The record-union., 1894-07-27

The distinguished Senator from Arkan-
sas, whose labor III behalf of the bill had
earned so much respect from his col
leagues, testified that he had personally
talked with the President about the Sem
ate bill. Did MIR. Jones claim that all the
details of the bill had been laid before
Mr.. Cleveland? Necessarily not. Only
the general principles on which the
amendments were made. In regard tC
those two amendments upon which the
specifications of Mr.. Gorman's charge
had been founded the testimony of Jones
was clear that the President, whenever
coal and iron were mentioned, expressed
the hope that they would go on the free
list. Was there anyone desrOus of doing
open and free Justice to the President
who, after reading Jones' own statement,
would not say that MIR. Cleveland had
never ialtered in his urgent demand Tor
free coal and iron? Without duplicity,
but with the openness and boldness that
always characterized him, Mr.. Cleve-
land had expressed to the Chairman OF
the Ways and Means Committee the
hope that the result he desired would be
accomplished in conference.
He had a right to say it after his con-
versation, as detailed by Senator Jones;
he had right to insist and urge it by any
proper means. But it was said the Presl-
dents letter constituted an encroachment
upon the prerogative of the Senate. His
right to send it was not denied. Villas
quoted the text of the letter. WAS the
language that of man who sought to
reach beyond his power?" he asked.
''Was it not rather the honest outpouring
of genuine Democratic address, i'll sup
port of principles the President had SO
noply carried through two trying Presi-
dental contests?"
Villas then quoted and ranged along
side Mr.. Cleveland's utterances the state
ment by German, that the Senate bill
could not pass if it did not have the
hearty support of Mr.. Cleveland. "Atthe
very time the President was writing this
letter to Mr.. Wilson," Villas went on,
dramatically, 1.-THE Senator from Mary
land and his co-workers were appealing
to Mr.. Cleveland to induce him to sup
port them in an effort TO qualify the en-
actInent of Democratic principles instead
Of crystallizing them into law. How ut
terly wanton Is this cry of interference
now; because he has seen fiji to throw his
weight OF influence with the House in
favor of Democratic principles; because
he refused to stand with him, they make
his action ground of complaint here,
and in horror cry out against executive
interference"
Villas referred to the fact that President
Washington came to the same'chamber,
accompanied by his Secretary, to urge in
person the ratification of treaty he had
negotiated. President Jackson's course
in making his views felt by Congress was
also referred TO.
Mr.. Villas said he was content to leave
to fair minded men whether the Presi-
dent had wantonly encroached upon the
rights of Congress. The charge was
made that the Senate had been traduced.
Extracts from the letter to Mr.. Wilson
were read TO show that the Presidents IS
purpose was not TO traduce the Senate,
but to plainly state his aspiration toward
tariff reform. The President had stated
that the abandonment of that great party
principle would be perfidy and dishonor.
No one would question that such an
abandonment of principles would be dis
honorable. The shaft was not aimed at
any Senator. 1t was not a personal ac-
cusation. 1t was not an accusation lev
eled at the Senator from Maryland (Gor-
man or the Senator from Missouri Vest, /,
or the Senator from Arkansas (JonesJ, or
against any Senator. The President un-
derstood the situation in the Senate. He
knew the stanch adherence to tariff re-
form of the Texas Senator Mills, the
Senator from Delaware Gray and the
two Senators from Arkansas Jones and
Berry,, but there was no arrayal of these
views. The Presidents letter was wholly
impersonal.
Villas SAID the views of the Senator from
Maryland could mean only one thing. 1t
was All effort TO array Democrats together
in a spirit OF resentment, and thus carry
out the compromise of tariff reform. The
Wilson bill had passed amid public ac-
clamation. The people accepted it as the
honest execution of party and pledge.
But when this revenue reform measure
was debated in the Senate, iron and coal
were placed on the dutiable list. More
over, it was debated week in and week
out. The public was wearied of that de-
bate, and yet the Senate could reach no
result. 1t was at this juncture that the
Senator from Arkansas (JonesJ had
brought forward over 400 amendments.
These were to be the solution Of the
problem, and were to bring the debate to
a close. Still the discussion proceeded
fifty-five days.
Mr.. Villas said he had recognized the
necessity of yielding to these amend-
vision of the existing tariff law quickly.
1t was essential, too, to reinforce de-
pleted treasury.
Stewart (Pop.) of Nevada began a
speech on the respective prerogatives of
Congress and the Executive. He de-
clared the conditions were such that a
member of Congress must obey the
President or leave Congress. The power
and influence of the Executive was such
feat of member. 1t was trifiing with a
great question, he said,' for the President
to reopen it if a compromise had been
reached for the purpose OF taking 40 cents
ton oil coal and iron.
When Stewart concluded the President
pro tenn. announced the question to be on
HIPS resolution that the Senate recede
from its amendments making coal and
iron ore dutiable at 30 cents per ton.
MIR. Hill demanded a division on the
question, so the vote was first taken on
iron ore, The Republicans, except Mr..
Hansbrough, voted with the Democrats,
and the first half of the resolution was
Iost-6 to 65. The six affirmative votes
were: Hill (New York;, Irby South
Carolina), Democrats; Hansbrough
North Dakota). Republican; Allen,
Kyle and Petfer, Populists.
On that portion of the resolution re-
ceding from the amendment on coal in
shared the fate of its predecessor, being
defeated to 64 The same Senators
voted for this motion as for the iron ore
proposition.
Mr.. Washburn (Rep.) of Minnesota
then submitted motion to instruct the
Senate conferences to recede from that
portion of the sugar schedule placing the
one-eighth of a cent differential on sugar
above sixteen Dutch standard.
Mr.. Gray of Delaware made the point
of order against the motion, that it was
not competent fo1 the Senate to instruct
the confrrees ofa full and free conference,
to insist upon or recede from any par
ticular amendment. TO do so would be to
prevent the free and untrameled con-
sideration of amendments in conference.
Hale contended that an instruction to
the conferrees to recede from any amend
ment put upon the bill by the Senate
would not tramel the conferrees. 1t
would simply eliminate the subject of
difference.
Mills bolstered Gray's point of order
with another that the Senate could not re-
,,aJa from, rorfion nf ar, and mani