Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-10
UPTOWN OFFICE. q, EAST BROAD
FRIDAY. AUGUST 10. 1894.
The Conferrees' Work.

2 The CoDferreeS appointed 10 Consiu''
the disagreeiug votes OF the two houses
Of Congress on the tariff bill VIII soon
conclude their labors. OF this we reel
sure. Their patience IS nearly exhausted
and the heat of the weather at washing
ton is well nigh unbearabie.
Mr.. Jefferson was wont TO relate that
Che committee appointed TO consider the
Declaration OF Independence were much
hastened in their labors by "a plague OF
files which came upon them from neigh-
hor,ns stable. But for these horse-iiles
Jcffcrson's immortal paper might nave
been discussed indefinitely, and, perhaps
altered not for the better
II the people who are suffering from the
non-action of Congress could regulate
the heat they would make 1t nuch
warmer than 1t is at Washington-that
&c ~ they felt assured that that sort OF
plague would hurry the conferrees anu
the other members of the two houses.
The general prayer is for an early agree
ment and n quick adjournment
Though reports are conflicting. the best
pninion al the hour Of this writing IS
that the conferrees will come to an agree
ment of some sort. Their aim, OF course
IL TO reach conclusions which VIII be ac-
cepted by each house and by the Presl-
dent.
We do not know whether II Is true or
NOT. as is stated that the conferrees could
have agreed upon a basis of settlement a
dsy or two ago but that they were forced
10 retrace their steps when they fouhh
that the President would not approve II.
II il certain that Mr.. Cleveland means 10
lie consulted in this matter. knowing TINS
we should think the conferrees wouli
hesitate TO make a report winch lie was
not known 10 favor.
In the event OF an agreement We lear
that iron and coal both Will he gwen Tess
favorable consoeration than they no"
have in the Senate bill II seems not I'M
1ikelv that our senator's and the senators
from several other southern States VIII
have 70 choose between defeating the bill
or consen,ing to make great sacrihces'
New England hes come out Of the quarrei
with very good rates of protection on 'he
goods she manufactures. and now she
wants further concessions to her In the
shane of freer raw material" as she Is
nleasel 10 call the coal and the iron-ores
Of Virginia. West Virginia, and Alabama
And such are the conditions prevailing al
Washington at this time she Is Iikeiy
10 get all, or almost all, that shc ASKS
She uses to advantage the knowledge that
the people can stand this agitation no
longer: that they must have rest. and TO
get II they will have to accept such terms
as are obtainable.
We entertain no doubt that our senator's
will guard our interests closely. All that
can be done they will do 10 protect Viz
einia industries as far as they may DE
nronerly protected in view of the pledges
of our party; in view also of the impor-
,ant fact that the peoples patience ana
nurses are nearly exhausted.
IL Congress continues to sit and sit ana
postponc and postpone, many House menu
hers will be defeated of denomination.
The voters are eager 10 show their ind!g-
nation at the protractlOn OF this question,
and they know not how to do 1t better
than by ousting old members.
Dissatisfaction as TO the distribution OF
public patronage doubtless has something
10 do with the prevailing discomfort, but
among the disconnected are many excel
lent citizens who never asked Office Tor
themselves or their friends-persons whose
sole but weghty grievance is that their
business has come to standsul almost
while the tariff discussion has been going
on. Hence the demand for action. Hence
the outrage OF delay.