The Washington times., 1894-08-25
PLEADED WITH CLEVELAND
His Cabinet Urged Him TO Give the
Tariff Bill His Signature.
HE WILL PROBABLY NOT Do SO
In This Belief Both Houses Agree to Final
Adjournment on Next Tuesday-The Presi-
dent May Send Tariff Message to Con-
gress, but Perhaps Not Until Next Session.

When the Democratic managers in the
House and Senate decided yesterday morning
as the direct result of visit of several of their
number to the White House to fix Tuesday
next at o'clock for the final adjournment of
Congress, it was accepted everywhere as a
proof that the President had con cluded to let
the tariff bill become law without his sigma
ture on Monday at mid night.
There was well-authenticated report,
however, on the authority Of two Cabinet off,
GERS that an attempt had been made at the
Cabinet meeting which lasted longer than
usual. to persuade the President to sign the
bill. Repre- esentations were made to him that
il would be the wiser course 10 give the meas
ure the seal of Democratic approval. especially
SO in view of the fact that members of Con-
gress felt that otherwise their acceptance Of
the Senate bill might be misinterpreted. 1t is
not known what reply the President made to
these arguments, but il is known that within
a very few hours previous he had again ex-
pressed his uniinching hostility TO the bill
which German has dictated, and there Is,
therefore, little reason TO expect to see the
President change his mind.
Perhaps more important, but decidedly
more uncertain. is the question whether the
President will send tariff message 10 Con-
gress. II be does. il will probably be read on
Tuesday. If not it is admitted that il will
certainly come next session, for the President
is still very anxious to secure further legisla-
tion.
Two more features of interest and possible
litigation have been discovered in the tariff
bill-one a slip on punctuation which, it is
claimed. prohibits the importation of anthri-
cite coal; the other, the inclusion in the wool
schedule of worsteds, goat hair or alpaca.
BY this latter provision it will be difficult TO
decide whether wool and its manufactures
or the articles above included in the schedule,
are to come under the provision of section
1897, reading: 1.-The reduction of the rates of
duty herein provided for manufactures OF
wool shall take effect January l, 1895"
Representative 0'Neill, Of Massachusetts,
introduced bill into the House yesterday TO
settle the uncertainty regarding the duty on
articles now in hand, free in the bill, but
dutiable at the time the bill was passed. The
proposed measure declares that no other duty
shall be paid on these goods when withdrawn
from bond than that fixed in the bill.
Regarding this. however, and all other bills
to correct mistakes, including the alcohol bill,
I it may be said that it has been practically de-
cided that no further legislation is to be at
tempted this session. The courts therefore
viii have a good deal to say about the tariff
/ bill of 1894.
] Attempts to revive the story Of a great plot
! to defeat the income tax are regarded by
/ Treasury officials as canards. No one ap-
! pears to be worried, except the newspapers
/ that started the stories, who are discouraged
/ at the discrediting of it.
1t was learned yesterday that the increase
] in goods in bond up to August 10 was in ex-
/ cess of $1,000, 900 over the previous month
/ this year and considerably more in excess oi
/ the corresponding date last year. This in
/ crease is believed by the Treasury Department
/ officials to consist largely of articles placed
! on the free list. over which the threatened
! litigation may take place. and manufactured
cottons and woolens for the early fall trade
Regarding the construction OF number oi
4 mooted points in the bill, Secretary Carlisle
1 iniimated last night that he had not yet de.
/ cided a number of the contested paragraphs
! discussed in the press. 1t was intimated al
1 the Treasury Department that the Attorney
/ General would probably be asked to pas:
upon them when the bill became law and
went into effect.