The Washington times., 1894-07-20
SENATORS MUCHDISpLBASRD
Almost All the Democrats Declare the
Presidents Letter Extraordinary"
BEE.UNWILLING TO BE QUOTED
Mills and Villas Both Utter Words Of Com.
msndation-Hill Criticisss the Letter. but
Says the Skies Are Nov Frightening.
Republicans Refuse to Talk.

There were some pretty sharp criticisms In
Presidents letter to Chairman Wilson were
handed them yesterday afternoon and they
had an opportunity OF finding out what the
CHIEF Executive thought OF them.
The news Of the reading OF tho letter was
not long In travelling from the House to tho
Senate. Mr.. Wilson had kept his secret Of
the possession Of the letter well guarded and
it proved complete surprise Information
a. to the contents Of tine document was
eagerly sought alike ON both sides OF the
chamber.
After Senators became familiar with IT. con-
tents they again gathered In groups to dfs.
cuss the documents, both with reference to
the points made by the President and the
policy OF the President In writing it, SO In
tense and general was the interest that for
two or three hours very little atRntton was
paid to routine proceedings on the floor Of
the Senate. -
SENATORS LoATH TO TALK.
While no Senator hesitated to express his
views privately, the Democratic Senators
were loath to submit to interviews for publi-
cation They said that the circumstances
were unusual, and that their action as body
being In opposition to the position taken By
the President, they could not give publicity
to their opinions whatever they might be.
Republican Senators were at first inclined
to express themselves very freely on the
policy OF the letter, but when they discovered,
rs they soon did, that their Democratic col
leagues were generally inclined to remain
sieat. they changed their policy as IL by COM
mon consent, and announced when spoken
to upon the subject that they preferred that
the Democrats should do the talking, deelar-
ing that it was time for Republicans to be
silent.
The most common expression OF opinion
among Senators was that the writing OF such
a letter was 'very extraordinary" and In
many instances when the speaker was sure OF
not being quoted stronger words were used.
These expressions were heard with slight
variation on both the Democratic and Re-
publican sides. =
The following expressions OF opinion from
Democratic Senators are interesting:
SOME EXPRESSIONS OF oPISIoS
Senator HILL prefer to say nothing st
this time as to the propriety or wisdom Of the
letter. 1t comes rather late and may compli-
cate the whole situation and defeat all tariff
legislation whatever II the President. instead
Of writing a letter, had exercised hiSinfuence
to assist me in getting rates for freq raHrma.
terials when was making the fight ttfefefor
in the Senate, the present unfortunate COM
plication might have been avoided. / trust
that there will be more votes now for free raw
materials when l bring forward the PROPOSE
tion again in the Senate. which I expect to
do The skies are Frightening.
Senator Brice-Ithink it remarkable that
the chairman of the House Committee. on
Ways and Means should have had such
te rf 1frr7ar tcrr
here for us to discuss proceeding N the
other House. but some wicked Republican
may bring it up in way to force rs to do so.
SO far as the sugar schedule is concerned it
is the administration schedule, and If the ad-
ministration does not want it We may take
the House bill on the sugar question. 1t is
the fabric OF the bill as whole that We are
concerned with.
Senator Murphy do not care to criticiss
the President We will answer the President
with our votes.
Senator Villas of Wisconsin. said that the
position of the President was in line with his
policy for tariff reform. why should he
not" asked the Wisconsin Senator, express
his views? He was elected on the issue and
his administration is committed to it.
Senator Mills said: Il indorse the senti-
ments expressed in the Presidents letter, es-
pecially what he says concerning lead and
iron ores. II had my way all ores would be
on the free list.
"If the bill must be defeated. let those who
advance the extreme ideas advanced in the
Senate bill Dear the responsibility"