The weekly tribune., 1894-02-16
A Big. Wealthy Lobby Looking After
the Lead Interest in the
Senate.
The Signs Point to Bitter Fight in
the Senate Over the
Wilson Bill.
President Cleveland Anxious that the
Bill BE Speedily Passed
by the Senate.

if 0Oe w llsOn thflil Dlll has HOW paSSeu Ine
4 ouse substantially rs it was reported from
3 ways and means committee 1t goes to
= senate, therefore, As an administration
4 II pure and simple Whatever its faults
1t now stands the administration must
NFar the brunt OF them. 1t is worthy of
more than passing notice that after all
Ne talk about the possible defeat of the
40oasure, the administration leaders in the
&60se should have been able to pass the bill
Ithout single amendment other than
oee agreed to by the committee Such
"A hplete control of the lower house was
ally unexpected by those opposed to the
basure and was an agreeable surprise to
Dse having the bill in charge.
.SN Big Fight.
But the bill will meet with totally diff
fefent reception in the senate There the
Gpposition to it is already well defined and
NEgressive 1t il of such a nature that it
vii be impossible to satisfy it until some
My substantial changes have been made
~ the bill as passed by the house The big
night will come over the income tax amend
ment and it is extremely doubtful at this
slime what the outcome will be. There will
also be prolonged and doubtless bitter
contest over the sugar schedule Tremen-
dQu4 pressure will be brought to bear to
hAfo tax of cent pound placed on sug-
&,Hut the effort is likely to prove Il failure
04coal men from all over the country are
f1pparing to make fight to keep coal on
the dutiable list and already have their
representatives here working to that end
1t u said about the lobby that they have a
8o0d deal of money which they are willing
tospend freely in order to accomplish their
purpose
But the biggest lobby which has yet put
tn an appearance here is that looking after
the interests of the lead ore people. For sey-
eral weeks past there has been quite dele
CATION of these gentlemen in the city spend
ing money literally in order to get the drift
OF opinion of senators. AT first it was eX-
pe,ted that an effort would be made to
Keep lead ore on the dutiable list in the
house, but after some inquiry those having
charge of the work decided that such an eff
f0rt would be futile, and it was therefore
abandoned.
They will therefore devote themselves to
the senate. Considerable preliminary work
has already been done. There is a good
deal OF grumbing among the regular mem
bers of the lobby over the employment of
an outsider to handle the money for the
lead ore people. This gentleman is from
the west and represents the largest produ,
GERS of lead ore in the country. This envy
on the part of the regular members of the |
third house doubtless accounts for some of
tne peculiar stories afioat involving a mem. |
nor OF the senate and former membe of |
the same body. The western man, it is said. |
10 only stool pigeon" acting simply as a |
go between for the senator and ex-senator,
VINO really have charge of this attempt to
influence legislation.
S Money on Tap.
While the story is apparently exagcerat-
ca, 1t comes with such directness that il
has found many believers, and NAV in the
end do much harm to the cause of the lead
ore people. That there is considerable
money on tap for the use of those willing to
vote to keep the tariff on lead ore there can
pe no doubt, but it would be difficult in
deed to prove to whom it was given.
1ne amount OF money sent to Washing
pon since the tariff bill came before con
gress Is almost impossible of belief, when
ue ehtlre country is groaning under the
eight of hard times. But it is a fact
'slnce the good old days of reconstruc-
has there been such an opportunity for
20 member of congress inclined to make
=. nething on the outside to feather their
Aancial nests, and many have availed
OF the opportunity, no doubt.
Hut the race does not always 90 to the
'w1test, nor does il follow that the lobby
Win the biggest wad of money gets there
q eleglslatlve sense. Quite the contrary
neleac ore people have certainly had mon
" enough, and yet they have already aban-
'oneo their fight in one quarter, only to
AAe IL up III another. Even now they an
- 20 oe beaten, for the senate is in no !
nuUu 10 make changes in the bill except
~ you ana sufficient reason The fight
WE tne lncome tax amendment will be so {
avger as TO exhaust much Of the patience
Nd = great deal of the time of both houses
nose senators opposed to this tax are so [
in their views as to be willing t
sacrifice almost anything rather than 8
ave i go to the president as part of the
arih bill for his signature.
Present Indications. ,
10 effect this they appear to be willing
3 sacrifce sugar and coal and lead ore. not
mentlon several other less important n
ems 70 which there is considerable obiec- q
On IN the senate. The indications at this o
me are, however, that the Wilson hill y
az % very materially altered before final y
ction is had in the senate. 1t will then ha .
~ peck to the house. where a refusal to g
'ncur Will undoubtedly follow. Joint :,
nferees will then be appointed, and after |,
wses or two spent in wrangling some l.
patchwork will be decided on. and a
y uui VIII again be passed by both houses g,
- ~ 81 TO the president for his signature. ~
ne VIII be little delay for the bill st =.
y White House. President Cleveland IL
repeatedly urged upon those having ~ ~.
soi the measure in both house and +
aate that what the country needed more -
sn anythlng else was to know what was 81
m& 20 be done in the way of tariff lepis. -, ~
lhe uncertainty, he said, was worse ~
pe existing law. Mr.. Cleveland, it is sr
3s35cre safe to assume, will Immediately 'A
lbs signature to any bill which follows
n99rly as possible under existing copdi.
the lines laid down in the Cbicago +.
St@m, upon which he and the party =,
Uelected to power and responsibility. A