Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-19
None Should Be Permitted at the
Coming Session Of Congress.
SENATOR PLATHS VIEWS ON POLICY
Republicans Cannot Act Affrma-
lively, but Can Prevent Action.
EXTRA SESSION POSSIBILITIES

eating soldiers monument to Connecti-
cut troops, spent a few hours in the city
yesterday. Senator Platt has very def
mite ideas as to what the republican policy
should be during the coming short ses-
sion of Congress. He said:
THE republicans are not in a position to
take an affirmative position to legisla-
ton. 1t is my judgment that it would he
very unwise for them to attempt to formu
late any policy until they shall have the
power to do so. The duty of republicans
negatively seems to be clear. They should
not permit any tinkering with the tariff.
They have not the power to enact legisla-
tion; they have the ability to prevent the
democrats from passing any of the pro-
posed pop-gun tariff bills. The democrats
have passed tariff law. 1t is their law.
Whether they like it o. not, they should
stand by 1t. They had the power to enact
d tariff law that would suit them, having
possession Of all branches of the govern
ment. If they have not done so, it certain
ly is not the fault of the republicans. The
republicans ought not to be called upon in
the coming short session of Congress to
assist the democrats to correct their own
errors. The democrats definitely folmulat-
ed their policy, after a long session of
Congress devoted very largely to con-
siderdtion of tariff matters. They have
said that the country needs rest from agi-
tation. The country should be given
opportunity to take that rest. Time should
be afforded TO enable the industries of the
country TO adapt themselves to the demo-
cratic system. l think that the present
Ntrif law should not be changed during
the coming session in any respect what
ever.
Should BE No Tariff LeGislatiOn.
1T follows that, 1 think, it would be un-
wise for the republicans to aid the demo-
Gratis in passing any bill designed even to
change the present sugar schedule. While
the republicans are generally opposed to
that schedule, and made their opposition
very clear by their speeches and their
votes, any one familiar with legislation
knows that it will not be possible for the
democrats to bring in any bill to the
sugar schedule, or any pop-gun bill as to
any separate article in the tariff, without
reopening the whole tariff subject. In the
nature of things, ana under existing par
liamentary rules, it will he impossible for
the democrats, by proposing any one of
the pOp-gun measures, to restrict debate to
the specific subject matter of any par
ticular bill; and l take it that the demo-
Gratis would rot care to have the winter
spent in another discussion of the tariff
question. OF one thing / think the Coun-
try can be assured-there will be no tariff
legislation at the coming session. l think
1t would be the proper republican policy
to make declaration to that effect. That
certainly will be my policy. l think the
country should be advised by some def
mite declaration on the part of the re-
publicans of the Senate that there can be
10 more tariff legislation in this Congress.
The House can do what it pleases; the
republicans in the Senate have 1t IN their
power however, to declare that no further
tariff legislation shall be enacted in this
Congress, and they also have II in their
power to give effect to that declaration
After such a declaration shall have been
made by the republicans, If the democrats
shall choose to force the discussion of the
a hx tI,,,r
and of the popgun bills, the responsibility
will be with the democratic Senator's. Ii
they elect to have the entire winter occu-
pied in discussion of the tariff and in a
rehearsal of the tariff speeches of the last
session. and of the campaign, they can be
gratified 1t is in their power to control
the order of business, but it is not in their
power to pass the bills. Under the exist
ing rules of the Senate, the republicans
can prevent the passage of any popgun
tariff bill, and there can be no question at
this session of a change in the rules of the
Senate, designed to secure the enactment
of a tariff bill. If the democrats of the SEN
ate shall choose to block the way Of all
other legislation by putting tariff till to
the front, that is their affair."
Possibility of an Extra Session.
But If the democrats should bring for
ward a democratic popgun tariff bill, and
force it to a consideration in the Senate In
advance of the appropriation bills, would
so block the way that some of the appro-
priation bills might fail, and. as a conse-
quence an extra session of the Elftyfourth
Congress be made nee essary?'
THAT is for the democrats to consider
and determine. In my judgment 1T is the
republican policy that no popgun tariff bill
shall pass. The matter of an extra session
is one which does not enter into the con-
sderation, so far as the republicans are
concerned. The republicans most certainly
do not wish an extra session. If the Pres
ident were a republican, the situation Right
be different. But the President is not a
republican-far from it. The republicans
have no interest, therefore, in having an
extra session convene. They are opposed
to an extra session, but they are more or-
posed at this time to any further tariff
legislation. l think that it is safe to say
they will not permit any more tariff legis-
latiOn at this session.
'If the democrats Of the Senate, with
full knowledge of this fact shall choose
to put any one of the democratic popgun
tariff bills to the front and keep it there
blocking the way of the appropriation
bills. and making it possible that an extra
session will be the result that is a matter
for which the democratic managers in the
Senate will be responsible. The republicans
will assume no responsibility in that re-
spect. They will, l think, simply declare
that there shall be no tariff legislation at
the coming session of Congress. They
have the power to give effect to that decla-
ration. They have not the power affirma-
lively to enact a tariff bill which would
be satisfactory to them. But, negatively,
they have the power to prevent the pas
sage of a bill which will not please them.
And l do not have much doubt but that
the position of the republican Senators
will be that which l have here outlined.
They will be negatively a unit against
any further tinkerng of the tariff, and
in favor of the proposition that the demo-
cratic party must stand or fall upon the
tariff bill which they, when in full pos
session of all branches of the government,
have made.
The Sugar Schedule.
"There are a few republicans, perhaps,
who will be disposed to insist that
change ought to be made in the sugar
schedule. There are a good many demo-
Gratis who will be of that opinion. But
1 do not see how the line is to be drawn
between considering the sugar schedule
and the entire tariff question. The effect
of entering upon the consideration Of the
tariff is evident. No tariff bill can be
passed. But the discussion of a tariff bill
might possibly result in extra session
of the Fifty-fourth Congress. That is a
result which, / take 1t, neither party de-
sires. 1t will be for the democrats to de-
termine what the policy shall be-"