Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-08-28
TARIFF BILL ALAW.
The President Withholds His
Sign Manual.
HIS REASONS GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC

In Letter Addressed tn Representative
Catchings "A Veto Would Imply .
Separation from His Party That He Cam
not Permit and to Sign IL woald En-
dorse Provisions Not In Line with Honest
Tariff Reform. in His View.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2S.-The senate tar.
if bill is law. 1t is law without the pres
ident's signature, however, having gone
into effect at midnight last night, because
the executive had made no public sign
during the ten days which he is given
to make up his mind As to signing bills.
A message to congress stating that he has
concluded not to sign a bill is not neces-
sary from the executive unless he has
concluded to veto one. But Cleveland has
gone on record as to the reasons for his
non-action in a letter to Representative
C atchings, which is given below, Catch
ings consenting to its publication in view
of its public character and Importance. It
is dated Executive Mansion, Washing
ton, Aug %, 1884,"
The President Is Disappointed.
"MY DEAR SIR-Since the conversation
I had with you and Mr.. Clark, of Ala
bama, n few days ago in regard to my &C
ton upon the tariff bill now before me I
have given the subject further and most
serious consideration. The result is l am
more settled than ever in the d-termina-
ton to allow the bill to become law
without my signature. When the formu-
lation of legislation which it was hoped
would embody d mocrutic IDEAS of tariff
reform was lately euter,d upon by con-
gress nothing was further from my antic.
| ipation than n result which l could
not prom pity and enthusiastically en-
| dorse 1t is, therefore, with feeling OF
the utmost disappointment that l submit
| to q denial of this privilege.
Some Things He Cannot Endorse.
| Il did not claim to be better than the
masses of my party, nor do wish to avoid
any responsibility which, on account Of
| the passage of this law, l ought &c
| bear as a member of the Democratic Or
ganization; neither will l permit myself
| to be separated from my party to such
| an extent as might be implied by my veto
of tariff legislation which, though disap.
pointing, is still chargeable to Democratic
effort. But there are provisions in this
bill which are not in line with honest tar
if reform, and it contains inconsistencies
and crudities which ought not to appear il
tariff laws or laws of any kind Beside:
there were, as you and we'll know, Incl
dents accompanying the passage OF th'
bill through congress which made every
sincere reformer,unhappy,w while influences
surrounded it in its latter stages and in
terfered with its final construction which
ought not to be recognized or tolerated II
Democratic tariff reform councils.
Better Than the Mckinley Bill.
"And yet notwithstanding all its vicis
STUDIES and all the bad treatment it re
ceived at the hands of pretended friends
it presents a vast improvement Of existln!
conditions. 1t will certainly tighten man.
tariff burdens that now rest heavily upol
the people. / take my place wit!
the rank and file of the Democratic part
who believe in tariff reform and VIII
know what it is, who refuse to accept tn
results embodied in this bill as the clos
Of the war, who are not blinded to the fac
that the livery of Democratic tariff re
form has been stolen and worn in til
service of Republican protection, and VIII
have marked the places where the deadl.
blight of treason has blasted the council
Of the brave IN their hour of might
Charged 10 the Trusts.
1.-THE trusts and combinarions-thec CON
muniSm OF pelI-WuoSe nlacnlnhtlOnS nav
prevented us from reaching the success
we deserve should not be forgotten or for
given. We shall recover from our as
constituent at their exhibition OF pc we
and if then the question is forced upon u
whether they shall submit to the fire
y legislative will of the peoples represents
tives, or shall dictate the laws which til
people must obey, we will accept an
settle that issue as one involving the il
tegrity aud safety Of American instit,
- | tions'