The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-01-12
NO. 4.
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Jan. >. lS94

w WASHlNGTON, Jan. -, lCJf.
Mr.. Cleveland has evolved q new
scheme to prevent the dissatisfied
democrats from even expressing their
objections to his tariff hill before the
democratic caucus, which will proba-
bly, be held this week. He has issued
an order that the caucus shall decide
Immediately after assembling whether
it is advisable for it to pass on the
tariff bill If he can control a majori-
ty of the caucus the tariff bill will
not be touched. Meanwhile some of
the dissatisfied democrats are trying
to get the republicans to promise to
vote with them to recommit the bill
to the Ways md Means committee
when Mr.. Wilson calls it up in the
House. The republicans have not
decided whether they will do this, but
it is hardly probable that they will.
Senator Allison thinks that the
Cleveland tariff bill will be considered
by the entire membership of the FL
nance committee when it gets to the
Senate, just as the Mckinley bill was
1t will be remembered that the repub-
licans Of the Ways and Means COM
mittee of the House were not allowed
to take any part whatever in the
making of the bill.
The New Years reception at the
White House recalled sad memories
to many. One year ago the White
House and the residences of members
of the last administration were all in
mourning because of the then recent
death of Mrs. Harrison, and no Off
cial receptions were held in Washing
ton.
There is a wide difference of opinion
among democrats about authorizing
the issue Of bonds recommended by
Secretary Carlisle, and ii may cause n
big fight in the House as soon as the
tariff bill is disposed of.
1t will cause no surprise among
Treasury officials should there be a
deficit at the close of the current fis-
cal year, June 30, 1894, Of as much as
$75,0OO,O00 This is more than three
times what the estimate was of the
probable deficiency before the schedu-
les of the Cleveland tariff bill were
made public The bill is directly res
ponsible for the probable trebbling of
the deficiency. Importations are get
ting smaller and smaller and will con-
tinue to dwindle so long as there is
any probability of that bill becoming
law. Importers are not disposed to
pay the present duties when there is a
possibility that by waiting Il few
months they can take advantage of
the low duties or of the free list of
the Cleveland bill. And that is not
the worst of it. The same cause is
operating to shut down American
manufacto ries and it will be no better
for long time should the bill become
law, which God forbid, for as soon as
it does our markets will be SO flooded
with foreign goods that our own
manufacturers will hesitate to start
up again even at the reduced wages
which everybody now sees must fol-
low such law
The administration democrats in
the House who supposed that their
sharp practice just before the holiday
recess would enable them to smother
the criticism of Mr.. Cleveland's
Hawaiian policy, in the House, will
find themselves very much mistaken.
The republicans of the House COM
mittee on Foreign Affairs have pre-
pared a scorching minority report on
the McCreary resolution reported the
day before the recess and intended to
screen the administration unconsti-
tutiOnal acts, and that report is going
to be made the text for some talk in
the same line as the red-hot speeches
of Senator Hoar and Representative
Boutelle made before the recess. The
republicans in both House and Senate
are fully determined that the smother
ing act shall not be performed
Notwithstanding repeated denials
on the part of those connected in one
way or another with the administra-
ton, there are many people, democrats
as we'll as republicans, who believe
that there is good foundation for the
reports which have again become cur
rent concerning Secretary Gresham's
retirement from the cabinet on ae-
count of the failure of the Hawaiian
policy of which he was the originator.
1t has been known for some time that
Mr.. Cleveland was looking for loop
hole through which he could make
his own escape. This his friends are
foolish enough to think would be pro-
vided should Secretary Gresham write
letter resigning from the cabinet
and stating as his reason therefor the
failure of the Hawaiian policy which
he had persuaded Mr.. Cleveland into
adopting This would, OF course, be
humiliating TO Gresham, but his
wounds are to be salved, according to
the gossip, either with some other ap-
pointment or with a promise of the
next Supreme Court vacancy 1t is
difficult to see, however, how the res
ignation of Secretary Gresham can
possibly relieve Mr.. Cleveland of the
responsibility belonging to his acts as
President, or in any way excuse him.
A GANG Of counterfeiters who have