Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-23
The President Receives Many Callers
at the White House.
TIE Fate OF TIE TARIFF BILL
It Will Become a Law Without
CleveIand's Signature.
PRESS SURE TO SIGN 1T

The President was in his Office at the
White House bright and early this morning.
He showed no signs Of his recent attack of
malaria and rheumatic gout beyond slight
limp in his walk. Secretary Gresham,
Postmaster General Bissell and Attorney
General Olney were each with him for
short time before 10 o'clock, but, 1t Is said.
they each called more out of personal So
licitude for his health than with any pur-
pose of considering public business. The
President had no time today to dispose of
the vast amount of legislative and other
business that has accumulated on his desk
during his brief so1ourn at Gray Gables,
for hardly had his door closed behind the
three cabinet officers than 1t was again
opened for the admission Of several Sem
ators and Representatives and other func-
tionaries who are deeply interested In
various measures now awaiting executive
action. These gentlemen streamed into the
White House during the entire forenoon,
And taxed the tact and ingenuity Of Private
Secretary Thurber to the utmost In pre-
venting their crowding the President too
much. Mr.. Cleveland was SO much occu-
pied with his callers that he had little op-
portunity to attend to the mass Of business
requiring his prompt attention. He had
barely time to attach his signature to sew
eral nominations he desired the Senate to
act upon before adjournment.
Speaker Crisp Calls.
One Of the most prominent callers was
Speaker Crisp, who Informed the President.
so it is said. that Congress had practically
concluded its business and was ready to ad-
journ, provided it would not interfere with
his plans. 1t is understood that the Presi-
dent gave no intimation of his purpose in
regard to the tariff bill, and that Mr.. Crisp
Is as much in the dark as other people as
to whether the President will sign the bill
or will allow 1t to become a law without his
signature. officials supposed 10 have the
confidence of the President assert positive
ly that the President will not sign the bill,
but that 1t will certainly become law
without his signature, and that its provi-
sions will go into effect next Tuesday morn
Ing and not day before.
Such Is generally believed by treasury
officials to be the Presidents present pur-
DC Sc, but there Is q possibility that II may
be changed, in view of the strong political
pressure that is being eXerted to have him
sustain his party in Congress by signing
the bill without unnecessary delay Speaker
Crisp is credited with saying that the DEM
ocrats will have to defend the tariff bill
as a wise economical measure in the COM
ing political campaigns, and that their
hest efforts In that direction will be nulli-
fed and set at naught unless they have the
Presidents Endorsement of their action. 1t
would never do, according to this theory.
for the democratic speakers to support q
measure that q democratic President re-
fused to approve.
Where the Tariff Bill is Now.
The tariff bill is still in the possession Of
the Secretary Of the Treasury, and the en-
tire machinery of that vast department has
been put in operation to render its provi-
sions effective the instant 1t becomes a law.
The entire force Of the customs and internal
revenue bureaus Is busily engaged, day and
ri or IN ha on of
the bill. Customs officials and collectors of
internal revenue in all parts Of the country
have been supplied with copies of the bill
and have been specially instructed with re-
gard to the construction Of certain disputed
sections. great deal of time, energy and
money will have been wasted by the off,
cials and employees of the treasury service
throughout the United States in the event
Of the disapproval of the bill. 1t may be
accepted, however, with almost absolute
confidence, that the bill will not be vetoed
and that II 1t Is not signed, 1t will become
a law by constitutional limitation without
action. AS now understood the President
Is inclined to the latter course, but 1t Is
possible he may be persuaded to change his
mind and affix his signature to the bill.
Secretary Carlisle Has n Talk.
Secretary Carlisle visited the White
House this afternoon by special appoint
ment, and had a long conference with the
President In regard to the disposition of
the tariff bill. 1t is understood that he
returned that document to the President
with the statement that he saw no objec-
tions to its becoming a law.