The Washington times., 1894-08-26
CLEVELAND QUITE POSITIVE.
Consider 1t a Performance of Dem.
ncrafic pIedpeS
ocratic Pledges.

Ocratlc Pledges.
The President expressed his positive inten-
ton yesterday of allowing the tariff bill to
become law without his signature. This de-
termination was expressed to at least two
prominent officials of the Government who
stated to The TIMES representative that there
was no further reason to regard the matter
as uncertain. 1t IS not quite so certain that
there will be no message, but the same au-
thOrities are very confident that the President
has no communication to make 70 Congress
at this time
There wererseYeral stories in circulation
yesterday TO the effect that the President was
maintaining his apparent air OF Indifference
to the alleged political wisdom of signing the
BILL because he wanted to avoid the burden
OF having a Democratic House. and hence
Democratic responsibility for legislation for
the next two years. Such a suggestion is the
height of absurdity because it is by no means
certain that the Senate will not be Repub-
lican.
The fact is that the President holds to his
view that 1t would be inconsistent for him 10
accept the bill now and because he believes
hrmIy that 1t does not embody the principles
OF tariff reform along the lines he regards as
necessary TO a fair and full trial OF its merits.
No fear of Democratic free silver legislation
or anything else Democratic Influenced him
in coming to his conclusion to stand out
against the German compromise. The Presi-
dent Is simply and solely anxious to make It
clear that he does not regard the measure as
a performance of Democratic pledges and is
unwilling to have anyone suppose he so re-
CARDS it.
The bill still remains in Secretary Carlisle's
drawer in his desk in the Treasury Depart
ment, and will probably stay there. The
study OF fpunctuatIon and grammar has been
disposed of and the question now Is. how
shall the doubtful paragraphs betfnally con-
strued? Secretary Carlisle and Attorney
General Olney were together for several
hours yesterday noon and afternoon, going
over mooted questions in detail. Those that
particularly engrossed their attention were
the question OF including yarns, alpacas and
goat hair under the wooden schedule. which
goes into effect January /, thus raising the
right OF the Secretary to classify these articles
under the law OF May 9, 1890, and the old
question whether any duty is to be levied on
goods now IN bond, placed on the free list
In both these cases an offort is being made to
construe the law fayOrably to the importer.
Probably definite statement will not be mad 9
by the Treasury Department on these ques-
tions until Monday, when it will be necessary
to forward instructions to the various customs
houses. 1t was stated at the Treasury Depart
ment yesterday that it had been decided 20
settle the ambiguity about anthracite coal bv
ruling It admissible. This question threatened
to prove an annoying one.
Later in the afternoon, after the conference
with Attorney General Olney, Secretary Car
Isle visited the White House and had a full
consultation with tine President, explaining
the constructions 10 be placed on the doubt
ful paragraphs in the bill
The internal Revenue Bureau Of the Treas
ury Department was active yesterday in send
ing out instructions relative to the collection
OF the duty OF cents pack on playing cards.
Inc law applies both to cards now in the
hands OF dealers and those hereafter manu-
| featured, a red stamp being used for those In
the hands OF dealers and blue one for those
hereafter manufactured. A penalty OF $50 Is
lmpoSedtor lnfraction of the law
There was no session of either Senate or
House yesterday, and very few Senators OF
Representatives were at the Capitol the cen
ter OF news and interest being up town The
Cabinet officers received a rather unusually
large quota of visitors from the legislative
branch OF the government, and n great many
pressing applications for the immediate settle
ment OF appointments were made
The few statesmen that are in town are
| buslly at work packing up their books and
papers preparing to leave. 1t is understood
that the next two legislative DAYS will be
purely matter of formality, until the hour
of O'Clock arrives on Tuesday, when the
solemnity of formal adjournment will be
gone through, and then there will be a general
outburst OF jOyousness in the shape Of cheers
and clapping of hands, as the second ses
sion OF the old Fifty-third Congress passes
into history