The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-27
WORK BEFORE CONGRESS
NAVY PERPLExIyG QUEsTTOys 10
DE DISPOSED or.
But Little Encouragement for the Two
Houses--A Number of Plans Laid by
Democratic Leaders Frustrated.

they believed, would make record which
would stand to the credit Of Democrats in
coming campaigns First of all they con-
templated a speedy and radical reform of
the tariff, the establishment Of AN income
tax. the repeal Of the Federal election
! laws the repeal OF the 30 per cent tax
on State banks. the revision Of the ma
tional bank laws. aud a reduction Of ap-
| propriations From d Democratic stand
point. this was regarded as a popular
programme. and one calculated TO nd
vance the interests OF the party. This
was all 90 be done in short order and
their ambition was 10 have the work done
so that the session Of Congress might
close during the spring months
importance of lac Iaon Question.
They contemplated this programme with
considerable satisfaction, and not the
least of their desires was 20 avoid any
contest and division iu the party ON the
silver question. They believed that this
would put an end 10 the POpulist move
ments in the South and West, and that
the party could be held together In
united body. They regarded the tariff
question as the cohesive element which
should be kept foremost and would unite
Democrats of all sections. The other
propositions were designed to please the
Democrats in this section and in that
so that all should find something TO their
especial liking The first movement to-
ward the fulhlment of this plan was an
effort to induce President Cleveland 10
call an extra session Of Congress in May
or June for the consideration OF the
tariff. In this they were disappointed.
and disappointments have followed them
i'm their attempted move forward.
IN, silver Problem Fir-t.
Instead Of regarding the tariff as the
burning question which demanded imlne-
date settlement, Mr.. Cleveland was eager
TO settle the silver problem and set 10
work. with a majority Of his party against
him to repeal the Sherman law Nhen
the extra session of Congress was called
I'm August IL was for a contest over silver,
and the tariff was not in it. The party
was divided and antagonism excited Whefe
none had existed before. Lines between
the administration and anti-adminlstra-
ton factions We're sharply drawn ana
at the end Of the long contest over the
repeal Of the Sherman law, sentiments OF
bitterness and resentment remained IL
was thought after the fight was over that
it's disturbing effects on the party mieht
he neutralized by an immediate Consld-
Grafton Of the tariff question, on Whlch
II was supposed the party was united.
With this object in view. an effort was
made to prolong the extra session, that
a new tariff bill might be taken up III
the House before the regular December
session began.
Antagonizing the Administrat on
But here again IL was found thal an
tagonism existed between the admins
tration and anti-adminisuaton men. ne
administration men wanted an immediate |
might stand out conspiciousiy Tor its
work on the silver question. Again the |
administration forces We're successful, /
but It was arguCi that there would De
no delay in the revision Of the tariff
and in consequence of this, the Commit
tee on Ways and Means was authorized
to proceed at once with the preparation
of their bin so that on the day of the
meeting of Congress it would be ready
for consideration in the House. In thls
the plans were better laid than executed
The same influence which had put the
tariff question in the background before,
appeared in the Ways and Means Com
mittee not only in a dilatory policy
but into the manner Of treating the
question itself. The committee was diyid-
ed into subcommittee on strange lines
and that subcommittee, which had es-
pecially in charge the preparation OF the
general tariff bill, was composed OF fewer
than half of the Democrats of the COM
mittee.
A Nrw Bill Prepared
After this subcommittee had completed
its work by a slow process the rest OF
the majority of the committee were call
ed in and at a time when II was sup
posed that the work would have been
completed it was all started over again,
and the work done amounting practi-
rany to the making of a new bill. SO
that instead OF being ready with the
measure when Congress met the first
Monday I'm December, the work was so
far behind that even now. though the
}d of January is fixed as the time for
The consideration Of the measure in the
House. il is not yet completed. More
over, the bill is drawn on such lines as
10 make 1t extremely probable that the
wo houses of Congress cannot agree on
{. and dissatisfaction with the measure,
ogether with the irritation on account
IF the delay. makes the result Of the |
attempted revision very uncertain. More
,ver Mr. Clevelands treatment Of the
ariff question in his message is not at
al satisfactory to the ultra tariff-for-
'evenue men, and is regarded as an en-
'ouragement TO those who want 10 pre-
erve protection for favored industries.
The Issue OF tn Income 4aN.
The income tax question has developed
nto an aggrevating issue within the
,arty and the advocates Of that PROPOSE
ion are more or less angered by the
lotion they have that the administration
las taken sides against them.
Meanwhile during the special session,
he House in spite Of the antagonism Of
he administration forces, passed the
ill repeating the Federal election laws.
nd that is now hung up in the Senate.
1t was understood at the start that
he administration would favor the re-
eal of the State bank tax, which was
ndorsed without qualification in the
ational platform. and that Mr. Cleve-
md in his message would advocate the
epeal This expectation was disappoint-
4, however. and the committee in charge
( the subject, which was supposed 10 be
irongly in favor Of the repeal, is divided !
Ito almost as many factions as there
re members Of the majority.
he Issuing of .onds. I
As to the revision OF the national bank G
.ws. the same condition of affairs exists |
nd the question OF issuing bonds has a
risen on account Of the Treasury de- Z
ciency TO still further perplex the situa- a
on and excite antagonisms. e
In the work on the appropriation bills s
me progress has been made toward the J
rtailment of expenditures, but IL Is u
und generally that, while a saving can ]
made in one place II is lost in another. U
Id as ali the policies are not in the hands o
one committee, there is a lack OF har-
ony of action.