The record-union., 1894-03-24
.necial to the REcoRp-uN1oN.

Special to the RECORD-UNION.
WASHINGTON, March 23.-Probably
because it was Cabinet Day and difficult
to get the ear of the President. there
were few Congressman at the White
House to-day. But they have in no de-
gree been relieved of anxiety as TO the
fate of the seigniorage bill and doubtless
will make up in numbers tomorrow the
omissions of the day.
The situation at the White House pre-
sents one strong feature of novelty in the
fact that it appears to be the scene of a
bloodless battle just now between Con-
gressmen on the one hand, the large ma
jority of whom are urging the signing OF
the seigniorage bill, and the large COM
mercial interests of the country on the
other, for twenty-nine out of every thirty
of the communications from them pray
Tor the veto of the bill. The Congress
men have the advantage of personal
presence on the field, but the other side
is in evidence in great force in the large
number of letters received in tie Presl-
dental mail and Of the kilograms that
come so numerouSly rs to keep the
White House operator occupied to his
full capacity.
These communications by mail and
wire are coming from all parts OF the
country, and are not, as might be sup
posed, altogether of sectional origin. For
instance, there were appeals for veto
from Cincinnati, st. Louis, San Fran
cisco and Salem, Or. Virginia has also
Joined the line, as was made evident by
protests against the bill from the cotton
factories of Norfolk and the trsnsporta-
ton interests there. A very thoughtful
presentation of objections to the bill,
coming from Richmond, without doubt
has made some impression upon the
President.
OF course it is manifestly impossible
for the President to read, himself, in de-
tail, all of these communications, but
they are carefully examined by Mr..
Thurber, and any new point or sugges-
ton on either side of the case is brought
TO the attention of the President.
There are all sorts of stories afloat as to
the Presidents disposition toward the
bill, and some have gone to the length OF
reciting that he has already prepared a
veto message. If this be true, he has not
taken the members Of the Cabinet into
his confidence, and at the meeting to-day
the subject was discussed from all points
of view, with a distinct impression in
the minds of the members of the Cabinet
that the President is still open to convic-
ton. He has up to and including next
Thursday to make up his mind what TO
do with the bill, and there are indications
that he proposes TO use most Of this time
in thoughtful consideration of the mat
ter. 1t is certain he has committed him.
self to no man as respects his action on
the bill.
1t is noticeable that some of the COM
munications received urging veto con-
cede that owing to the slow formation OF
popular opinion the result may be a tenn
porary party loss at the polls, but they
insist that in the end the sound and con-
servative course they approve will
surely be regarded by popular support.
This view is strongly expressed in the
communications from the South, which
in cases adjure the President to follow
the line of conduct pursued by him in
making the tariff issue.
The comparatively few appeals for the
signing OF the bill, as a rule, are based on
the plea that it will do no harm and is
absolutely demanded to insure party
unity and the control of the next House
of Representatives
A rumor has found publication to the
effect that the President is about to go on
fishing trip of few days. probably in
Virginia, but the rumor can not be veri-
fed.