Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-03-24
WHAT WILL HE DO9
Principal Question Now Cur
rent at the Capital.
PRESIDENT AND sEIGNIoRAeE BILL,

A Contest On Between Members of Con-
gress on One Hand and Commercial
Bodies en- the Otier-The Executive
Good Fencer and His Purposcs we,I
cohceaied-Points From the Recon-
structcd Hatch Anticipation Measure.
WASHINGTON, March 24-Congressmen
are very anxious about the fate of the
se!3niorage bill. The situation Mt the
White House presents one strong feat,,re
OF novelty III the fact that it appears to he
the scene OF bloodless battle just now be-
tween the congressman on the one hand.
the large majority of whom are urging
the signing of the seigniorage bill, and the
great commercial interests of the country
on the other, for twenty whine out of every
thirty of the communications coming from
them pray for the veto of the bill. The
congressman have the advantage of per-
sonai presence on the field, but the other
side is in evidence in great force in the
enormous number of letters that burdens
the presidential mail and of kilograms
that come SO nulnerously as to keep the
wires hot and the White House operator
occupied to his full capacity
Not al oc Eastern Origin.
The communications by mail and w,re
are coming from all parts of the country
and are not as might be supposed alto
gether OF eastern origin. For instance.
there are appeals for veto from
Cincinnati, St Louis, san Francisco and
Salem, Ore. Virginia has also Joined the
iiae, as WIS made evident by protests
against the bill from the cotton factories
% Norfolk and the transportation inter
es's There. "A very thoughtful presenta-
ton OF objections to the bill coming from
Richmond without doubt has made some
impression upon tie president OF course
1t Is manifestly impossible for the presi-
dent to read himself in detail all of these
communications, but they are carefully
examined by Thnrber and any ne,, point
or suggestion on either side OF the case Is
brought to the attention of the president.
still Open to Conviction.
There are all sorts OF stories atioat as 10
the presidents disposition towards the
bill. and sc.ae have gone to tine length
OF asserting that he has already prepared
a veto message. II this be true he has
not taken the members OF the cabinet into
MS confidence and at the meeting the sub
ject was discussed from all poiuts of
minds OF the members of the cabinet that
the president is still open TO conviction. lie
has up to and including next Thursday
nearly week-to make up his mind what
40 do with the bill and there are indica-
lions that he proposes to use most Of this
time IN thoughtful consideration of the
matter. 1t is certain that that he has
committed himself 10 nc man as reslecrs
his action ON the bill.
The President Asks Questions
When Il congressman calls to urge the
signing oil the bill he is likely to have put
TO him a question that discourages him,
but he soon learns that his colleague who
prays for veto has had precisely SINH
lar experience and both are left in more
doubt rs TO the outcome than before their
call. 1t is noticeable that some of the COM
munications received urging u veto concede
that owing to the slow formation of pop
ular opinion the result may be tempo
rary party loss at the polls, but they in
sist that in the end the sound and con-
servatlve course they approve will surely
he rewarded by popular support. This
view iss:rongly expressed in the commu-
| nications from the south.
Arguments Against II Veto.
The comparatively few appeals for the
! signature of the bill as a rule are based on
| the plea that it will do no harm and is ;.b-
| solutely demanded to ensure party unity
and control of the next house of represent
atives. A rumor has found publication to
the effect that the president is about to go
on fishing trip of Il few days, probably TO
! Woodmont, VA, but the rumOr can he
positively denied.