Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-19
THURSDAY. July 10. 1894.
Thu Situation in Washington.


The report that President Cleveland Is
encouraging the House conferrees to hold
out for the House tariff bin II simply
incredible. We cannot believe 1t. 1t Is
not In keeping with Mr.. 7Cleveland's man.
ncr OF doing business. IL he had intended
for Congress to be governed by his wishes
In the matter. surely he would have made
those wishes known long ago. 1t would
indeed, have been treating the two houses
with something very like contempt for
the President to have permitted the Sen
ate 10 work for days and weeks and
months upon tariff bill. and when 1t
was about TO be perfected and passed
make 1t known that he would veto that
bill. There could be no excuse for thus
treating the two houses or either house;
for IL It be said that the President had
no right to undertake to influence the
action OF Congress whilst the tariff bill
was pending, the unanswerable reply Will
spring TO the lips Of everybody concerned
that he had just as much right TO at
tempt 10 influence the action of Con-
gress three months ago as he has TO
undertake to influence the action of that
body now.
Again 1t Is said that the time Of the
adjournment of Congress depends upon
the action OF that body upon the tariff
bill. This may be true In one sense, but
IL In not true In the sense In which 1t is
understood by the masses. The present
Congress is composed OF men exactly like
those who have composed the Congresses
Of days past. and will probably act just
as any preceding Congress would have
acted under similar circumstances. II so,
Just as soon as all the appropriation bills
are passed and have been approved by
the President. there will be an irresisti-
bic movement initiated in favor OF an
early, not TO say an immediate adjourn
ment, and this movement will grow In
strength so rapidly that the people will
find their representatives early in August
on the court-greens Of the various coun-
ties. instead of reading of their being at
work In Washington.
Once more: 1t does not seem possible that
the Democrats IN Congress could be so
deaf TO the demands of their constituents
as 10 think of adjourning and leaving
the Mckinley law in full force. Surely
even the dullest of our Democratic con-
gressmen must know that they dare not
90 before the people without taking
new tariff bill in their hands. What will
our public servants have to show as the
result of a whole years labors, II not
a new tariff bill? VIII a mere promise
be satisfactory TO the voters when the
promises made In the Chicago platform
of 1892 shall have been left unproductive
of any practical results for two years
VIII the several congressional district
conventions in Virginia, for example, be
able 10 come TO an understanding as TO
the duties on sugar and coal and iron
ore? AS we have over and over again
said the people do not desire any given
customs-duties to be levied. All the ques-
tions involved In the tariff they are will
ing TO trust to Congress. but they Will
feel that they have been cheated, misled'
and outraged IT, after almost a whole
twelve-month Of legislative labors, their
congressman shall be so unwise as TO &c
home carrying nothing In their hands to
show for their work.
What, then, do we expect Congress &c
dog Judging the present by the past
and thus making forecast. We should
say that there need be no fear that Con-
gress will remain in session many weeks
longer. nor that it viii adjourn without
passing a new tariff law. The Presiden,
Will not try to defeat the Senate bill
He. Of all the men in the Union. Is thu
last one whom we should expect to SEE
playing second fiddle to Senator Hill.