Evening journal., 1894-08-28
The Bill 4 law.
New Tariff Rates Went Into
Effect at Midnight.
PRESIDENT DID NOT SIGN 1T.
Mi. Cleveland Gives His Reasons In q
Letter to MIR. Caichings.

Says That While lie Cannot Inaorse II
the New Law Is Bcttcr Than the Nc.
Kinicy Law He Congratuiates the House
on Its Fight For Free Raw Materials aud
Bitterly Refers to the sennie's Opposition
MS the aDeadIy HIight Of Treason
WASHINGTON. Aug. 2s.-At IL o'clock
last night the Mckinley tariff law, which
had been in operation since October 30,
1890, practically four years. died on the
statute books, ana the new Democratic
tariff bin paAed by tho ilifty-third con
gross became a law without the signature
Of President Cleveland
The constitutional period Of 10 days al
lowed the president 70 consider the bill
expired with the midnight hour, and nc
cording Go tho torms of the constitution,
tho president having failed to return the
bill To congress with or without his APP
proval, IL became a law
The placing of the bill on the statute
books ended one Of the longest and most
remarkable Struggles in tho parliamen
tary history Of the government 1t was
practically year ago that the preparation
OF the new tariff law was commenced The
extraordinary session of congress was call
ed Aug 2, 1893, for the purpose OF repeal
ing the sherman silver purchasing law.
Two weeks later the ways ana means
committee Of the house, with Mr. Wilson
of West Virginia as chairman. was ap.
pointed, and almost Immediately the work
OF framing the Democratic tariff reform
measure began.
Months We're spent in its preparation,
and it was not reported until after the
holidays during the regular session be,
ginning ia December
For three weeks IL was debated in the
house, passing that body July 80 by a
vote Of 204 TO l40. Seventeen house Dem
ocrats voted against It, The bill went to
the senate and after heing considered un-
I'll March go was reported, greatly changed
from the house bill. The debate which
began IN the senate April 9, lasted until
July 3, when the bin passed by vote OF
80 to 34
The crisis occurred when the bill reach
cd conference ON Aug 13 the house
yielded and accepted the senate bill in
toto. Two days aftor@ard Wednesday,
Aug. 10, il went to the president, and at
tho expiration OF the constitutional 10
days Sundays not counted) it became a
law without Mr.. Cleyeland's signature.
Tho PresidenFs Lettor.
The president has sent the following
letter to Representative Catchings OF Mis-
sissippi who consented TO its publication
In view Of It's public character and Inn
portnncos
WASHINGTON, Aug. 97
"Hon. n g. Catchings:
my DEAR SIR Since the conversation
had with you and Mr.. Clark Of Alabama
few days ago In regard to my action
upon the tariff bill now before mo ! have
given the subject further and most serious
consideration. Tho result Is ! am more
settled than ever I'm tho determination to
allow tho bill to become law without
my signature.
When the formulation OF legislation
which, Il was hoped would body Demo
cratic Ideas Of tariff raform was lately
entered upon by the congress, nothing was
further from my anticipation than q TO
sult which could not promptly and en-
Enthusiastically indorse.
= 1t Is therefore with a feeling OF tho
utmost disappointment that | submit to a
denial of this privilege
= do not claim 60 be better than the
masses Of my party, nor do | wish to
avoid any responsibility which on account
OF the passage Of this law | ought To bear
as member Of tho Democratic organiga-
tiou Neither win permit myself to be
separated from my party 60 such an ex-
tent as might be implied by my veto Of
tarllf legislation which, though disap-
pointing, IS still chargeablc 20 Democrat
10 effort
But there are provisions in this bill
which arc not in limo with honest tariff
reform and It contains Inconsistencies
and crudities which ought not to appear
IN tariff laws or laws of any kind BE.
sides there were, as you and ! we'll know,
incidents accompanying she passage Of
the bill through the congress which made
overy sincere tarif reformer unhappy,
while influences surrounded it In its lat
er stages and interfered with its final
construction which ought not Co be rocog-
ni1ed or tolerated in Democratic tariff re-
form councils
Half Loaf Better Than None.
And yet, notwithstanding all its vicis
situdes and all the bad treatment il receiv-
ed az the hands Of pretended friends. it
presents vast Improvements to existing
conditions 1t will,certainly Tighten many
tariif burdens that now rest heavily upon
tho people, II Is not only barrier against
the return of mad protection but it fur.
nishes vantage ground from which must
be waged further aggressive operations
against protected monopoly and govern
mental favoritism.
II take my place with the rank ana file
Of the Democratic party, who believe in
tariff reform and who know what it is
who refuse to accept the results embodied
in this bill as the close of the war. who
are not blinded to the fact that the livery
Of the Democratic reform has been stolen
and worn in the service OF Republican pro
toctlon and who have marked the places
whore the deadly blight Of treason has
blasted the counsels of tho brave in their
hour Of might
F'Fhe trusts and comhinations--th com
munism Of pelf-whose machinations have
prevented us from reaching the success
we deserved, should not be forgotten nor
forgiven We shall recover from our as.
tonishment at their exhibition Of power.
and II then tho question Is forced upon us
whether they shall submit to the FREQ leg
islatiye Will Of the people, representatives
or shall dictate the laws which the poo.
pie must obey, wo will accept and settle
that issue as one involving the integrity
and safety OF American Institutions.
II love the principles Of true Domoc-