The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-03-24
THE SEIGNIORAGE BILL
The President Deluged with Argu-
ments For and Against 1t.
HE HAS NOT DECIDED ON A VETO.

As He Has Until Next Thursday to Make
Up His Mind the Matter WIN Doubtless
be Delayed Until Next week-Congress-
men Urge Him to Sign tho Measure.
WASHINGTON, March 24.-Probably be
cause it was cabinet day, and therefore diff
licult to get the ear of the president, there
were few congressman at the White
House yesterday. But they have in no
degree been relieved of anxiety as to the
fate Of the seigniorage BILL and are today
making up i'm numbers the omissions of
yesterday. The situation at the White
House presents one strong feature of
novelty in the fact that it appears to be
the scene of bloodless battle Just now
between the congressman on the one hand,
the large majority of whom are urging
the signing of the seigniorage bill, and
the great commercial interests of the
country on other, for twenty-nine out
of every thirty of the communications
coming from them pray for the veto of
the bill. The congressman have the ad-
vantage of personal presence on the field,
but the other side is in evidence in great
force in the enormous number of letters
that burden the presidential mail and Of
kilograms that come so numerously as to
keep the wires hot and 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 supposed alto
gether of eastern origin. For instance,
yesterday there were appeals for veto
from Cincinnati, st. Louis, San Francisco
and Salem, Ore. Virginia has also joined
the line, as was made evident by protests
no ba e., Of
Norfolk and the transportation interests
there, A very thoughtful presentation of
objections to the bill coming from Rich
mond without doubt has made some inn
preston upon the president. OF course it
is manifestly impossible for the president
to read himself in detail all of these COM
munications but they are carefully exam
ined by Mr.. Thurber, and any new point
or suggestion on either side of the case is
brought to the attention of the president.
There are all sorts of stories ahoat as to
the presidents disposition towards the
| bill, and some have gone to the length Ofre-
citing 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 yester-
day the subject was discussed from all
points of view, with a distinct impression
in the minds of the members of the cabi-
net that the president is still open to con
viction. u gas up to and including next
Thursday 9rly week-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 consider
alton of the matter.
1t is certain that he has committed him
self to no man as respects his action on the
| bill. When a congressman calls to urge
I the signature of the bill he is likely to
have put to him a question that discour-
ages him, but he soon learns that his col
| league, who prays for a veto, has had a
! precisely similar experience, and both are
| left in more doubt as to the outcome
than before their call.
1t is noticeable that some of the com
munications received urging a 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 in
J sist that in the end the sound and conser-
| vative course they approve will surely be
re egarded by popular support This view
| is strongly expressed in the communica-
| tions from the south, which in cases ad-
| jure the president to follow the line of
! conduct pursued by him in making the
! tariff issue. The comparatively few APP
peals for the signature of the bill, as a
rule are based on the plea that it will do
no HARM aud 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
a fishing trip of a few days, probably to
Woodmont, w. Va, but this rumor can
be positively denied.