tariff bill.
They have heard democratic Sena-
tors and Representatives talk one
way and vote another too often to
place any reliance upon them.
They intend, however, that the
debate on the bill shall make plain
to the country the full extent of
, the damage such a law will in
tlict upon every man in the Unit
Owing to the House Rules and
} the fact that the House com.
mlttee on Rules is completely un
der Mr.. Cleveland's thumb, it is
certain that the bill will be rail
roaded through the House with
but semblance of general de-
+ bate, but MIR. Cleveland does not
control the Senate which has rules,
f that will not be changed to aid in
v hurrying this bill through, under
which full debate may be had. Ii
3 democratic Senators choose they
y may with the aid of the solid re-
publican vote, which they can
easily get, if they ask for tit
will not be rendered to them-re-
a move some Of the ruinous sections
/ Of the bill; but few republicans
are counting upon their doing
anything so sensible.
n It is not yet certain when the
= Cleveland tariff bill will be re.
ported to the House. A resolu.
n tion adopted by the House just be.
! fore the close of the extra session
f provided that the republican mem,
bers of the Ways and Means com.
q mittee should have ten days from
the time they were furnished with
n a complete copy of the bill to pre-
pare their report against it. Il
g that resolution is TO be binding
4 The bill will not be reported to the
q House dntil well into next week
as the republicans have not ye
# been furnished complete bill
f the internal revenue part of it has
# not been finished by the demo
J. Gratis, and the figures of the Treas
ury Department showing the esti
g mated effect of the proposed bill
q on the revenues of the country
\ were only furnished them to-day
" The astounding statement is, how
, ever, unofficially made that th'
> democrats will make a separate
), bill Of the internal revenue chang
4 es, in order that the ten days may
y date from last Monday, when the
> tariff schedule was first made
# public. To do snch thing would
be manifestly unfair.
The reason why the interna
revenue part rf the tariff bill has
not been completed is that Mr.
= Cleveland and his heretofore will
. ling tools, the democrats on the
. Ways and Means csmmittee, have
" locked horns over the proposition
to include therein al income tax
to which Mr.. Cleveland is oppos
g ed. Up to this time all efforts tc
reach q compromise have beer
q unsuccessful, and some shrewo
men are predicting that the in,
= come tax will be the rock upon
which the Cleveland and anti.
! Cleveland democrats in Congress
will split for good aud all. We
6 shall see.
The administration men are
talking in a mysterious way about
, a new treaty with China, which
8 The administration is negotiating