Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1894-03-24
The Printing Investigation.
(From our Regular Correspondent

(From our Regular Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON, d. c., Mar. 19.-Re-
publican Senators who have hereto
/ fore conceded the probability of the
ultimate success of the Democrats in
Apassing some sort of tariff bill now
consider that they have at least an
even chance to defeat the bill. Al
though the committee has decided
that the bill shall be reported to the
Senate this week and taken up for
consideration April 2-by the way
that date represents a substantial
victory for the Republicans of the
committee-it is known that not a
single one of the ten Democratic Sem
ators who style themselves "conser-
vatives," and are styled "kickers"
by the other Democrats, has promis- |
ed to support the bill, notwithstand- |
ing the numerous concessions made |
to them by the Democrats of the |
committee, and some of them will,
il Is believed. vote against the entire
bill, unless they can get 1t amended
to suit their demands. Instead of
the changes made In the bill by the
Democrats of the Senate committee
most of them against their will
lessening the Democratic opposition
to the bill they have greatly increas-
ed It.. The free traders have been OF
Tended and not single kicker" has
been propitiated.
Many shrewd observers believe
that upon the disposition which Mr..
Cleveland makes of the Bland bill for
the coinage of the seigniorage de-
ponds the very e1 lstence OF the DEM
ocratic Party as at present constttu-
ted. At least three members of the
cabinet-Gresham, Smith and Her
bert-are so certain that the veto of
the bill would be followed by an
open split of the Democratic party
that they are doing their best to per
suade Mr.. Cleveland TO Sign the bill,
as a peace Offering to the silver DEM
ocrats in the South and West who
are disgruntled because of the numer
Gus snubs they have received at the
hands of the administration.
Representative Strauss, of New
York, a personal friend of Mr.. Cleve-
land Is also working on the same
line, although himself opposed to
the bill. Mr.. Cleveland has given NO
sign Of what his intentions regard
ing the measure are. A delegation
of New York bankers are here to pre-
vent Mr.. Cleveland yielding to the
party pressure that is being brought
to bear upon him to allow the bill
to become a law. These New York
ers have demanded of Mr.. Cleveland
that he veto the bill liz accOrdanc
with the pledges made by Secretar.
Carlisle when he asked them to saw
go
the fiat failure which 1t would hav
been had the bankers not subscribe'
to them.
On the other hand, more than tw
thirds of the Democrats in Congress
voted for the bill and they are d.
manding that the bill be signed, O
at least allowed to become a la
without the Presidents signature
and threatening to repudiate the az
ministration should the bill /
vetoed.
In addition to being vicious I'll
Democratic tariff bill is very clums
" drawn. Since it's revision by tt
Democrats of the Senate Finan'
committee the Republicans of ths
committee, and the public, have ha
an opportunity to study the bill.
Republican Senator pointed out
paragraph which would had 1t BET
allowed TO remain In the bin and Il
bill have ever become a law, results
~ Saagling Up the internal revenl
system to the extent that Wou
have cost the government many M
lions of dollars. 1t would, Ia shOI
have prevented the collection of
dollar of internal revenue, except q
on such articles as are specitical
mentioned in the present bill. IT
error was of course corrected.
No man serving his first term
Congress was ever before given
honor of being put at the head OF
Republican Congressional campai
committee, but it has just been dc
tor Representative Babcock, of "
consin, who has been selected to
acting chairman of the commit
while Judge Caulwell is making
canvass for the mayoralt3 of Cine
oaIti, and as Judge Caulwell is lik
to be elected Mr.. Babcock is aim
certain to become permanent cha
man of the committee. This sci
ton was not made haphazard,
because Mr.. Babcock's cOlleag
recognized his peculiar fitness to
rect the work of the committee, ,
we're only too glad to learn that
was willing tc undertake it.
The investigation of the contI
for printing the Patent Office
zette, which was for time suspt
ed bee ause of the members of the
ate committee on Printing hay
been otherwise engaged, has
resumed. If Josiah Quincy, ex A
tant Secretary of State, who is
cused of having pecuniary int
in this contract, is not guilty b
~ a philanthropist of the first quar-
as he has given freely of hIs t
money and influence to aid the fs
ed contractors. There has lbee
looeeness about the whole busi