Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1894-02-01
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Cleveland's New Nominee for the
Supreme Court of
Tariff Tinkers' Work.
WASHINGTON, D. C. Ian. %. 1894

Association, q member of the Reform
Club, and much more prominent leader
of the faction of the Democratic party
who opposed the election of Judge May
nard last fall than Mr. Hornblower was.
In fact, Mr.. Peckham was one of the
most prominent anti-snappers that led
in the fight against Senator Hill in 1892.
He is Cleveland Democrat, but in Hills
mind he is anything but Democrat,
The fight will no doubt be more bitter
over this nomination than the HOrnblOw-
sr nomination. Again all will rest in
the hands of the Republican Senators
There is no doubt the Democratic vote
will be pretty we'll divided. The Supreme
Court needs the vacant Judgeship filled
at once. 1t is to be hoped that some &C
ton will be taken on this case at once
The veto by the President, ,of the New
York and New Jersey bridge bill, struck
Hill and Murphy hard blow, and they
mean to keep up the fight. Iti said the
President will make no more appoint
ments of any kind until the nomination
of Peckham is disposed Of
Senator Cullum and Senator Lodge
both made fine speeches this week. Cul-
lum, speaking on the Hawaiian affair
making one of the most able effortsyet
made. Lodge spoke on the repeal of the
Federal Elections laws. 1t will be re-
membered that Senator Lodge was the
author of the election bill that passed the
House four years ago, but failed in the
Senate, the silver Senators from the West
uniting with the Democratic Senators
and defeating the measure.
The House has had warm time of it
for the last week. The sugar question
was warmly debated The committee
had recommended the continuance of the
bounty now paid to sugar producers.
with the proviso that the bounty be de-
creased from year to year, and finally
done away with in six years. Mr.. Dock
cry, of Missouri, offered an amendment
for absolute free sugar, and no duty.
Harter, of Mansfield. was in favor of
taxing sugar, and introduced such an
amendment. Mr.. Warner, of New York.
stood with DOckery, and he offered an
amendment in place of Dockery's, upon
which Dockery withdrew his amend
ment. There was some curious voting
on the amendments. On the amendment
to abolish altogether the bounty provis-
ion of the Wilson bill, quite number of
Republicans voted with the most earnest
free trade advocate against the Commit,
tee. 1t seemed strange to see Joe Can.
non, Hopkins and Dalzell voting on
tariff question with Tom Johnson Spring
er, Porter, and Bailey, of Texas. The
bounty recommendation went under to
the tune of 135 to g. Then Mr.. Warmers
amendment to make all sugars free was
adopted. This act leaves the sugar pro
ducers without bounty or protection, and
leaves the Louisiana Democrats out in
the cold. On Tuesday came the fight on
coal. Oates, of Alabama, who has his
eye on the Governorship of his native
State, moved an amendment to the bill
of 40 cents ton on bituminous coal
Mr.. Wise moved an amendment making
it 80 cents, and Mr.. McKaig moved a
substitute to restore the present duty of
IS cents ton. The McKaig amendment
was lost on party vote, excepting about
eight Democrats who voted for it. The
80 cents ton was lost, and then came
the vote ON Oates amendment of 40 cents
ton. On this amendment the Republi
cans divided, some voting in favor and
some against the amendment 1t is
remarkable fact, that had the solid Re-
publican vote gone for this amendment
on this vote, there would have been no
free coal in the Wilson bill. Free iron
ore came next. Mr. BeltzhoOver the
Democratic member from the Carlisle
district of Pennsy ylvania, made spirited
speech against free iron ore. He said he
was follower of Samuel j. Randall, and
he was proud of the fact In his speech
he was interrupted good many times
by his Democratic brethren, who asked
him as to the platform on which he was
elected, and as to the Democratic plat
forms of the past. He answered fully
every question put to him without eva
sions, and said he should stand for the
interests of his district, no matter where
it led him. Sickles, the hero of many bat
ties, and with political life that reaches
back into the SOS, closed the debate. He
protested against the extension of the
free list, with all his old fiery eloquence,
and said it meant an income tax, and
said here and now, he would never vote
for bill that included in it an income
tax.
The income tax feature of the inter
nal revenue schedule, which has been
added to the Wilson bill, by action of the
Democratic caucus, has developed
state of feeling that may even yet defeat
the Wilson bill. A revolt is on hand,
headed by Bourke Cochran, with the
whole New York delegation at his back.
Wilson himself was against this move to
complicate his bill with the income tax.
but even with all the power of the New
York delegation, assisted by bolting
Democrats from other sections, it is
probable the bill will pass the House, un-
less the President in some way gives
signs of opposition to the bill with the
income proviso. 1t is pretty sure thing
that Mr.. Cleveland is against an income
tax. 1t is not believed he will even sign
q bill with an income tax included. But
he may prefer to have it go to the Senate
and be buried there. There is no chance
at all of the income tax passing the Sen
ate. No one need worry about that.
And we shall see some fun in the House
from now on until vote is reached
Mr.. Sibley, of the Erie-Crawford dis
tr;ot hos rssiSned his cant in the House