Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-01-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, January 70, lS9

Washington, January ., 1891.
The Democrats of the house have |
much more than held their own in the
tariff debate this week, although some
of their best posted men have purposely |
made no speeches in favor Of the Wilson |
bill. With the exception of Represen- |
tative Tom johnson, Of Ohio, who op-
poses the bill because it retains too
much protection and who fayors free
trade without any ifs, and's or butts,
no Democrats has spoken against the
underlying principle of the bill, even
Representative Haines, Of New York,
who represents the Troy district and who
has been quoted as being strongly OPP
posed to the bill, admitted in his speech
that he would vote for it if the schedule
affecting the industries of Troy was
amended to meet his wishes. Next
week he and others will haye an oppor-
tunity to offer any amendment they may
desire and the house willdecide whether
they shall be adopted or rejected.
1t is not thought probable by any
member with whom l have conversed
that any material amendment will be
adopted before the bill is passed by the
house on the 29Jh inst 1t is in the SEN
ate that the friends of the measure fear
it will be amended almost beyond recog-'
milton. Washington is now full of par
ties interested in having the bill amend
ed and they are all basing their hopes
of success on the senate and not on the
house. The senate finance committee
will begin to give hearings to those in
terested as soon as the bill passes the
house
Senator Mcpherson, of New Jersey,
who has been widely advertised by Re
publican papers as tariff Kicker" has
been compelled by troublesome throat
affection to take a trip to Florida in
search Of relief, but before going he ad-
dressed a letter to Senator Voorhees,
which elIecualIy disposes Of any doubt
as to his position towards tariff reform
He says in the letter: In order that you
and my other Democratic colleagues on
the committee may know what to ex-
pect from me / here state that the Demo- /
cartic side Of the committee on finance
must make the tariff bin and then every
member Of the committee must stand
by the work done. To do otherwise is
to confess that we are not fit to govern.
] write thus plainly, as l see the news
papers have placed me in the list of
those called obstructionists."
President Cleveland has Just given a
practical demonstration of his earnest
ness in turning the settlement of the
Hawaiin complication over to congress,
by putting the official dispatches Just re-
ceiyed from Minister Willis at its dis
posal. No one in Washington seriously
believes that any danger is to be appre- |
hended from the reported probability of
British marines being landed at Homo |
lulu. 1t is we.l-known to the British |
government that the United States will
not tolerate any interference by any
foreign government with Hawaii
Secretary Carlisle explained this week
to the members of the senate finance
committee and those of the house ways
and means committee the immediate
necessity for legislation to provide the
money to meet the S5OOOoOO0 deficit
now staring the treasury in the face,
which was brought about by the recl. |
less legislation of the last Republican CON
gres5 His object was not to arrpe in /
favor Of the recommendations made in
his annual report, but to impress upon
the minds. Of his hearers the necessity
for action, leaving them entirely free as
to the nature Of the legislation and ask
ing only that it provide the money
necessary tomeet payments and preserve
the credit Of the government.
Representative McMilin says it has
not been definitely decided whether the
income tax shall be offered as an amend
ment to the tariff bill or as separate
measure.