The Opelousas courier., 1894-03-24
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, March 10, 1S{


WASHINGTON, March 10, 1894.
| What will President Cleveland do
with the Bland bill for the coinage of
| the seigniorage, now in his handsR
There is more anxiety among democrats
to have this question answered than
has been observable for Il long time.
1t involves great deal more than the
mere coinage of 55,OO0,000 dollars, for
which it provides. 1t will decide
whether the attempt now being made
to unite the democrats in Congress and
the administration on basis of letby-
cones be by cones shall be failure, or
a success that will enable the party to
go into the Congressional campaign
with reasonable hope Of retaining
control Of the House. 1t may also de-
are many democrats in both House and
Senate whose constituents are more
directly interested in silver than in the
tariff. A number of eastern democrats
who did everything in their power to
prevent Congress passing the Bland
bill are now advising the President to
sign the bill, or at least to allow it to
become law without his signature it
he feels that he cannot cOnscientiOusly
sign it, and silver democrats who have
not been to the White House since the
big silver fight at the extra session have
gone to Mr.. Cleveland and urged as a
matter of party policy that the bill be
allowed to become law. The silver
democrats of the west and south-hoW
numerous they are in Congress may be
seen by referring to the vote on this
bill IN both House and Senate-many OF
whom supported the administration
against their own convictions in secur
ing the repeal of the purchasing clause
of the Sherman silver law, say that the
veto of this bill will be accepted as
proof positive by thousands of their
constituents that President Cleveland
is unalterably opposed to silver, and
that the result would certainly be dis
astrous in the Congressional elections.
Three members of the cabinet, Secre-
have advised Mr.. Cleveland to sign the
bill. 1t is believed that the delegation
of New York bankers who are here ask
ing that the bill be vetoed are adding
to its chances of becoming law. In
fact, there has been a change in public
opinion within a week, and Il majOrlty
now believe that the bill will become a
law, with or without the Presidents
signature.
The revised tariff bill will be reported
to the Senate this week, and the debate
will begin Monday, April 2. This is
authentic and official. No one can pos
sibly regret the unexpected delay in
getting the bill before the Senate more
than the democratic members OF the
Finance committee do. They have
worked until they are almost in state
Of exhaustion, but fresh obstacles have
constantly confronted them, and as
] they could not be avoided they have
| had to be overcome. Since the bill has
| been before the full committee the re-
| publicans have taken advantage of
| every opportunity to add to the delay.
and owing to the absence of Senator
| Vance, these opportunities have been
frequent. The fact should not be for
gotten by critically inclined democrats
that when all of the members OF the
Finance committee are present the
democrats have only one majority.
With one democratic absentee the COM
mittee is a tie politically. 1t was the
absence of Senator Vace that enabled
the republicans :on the committee to
stave Oft the beginning of the debate
until April 2.
Unless all indications are at fault the
administration will soon start a pro-
gramme that will cause the working
democrats to enter the Congressional
campaign with enthusiasm. | cannot
without violating confidence enter into
particulars, but it this programme be
carried out the republicans who still re-
main in federal offices. outside the
classified service, would better be look
ing around for new jobs, unless they
have money enough to spend the sum-
mer in idleness. Those democrats who
believe that the Offices under demo-
cratic administration should be filled
by democrats will be pleased with some
things that will occur in the near future,
unless my information is wrong
Representative Tucker, of Va, al
though not yet Al years old, has a tight
to feel proud of the part he has taken
in shaping the legislation of the present
| Congress. Although there were several
other bills providing for the same thing
it was his bill for the repeal of the
federal election laws that was reported,
passed and which became law. An
other compliment has just been paid
the skill of Mr.. Tucker by the House
committee on the election of President
and vice President and Representatives
in CoEgress, which selected his joint
resolution providing for Constitution
al amendment for the election of Sena-
tors by direct vote of the people, al
though there were several others of a
similar nature before the committee, to
be favorably reported to the House.
The House has been working faith
fully on the regular annual appropria-
tion bills and it has been making ii
good record, both in the quantity of
| money apprOpriated-every appropria-
tion has been reduced materially.
tnr tItI