The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-27
In Spite of Persistent Democratic Pray
ers He Will Let the Measure Be-
come Law Without His Signature.
J. K. JONES'S STATEMENT
The Arkansas StateSman'S His
tory of the Tariff Contest.
Inside Facts Regarding the Sugar
Schedule and How 1t Was Agreed On
Girl Crank at the White House.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26.-The tariff bill
will become law tomorrow night with
the Presidents signature. 1t was learned
to-day that at the Cabinet meeting Friday,
which was quite prolonged, a persistent
effort was made TO induce President Cleve-
land to sign the tariff bill, instead OF per-
mitting it TO become law without his
autograph. Those efforts were supple
mented by the arguments of number of
the leaders of the House, and they were
continued yesterday by both Cabinet Off
GERS and members of Congress. Some of
these gentlemen, more eXGtable by nature
than others, are alleged to have been al
most frantic in their appeals to Mr. Cleve-
land to sign the bill, and so avoid adding
to the difficulties many Democrats will
have to contend with in their struggles for
reelection.
At least two or three of these distin-
guished visitors affected to believe that
some impression had been made upon the
President, and that there was yet a sub
stantial possibility that he will sign the
bill.
Those who expressed such a hope, how
ever, were very few, indeed. The great
majority are convinced that Mr.. Cieve-
land settled the matter once for all in his
own mind and that the bill will be returned
to Congress as a law Tuesday without the
presidential signature. They say that His
Excellency cannot now, with good reason,
sign the bill.
BY his delay the Whisky Trust has been
enabled to save millions of dollars, the diff
ference between 80 cents and $l.1O gallon,
by taking their stock out Of bond. The
government would have had this difference
A.. Of fn erO
into the pockets of the trust had the bill
been promptly signed on it's passage If the
President should, at the last moment, sign
the measure the criticism would at once
90 forth to the country that his delay had
resulted in injury to everybody except the
Whisky Trust, and that If the bill is to be
signed at all the act should have been done
in time to save an immense and important
sum for the government treasury. This one
fact, argue these gentlemen, precludes all
idea of a presidential signature, to say
nothing of the apparent determination at
the outset that the bill should become a
law by the expiration of the constitutional
ten days within which it must he signed, II
signed at all.
Mr Cleveland is said to listen very kind
ly tc those anxious statesmen who pray
him TO sign the measure and thus make a
trihe easier their pathway toward re-eIec-
tion, but he also listens with a faraway
look in his eyes which betokens an abso-
lutte want of hope for them. The visiting
and praying continue, however without in
termisson and will continue until the last
possibility fades away. A story is on its
told one of his visitors that he believes il
would be better for the Democratic party
in the national elections of 1896 if the Re
publicanS should have majority OF the
next House, and so divide the responsible
ity with the Democrats. While this rumor
is given credence in some quarters, it is,
generally speaking pronounced so foreign
to the frankness of expression and breadth
of vision of Mr.. Cleveland as to be un-
worthy of a moments discussion.
1.-THE story is contemptibly absurd" said
one of the Presidents ardent supporters
this evening ''While 1 myself would like
to know that he will sign the tariff bill as
the best way of disposing of ii from a par
tisan point of view, know the President
will do whatever he does do because II is
the only thing his conscience will let him
| do. He will not sign the bill on account
of the persistent arguments of Democratic
leaders for. mere party interest. and ne
Will not refuse 10 sign 1t for the purpose
| of creating additional discord that the Re
| publicans may have increased chances for
| winning a majority in the next House
| and thus relieve the Democrats of a por-
ton of the responsibility for legislation in
| the year preceding the next national cleo
'To begin and end with, such a situation
| would in nowise relieve the Democrats OF
blame for any pernicious legislation that
might be enacted, as the President would
| possess the veto power and would either be
forced to WELD il saddle upon the adj
| ministraton the entire respOnsib bility."
| Another story which Is simply droI, nc
matter whether it be true or not, is that
| Senator Hill is authority for the positive
| assertion that the President WILL at about
| o'clock Wednesday afternoon, the latest
| hour at which he can sign the tariff bill
J and return il to Congress before it be-
| comes law by limitation. attach his sig
| nature with q theatrical flourish, dash of
| a message which will eectrify an eX.
| pectaTft Nation and thus end dramatically
| the spectacular career of the tariff meas
| ure. The prediction is quite like that OF
| Hill, but the fulillment is not quite like
| the President. 1t is pleasant, however, tc
| find that there is still a Senator in the
| city and one who is SO frank in hi:
/