Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-07-23
FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON, July %
SENATE.

than it was even on Friday last. when
action was expected to be taken on the
disagreeing conference report on the
tariff bill. An hour before the time OF
meeting the doors of the public galleries
were besieged by crowds striving to
obtain admittance and by noon. when
the proceedings began, there was not a
vacant seat in the galleries, except il
the diplomatic gallery, in which there
were only half dozen spectators, and
there were hundreds of people in the
halls and corridors and on the marble
stairways, vino were unable TO get in
side the chamber.
In the absence of the vice president
the chair was occupied by Mr.. Harris,
president pro tenn.
There were several republican Sena-
tors present who had been absent last
week, including Mr.. Chandler, of New
Hampshire, Mr.. Lodge, OF Mass, and
Mr.. Teller, of Colorado. In fact, both
sides of the chamber were pretty fully
represented.
Silence came over the gossiping
crowds in the galleries and the more
noisy Senators and Representatives
on the floor when Senator Voorhees,,
at 1920, called up the conference report
on the tariff bill and Senator German
began speaking on the subject. In an
impressive manner, the Maryland Sen
ator told Of closed factories and suffer
ing mechanics and said further sus-
pense would be destructive. It would
be destructive 10 the democratic party,
which now controlled every branch of
the government. and he hoped the sit
uation would be met as became Ameri-
can Senators and as became patriotic
citizens
Mr.. German sid the democrats had
only Il votes for the bill, and, except
ing the distinguished Senator from New
York OR. HID, who had openly and
uanfully opposed the measure, there
were only - democratic votes to be
depended on. Senators had voted for
the bill at a sacrifice OF State interests
almost OF principle. Never before had
there been such a condition OF sacrifice.
When the radical destructive bill came
from the House it had been asserted
that it could not be passed by the Sen
ate with the odious income tax attach
ed. When the bill wentinto conference.
although a majority OF the democratic
confcrrees had been southern men, JUS
tee had been done by them 10
every section. To resent the calum-
MES that had been heaped ca
tie conferrees, he would give a
plain, unvarnished statement putting
the responsibility whereverit belonged,
He would say now, as he would tell
every democratic Senator privately.
that 10 matter at what sacrifice to
State interests, the paramount duty OF
every democrat waste keep the party
in power,
Mr.. German made reference 10 Presi-
dent Cleveland's letter to Chairman VIII
son as the most unusual, the most un-
wise letter ever penned by President
of the United States. On account Of
this letter, he was forced to talk of pri-
vate party matters in public. The
honor of his fellows also made him
make the statement he would make.
Telling of the tariff bill conference,
Mr.. German said every democratic
Senator had been consulted with view
to reconciling their views. Two of the
democratic leaders had conferred with
the President, knowing that the bill
would not pass without the hearty CO.
operation of the executive branch of
the government. What the President
had said gave him the right to make
the statement, as he did at the time.
that the Senate bill would receive the
endorsement of q democratic House
and democratic President.
The great Secretary of the Treasury,
himself tariff reformer, who has seen
every amendment that was proposed or
was to be proposed, knowing the condi-
ton that confronted his party and want
ing to let the country know how matters
stood, published q prepared state
ment on April 80, 1894. This statement
was an interview with Mr.. Carlisle
about the tariff bill, in which he said
that the bill would be passed without
difficulty. That statement, said Mr..
German, had probably wonderful ef-
feet. But it did not stop there. The
President was not ignorant of what the
Senate proposed to do. Forty-three
democratic Senators understood and be-
lieved this. The daily papers stated
that the President concurred with his
Secretary of the Treasury The same
could be said of every democratic SEN
ator for a compromise measure would
not be satisfactory in every particular
to everybody. 1t was believed that every
cabinet officer, every democratic Sen
ator and the President himself, were