The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-31

A POSSIBLE DEFEAT OF THE
TARIFF BILL. g

The CONVICTION e4 presseo " AepNoS"
Senator Culion that the outcome OIL the
quarrel betw cen the senate and the house.
or rather between Senator German and
the president. on the Wilson tariff bill az
amended by the senate. would Do the de-
feat Of the tariff bill, has good prospect OF
realtzatlon. Many able and intelligent
Democratic journals frankly confess that
the tariff bill occupies today very critical
position; that its enemies have stronger
hopes OF beating IL now than they ever
had before. The bitterness Of the quarrel
and the acrimony Of the discussion be-
tween the Gormanites and Cleveiandites
In the senate ~ so intense that it seems en-
tirely probable that no other bill than the
amended senate Wilson bill can possibly
pass that body.
Senator Germans language deserves 70
be recalled, "lf the senate amendments
are not accepted" ne exclaimed. "this bill
,s defeated" Senator German means that
the president and house must surrender or
kill the bill This threat might mean
nothing from g man like Voorhees,, but
when 50 cool. calculating and subtle man
as German makes rcdhot speech Of def
ance and aggressivsness IL is probable that
he has burned his bridges behind him;
burned his ships on the sea, aud has be-
come irreconcilably determined not to
yield his ground. The language of Vest
aud Smith was equally resolute, and IL Is
quite clear that neither German nor Vest
will surrender.
The president has forced the issue In
such way that there can be no agreement
without an absolute surrender on the one
aide or tho other, and has made 1t almost
impossible for either house or senate to
yield. and unless one or other yields all
legislation fails. Even IL there be sur
render on one side or the other the blu Is
In great danger Of defeat. The real bone
of contention so far as the house is con-
esrned Is the senate sugar schedule. The
president IL willing apparently 20 wink ut
the sugar steal while he insists on free
coal aud iron ore. but with the house the
protection 10 the sugar trust given by the
senate is the sore spot. The sugar sched-
ule changed would probably XIII the bin in
the senate, for il would probably be found
absolutely impossible 20 secure for any
practicable agreement the forty-three votes
that are absolutely necessary in the senate.
The curious thing in all this matter is
that President Cleveland. while he insists
ON free coal and iron ore, IL willing to
swallow the sugar trust schedule. when he
must know that IL the senate sugar sched-
ME is once adopted by the house the Dem
ocratic party j. surely routed in the next
congregational election. Two years ago the
Democratic party secured the presidential
election and majority in the present
house by bowling about ''monopolies"
and s'rohber trusts" Today Harper's
Weekly, stauneh Democratic organ since
1854. declares that ''it Is believed by the
country that the sugar trust has bean paid
for liberal contributions To the Democratic
eampslgn innd." IL the Democratic house
ratlhes this senate sugar trust schedule q
Republican majority would be secured in
the next house. The house sees this: sees
that IL cannot afford 90 sell itself to the
sugar trust As has the senate, and the
singular thing is that President Cleve-
land does not see II too. had
he spent the strength Of his letter against
tas senate suKaF schedule instead Of eonhn.
tng al bis vigor 90 his cry tor the rsstora-
tion of coal aud iron ore % the free liss
where they had been placed By the house.
he would have heen doablY strong In hts
fight with sue senate The weakness Of
the president in his tlght Is ths fact thai
lie Was willing to swallow the sugar trust
schedule. so long as hs As given free eoA
aud iron ere.
Another weakness In the presidents
attitude is set forth in 0orm&n's accuse
ton that the president had been fully
advised of the senate amendments during
their progress and had given thesa his
sanction. GarmAn proved the truth Of ais
statement by Vest Jones ard Harris, Of
tie aaaaes committee. All these uen are
free traders. and all Of them supported Mr..
GoFmaa in affirming the presidents
knowledge and approval Of the character
and reasons OF the senate amendments.
and Senator gones. Who wAs the actual
craftsman Of the eommgttsa. wsns 80 far
rs 10 say thai he talked specifically xl1h
the president about the proposed duties on
eoAi and iron ore. and that the president
eoaoarrea in Ghsir adoption uadsr ths cir
cataNtAneeA
German is capable % dirty worx. bat
senators Vest. Harris and Jones are men
whose EepassEioa foe vsraeltY is at least a.
good as thai % psss.den, Cleveland him-
ssL The president. il Is Charged. afssr
having Acquiescsd ina tariff On eoA and
iron, demanded thasothsy be placed Ga tie
free liss As rFinegpls taAi caaaot Re ear
rendered, German SAYS plainly that the
president IL TIE same letter insists. upon
what the S0vA Seogiz eoAl ring wants aaa
upon What shs sugar tFaSs wAnta0
Another incxplleable declaration Of Pres
isent tleFslasa's lesssr b Chairman VIII
seG wa tAas. "iea knew how maSA /