The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-08-22

WASHINGTON, D. c., August II, 1894.
President Cleveland does not like the Senate
tariff bill any better than he did when he wrote
that letter to Chairman Wilson few good Dem
ocrats do-but, like the sensible man that he is,
he prefers it to the Mckinley law and has, ac-
cording to the best obtainable information,
made up his mind that it shall become a law
but has not yet fully decided whether he will
sign il or allow it to become law without his
Signature; nor whether he will send another
special message to. Congress on the subject,
,iroinp the passage at this session of the separ-
ale House bills providing for free coal, iron ore
and barbed wire. So far as the action of the
Senate is concerned, it makes little difference
what the President may do, as enough Repub
lican Senators have gone away from Washing
ton TO break quorum; and they left for that
very purpose, so as to make sure tha& the SEN
ate could not pass any other tariff bills.
Secretary Carlisle has written letter to Sen
o+or Harris, showing that the revenue to be
derived from the tariff on sugar is absolutely
necessary to avoid deficit m the Treasury for
this fiscal year, and stating that if the bill for
ireee sugar which passed the House with only
TT opposing votes. is passed by the Senate,
come other bill to raise the S43, 600, 900 which
il is estimated will be collected on foreign sugar
rnnst also be passed. That letter has made the
passing of the free sugar bill out of the ques-
tion. even if the Senate were in position to do
II notwithstanding the fact that a majority OF
the Senate favors free sugar. Secretary Car
lise's letter contained the latest revised estim-
ates of the revenues of the Government under
the Senate tariff bill. The total estimated re-
ceipts are S37S 1000, and the expenditures,
Sa6a ooo, 900. An estimated surplus of $751;
ooo. 900 is entirely too small to stand any fur
ther reduction.
The wisdom of the House in accepting the
Senate amendments to the tariff bill, although
il involved seeming surrender on the part OF
the House, is becoming more apparent every
dav. Ii is now clear as day that there was a
plot to prevent any tariff legislation at ali. and
that only the prompt action of the House Dem
ocratic caucus prevented its being carried out.
Had Senator Hills resolution directing the SEN
ate confrrees to report a disagreement to the
senate been adopted before the House acted, it
would have been followed by motion to post
Done the whole matter until next December
and the motion would have been carried. Sen
ator Vest in speech defending the Senate from
the numerous charges made against it in con-
nection with tariff legislation, said: "Men said
the question was between the Wilson bill and
the Senate bill. The statement was as false as
the assertion that this was Democratic Senate
ON the question of tariff reform it never was
and never can be Democratic Senate as al
present constituted. The question was between
the Senate bill and the Mckinley law. There
tine choice was to be made, and every one con-
plain as it could be made.
Senator Walsh is a good democrat and q
GOOD editor Hence his advice is good. He
Saws: 1.-The Democratic press should use its
influence to create just public opinion as tc
the real merits of the Senate bill. When prop
erlv presented as the best measure of tariff re-
form attainable, the conservative sentiment o
the country will settle down to the conviction
that very substantial progress has been made il
the real direction of tariff reform and free
trade among nations" That is the proper way
70 look at it. The Senate bill is great i'm
movement on the Mckinley law.
Representative Breckinridge, of Arkansas
resigned his seat in the House this week, anc
qualified as Minister to Russia, to which posi-
ton he was nominated and confirmed son-t
weeks ago. Minister Breckenridge expects tc
start for Europe in a few days, but he will tray
el leisurely, stopping at number Of places, ant
does not expect to reach ST. Petersburg unit
about October IS.
Managers of the Presidential boom of Sena
tor Cameron are hard at work trying to ge
their grip upon the American Bmetallc League
which is this week holding conference here
but they haven't met with much success. Ever
the Republican members of the League are no
solidly for Cameron, and he has few supporter
among the Populist members, and none among
the Democrats. There is no longer the slight
est doubt about Cameron being in the field 10
the Republican nomination, his claim being
based solely upon his friendship for silver, ant
his willingness to pay for support.