The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-07-21
The FIGHT IS ON.
Neither Branch Shows Any
Indications of Yielding.
Key to the Tariff Position is Still Held
by a Small C0terie OF Senators.


rhe gauntlet has been thrown down. and
no one can predict what is TO be the out
come of the contention between the two
houses.
The belief IL now very general that the
house will not yield TO the senate. The
belief IL equally strong that the senate
will stand firmly by the position which
shey have taken. In other words. that
che German Brice-Smith-C Camden COM
bination will never yield, and that the
production Of Clevsland's letter will de-
feat the purpose of those who produced it.
The publication at this particular time,
a. 10 believed, will have the effect OF
widening the breach that already existed.
It will unquestionably strengthen and re-
assure those who advocated the original
Wilson bill But that it will convince or
splacate the authors of the senate bill IL
3nconceivable.
1t is admitted that the little coterie OF
Democratic senators hold the key TO the
position; that no tariff legislation can
pass that does not meet their approval.
They took that position early in the con-
troversy, and have repeatedly announced,
and they now announce again, that 1t
must be the senate bill or nothing.
Can They Hold Out
Will the little band of Democratic sem
tors maintain their influence over the ~
Democratic senators who yielded to them
in the first instapoef Will the 81 still
continue to stand together now that they
know the position Of President Cleveland
and his administration on the pending
tariff lsgislationf VIII they persist In
their attitudef
The Democratic senator's generally, as
did also the Rspu blicans, felt sure that
the lower house would finally rather
yield than to have no tariff bill. Now,
however, the situation Is changed. The
president has touched a tender spot in
the Democratic creed concerning tariff re-
form, which they not only promised but
pledged themselves to the people TO Sc
cure in the event that success crowned
their efforts
viii there be any tariff legislation at
the present session. The concensus Of
opinion among distinguished observers
here and also among the Republican
minority In both houses Is that the tariff
bill Is In greater peril now than IL has
been at any time since congress as
sembled, and that what was once merely
difference of opinion as TO public policy
has been crystallixed into a sentiment OF
personal vindication and self-defense.
Tariff legislation. as q rule, is matter
of concession and compromise. and in
that light it Can be approached with dig
nifty. Transformed into matter OF dis
eipline and coercion, il bristles with every
form Of difficulty.
south and West Satisfied.
A. -
The publication of the presidents letter as
amounting to an accusation against those
who framed the bill, and, In fact,
every senator who voted for the amended
measure. Many prominent Democratic
representatives In the south and west now
take the position thas they can go TO
their constituents and make better and
more successful contest for reelection in
their present attitude than to yield to the
dictation Of few Democratic senators
who are endsavoring to secure the passage
Of q tariff bill which, in the judgment of
Q large majority Of their party, is little
better than the Mckinley bill.
The senate 10 now the focus of public
attention. The gage OF battle which
has been flung into the arena was taken
up and will be contested to the bitter end.
It IL evident from the indignation mani
tested, and the tone Of their conversation
among their friends, that the German
com bination Il smarting under the sting
of the presidential lash.
Yesterdays Debste.
Emphatic as were the declarations on
the Democratic side of the senate cham
ber yesterday, and important and inter
esting a. the proceedings were as whole,
- L. a.
mark the situation with reference to the
tariff bill
When the senate adjourned, after FIVE
hours of exchange of views on the part of
Democratic senator's, the senator's ex-
pressed themselves as being as much at
sea as when the days session began.
While all OF them confessed the fulfil
fly of an effort to outline the future OF the
bill, in view of the expressions of the
day, they di1 not, as a rule. hesitate to
express their individual views These
were of different and varied shades. rag
lng all the way from prediction that an
OXDcable understanding would be
reached before the meeting on Monday TO
the defeat OF the bill. There was no effort
on the part OF Democratic senators To
conceal the fact that the adjourn ment
till Monday was taken for the purpose OF
making an effort to bring the diverging
elements Of the party together.
There il no DOUBT that Monday will be
mainly devoted boy large element in the
party TO cause Senator Villas to withdraw
his amendment TO the sugar schedule
providing for recession by the senate
from the portion OF the sugar schedule
of the senate which provides dfferentiaI
duty OF l-s cent pound on refined sugar.
The introduction of this amendment by
the Wisconsin senator was the one event
Of importance yesterday bearing upon the
late of the bill.
The amendment. II IL should prevail.
would strike the bill in what the mem
bers of the finance committee believe
would prove TO be a vitol part, and they
will exhaust all their resources TO have IL
Withdrawn. II is generally believed at
this time that II vote is taken upon the
amendment In sny shape IL will prevail.
The temptation Is strong with many
Democrats TO take this course, aud the
snly thing that will restrain them IL the
al a. -. l-lIf Ia