Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-02-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.


Washington, February 3, 1894.
President Cleveland was one of the
first, outside of his congressional col
leagues, to extend congratulations to
Chairman Wilson on the success of his
tariff fight in the house. The congratu-
lations We're telephoned from the White
House to the capitol Mr.. Wilson is not
man of robust health at best, and the
continuous and arduous labor which he
performed since becoming chairman of
the ways and means committee has al
most completely broken him down. He
has earned rest and he will probably
leave Washington to spend several weeks
in some quiet place. Other Democrats
at times allowed the noise of the OPP
position to raise doubts of the passage of
the bill, but Mr.. Wilson has been calmly .
confident from the day the bill was re-
ported from the committee that it would
pass without being materially changed.
The result shows that his confidence
was built upon firm foundation-the
pSiiSl blllb illCll CiNIANt w NOlASiNoo OAA I"
tariff reform issue would not allow them
selves to be stampeded by a manufac-
tured sentiment against tariff reform.
Representative Dingley, of Maine, was
the only Republican who succeeded in
getting an amendment to the tariff bill
adopted. He moved that the bond
period provided in the whiskey clause
of the internal revenue section of the
bill should be three years, as at present,
instead of eight years, as reported from
the committee, and the house voted with
him.
Democratic opposition to the income
tax amendment, which at one time
seemed strong enough TO endanger the
whole bill, began to grow less and less
early in the week and day or two be-
fore the vote was taken had grown SO
insignificant that it was no longer con-
-sidefed a factor in the fight. If the
Democratic senators will do as well as
the Democrats in the house have done
tariff reform will soon be here, but in
dications do not point to speedy action
by the senate.
The debate on the Tucker bill for the
repeal of the Federal election laws will
close in the senate next Tuesday and
the bill will be passed, notwithstanding
the silly stories which have been widely
circulated attributing Indifference on the
part of Democratic senators towards the
bill. Not one word has been said by
Democrat to indicate that single Demo
cratic senator will vote against the bill |
or remain away to keep from voting
upon it. Neither is there any truth in
the statement that Mr.. Cleveland has
expressed opposition to the bill.
Strange to say no Democrat has applied |
so far as known, for the position of .
United States minister to Russia one of .
the few positions in the diplomatic ser
vice that carries a salary as high as
$4,000. Whether this is because no
Democrat bankers after residence in
the land Of the czar, or that the opinion
IS general that the warm personal friend |
ship which President Cleveland is |
known to feel towards the present
minister-Hon. Andrew d. White ex-
president OF Cornell uniyersity-will .
prevent his removal, is a question.
Secretary Carlisle accepted bids yes
terday for the S5O,000,000 of bonds, in
accordance with the official announce
ment recently made, notwithstanding
the attempt Of the Knights of Labor to
prevent the issue by obtaining an in
junction from the courts on account of
the supposed illegality of their issue.
There is some talk in favor Of the Bailey
resolution, which has been favorably
reported to the house, being rushed
through as hint to Secretary Carlisle
that the money received for the bonds
shall only be used to strengthen the gold
reserve fund, but as Representative
McCreary has secured the right Of wav
for the next three days in the house for
his Hawaiian resolution it is clear that
Mr.. Bailey's resolution cannot come up
until the expiration Of that time. Sena-
tor Sherman strongly fayors Secretary
Carlisle's action, but other Republicans
are trying to make trouble, hoping to
gain some partisan advantage. S.