Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-12-07

WASHINGTON, Dec. Alt Is always
difficult to get any sound estimate of the
impression made by a message from the
President to Congress until the Senators
and Representatives have had All OPP
portunity to thoroughly consider the
document, and this can hardly be done
on the first day Of the session, when the
only source of information of the con-
tents Of the important communication
is the hastily-made and imperfect rendi-
ton of the secretary Of the Senate and
clerk of the House.
Opinions expressed upon this basis
are apt to be but reflex of general
party feeling, and consequently of small |
value as an index of the popularity Of |
the message. So the United Press has |
seen fit to seek not a general expression |
of views, but rather the sentiments of |
such of the senators and representatives |
Is are so strongly identified with one or
more of the leading topics of the mes
sage as to make certain that they would |
listen to and consider the subjects in
which they are particularly interested.
THE GENERAL IMPRESSION.
The general sentiment respecting the
Presidents message is doubtless one of
disappointment, not for what is said so
much as for the omission to treat in de-
tail many matters in which the mem 4
bers of the two houses feel deeply in
terested. This particularly applied TO
Hawaiian affairs, and the country is
still LETT in doubt as to the nature of the
instructions given to Minister Willis.
The treatment accorded the financial
question was also disappointingly gem
eral, and the reference to the income tax
in advance of the action Of the commit
tee On ways and means was about the
only surprise in the message, which has
come to be looked upon as a genuine
budget of live news.
REGARDED AS AN ABLE DOCUMENT.
Nevertheless this particular message
was generally regarded by the Demo-
Gratis as being an able State document
and one calculated to secure the united
support of the party for the President,
while, of course, the Republicans took
issue with him in some of the most i'm
portant statements, and particularly de-
nounced his utterances on the tariff.
Some of the views of prominent legis-
lators are set out as follows:
CHAIRMAN WILSON.
Mr.. Wilson, d. (W. Va.l, chairman of
the ways and means committee ~
consider it very fair and business-like
review of all the public questions on
which the President is called upon to
address the people of the country. |
am especially pleased at what he says
on the tariff question.
MIR. M'CREARY.
"An able and appropriate message"
was the comment of Mr.. McCreary, D.,
(Ky.), chairman OF the House foreign
affairs committee. "It contains much
valuable information. He presents for
eign affairs, the monetary question and
tho tariff with great ability. l regard
-the message as one Of the strongest he
has ever sent to the House of Repre-
sentatives. His utterances on the Ha-
waiian question are not as full as some
persons expected, but have confidence
in his judgment and ability, and hope
for satisfactory adjustment of the Ha-
waiian affairs"
MR.. BYNUM.
Mr.. Bynum, D., lind. )-"It is a very
concise but clear statement of the multi
tude of questions which Congress will
be called on to consider. While would
like to read some parts of it before dis
cussing them, the principal issues pre-
sented meet my unqualified approval.
am specially pleased with the sectiuI
referring to the tariff, and the courgeou
manner in which the President come
to the support of the ways and mean
committee. The reformation Of TIN
tariff is great task, and cannot b
easily accomplished without the supper
of the administration"
Ey.spE arm puur
Ex-Speaker Reed, r., (Maine): g
dislike to comment on the message, be
cause 1t would not be seemly to do it i
adequate terms. 1t is exceedingly dis
appointing both in matter and manner
1t is largely made up OF wearisom
resume of the reports of the secretaries
which have hardly been improved b.
condensation. On the Hawaiian que:
ton we are left as much in the dark a
ever, and must wait the news of th
next steamer, Just as we have bee
waiting SO long. That part of the mes
sage which relates to the tariff is mos
surprising. 1t ,asseverates that tn
House committee in charge of that sui
ject has formulated plans and devise
methods OF taxation, which, US a men
Der of the committee, have never eve
heard proposed. 1t is rather unusu
sensation to learn of the deeds of til
committee not in the committee room
but from the President OF the Unite
States. Has that committee ceased, eve
in form, to be composed OF both partie
and has it, without even the formalit
Of word in open committee, informt
the President of its determination
such way that the President can of
ciallV communicate il IN tho Hnuea ~