The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-07-30


ton of some scheme of tariff reform. His
colleague, Mr. Jones, had seen both Car
llsl2 and Cleveland and they had both de-
clared that the bill was acceptable to them.
The bill did not suit him VesD. He knew
1t must have the support of the admins
ira ton to pass it, and he asked Mr.. Jones
if the president would throw the weight OF
his influence in favor of it. Mr. Jones re-
piled that the president had said to him: l
am willing to do anything to pass the Dill
through congress-"
eff WE go into this fight the president must
be behind u.s." l said. Mr.. Jones replied
that he was '"rhereupon," said MIR. Vest.
II gave up my personal opinion and resolved
to support it. The presidents letter was
the first intimation to me that ne was
against u.s."
Mr.. Jones Testifies.
When Mr.. Vest sat down Mr.. Jones, who
was in charge of the bill in the senate,
took the floor. He was as pale as death,
but showed no signs Of nervousness. tie
realized, he said when the bill came to the
senate that it could not be passed IN It's
then form and he had gone to work. he
said, with infinite labor and pains to inter
view every democratic senator. He ascer-
tanned every objection they held and had
carefully noted them. He had talked with
Mr. Carlisle about his plan, and the presl-
den. endorsed it as wise. Then he (Mr.
Jones) prepared the amendments IN CONSUL
tary was thoroughly Informed as to the
situation, and he (Mr jones' had said to
him: 81 will not go one step further IL the
administration is not behind me- l re-
quested him to explain everything to the
president 1 saw the president. He told
me Mr.. Carlisle had explained all, and he
(Mr ClevelanCD said he thought we were
doing the wise and proper thing. Among
the amendments thus prepared were those
placing coal and iron on the dutlable lSt
"Until l read President Cleveland's letter
to Mr. Wilson," said Mr.. Jones, emphat-
cally, 81 believed he cordially approved OF
our action 1 had expressed to him the
opinion that it must either be this modi-
fed bill or none at all, and he had replied
that in the alternative he favored the mod
flied measure"
AS Senator Jones sat down Mr.. German
arose to resume, but Mr.. Villas lnterposed
with series of questions to Mr.. Jones.
Nr. Cleveland Approved.
'In your interviews with the president
sked Mr.. Villas, were the SUBJECTS OF coal
and iron ever mentioned"'
yes" replied Mr.. Jones, with explosive
vehemence, Eat every conversation between
the president and myself coal and iron were
specifically mentioned"
There was a burst Of applause from the
gallery which the presiding oiilcer had dlln-
Guilty in checking
Never a. Word of DisupprOvaI.
"And,' continued Mr.. Jones, with meas
ured emphasis on each word, 1.-The presi-
dent never once uttered one solitary word
against going ahead with coal and iron III
the bill as then in the senate bill.
cone more question: asked Mr.. Villas
did not the president express the hope
several times that iron and coal should be
on the free list"
''At all times, yes" said Mr.. Jones, but
it was the expression of a hope, and the
circumstances would not permit it's rea1i-
cation"
Mr.. German next summoned Senator
Harris a witness, who stated that in
other conversations with President CleVe-
land he (Mr. Harrs) had been led to con-
clude that the president favored the pas
sage of the compromise senate bill, not be-
cause he approved 1t, but because 1t was
the best that could be secured.
towards in High Places.
Mr.. German here resumed with one of the
most sensational references of the day to
President Cleveland. The senator spoke of
the deep regret that he compelled to
ask the public testimony of these sena tors.
But the time had come to speak. The limit
Of had been rfaehet bdI6 f SIZE fe
country" These charges had been foully
made from such distinguished sources That
they must be met and refuted. The charges
we're echoed by men who "chirped when he
talked" These senators who had been
summoned had fought for tariff reform
when "cowards in high places would not
show their heads"
Mr. German said he could conceive no
reason for understandable action that had
been taken, unless, perhaps, the one re-
sponsible for it was consumed by van
itv" in desiring to have the country regard
him as the author Of all that was right in
Shot Mt Hill.
AS Mr.. German made each reference to
the president there was a commotion in the
galleries. which compelled the presiding
officer to interpose constant cautions
against further demonstrations.
Mr. German next turned his attention TO
Senator Hills speech of Friday endorsing
President Clevelnnd's letter.
THAT letter. said Mr.. German, twas
god-send to the senator from New York
(N1r. HID. 1t was the only comfort he has
had from this administration" (Laughter)
AS the laughter continued Mr.. Hill arose,
and with good-natured deliberateness, sald:
'In the last proposition 1 will say that the
senator from Maryland is entirely correct
Mr. German proceeded to crltlclse MI
HIPS course and asserted that the New
York senator has throughout attempted to
thwart his party. Never before since the
declaration of independence, Mr.. German
went on, has a president of the United
States been guilty of such violation or
the spirit of the constitution as had Mr..
Cleveland in writing his letter to Chair
man Wilson. Conference committees should
be free from outside Influences. THE lib
ertv Of the senate should not be invaded"
he said in thunderous tones, Though
thousand hireings write us down and ira
duce us" The president, he continued,
had said it would be dishonorable to tax
coal and iron. The house parrot like, re-
peated the cry. Men who set up high
Standards" said he, should come to us
with clean hands"
How Cleveland Was Elected.
He argued that the house if it had been
consistent would have placed all raw ma
terials on the free list. He enumerated
other raw materials which the house had
naue dutiable. He denied that it was
either democratic doctrine in accord
ance with democratic platform declara-
tions to place coal and iron on the free
list. He enumerated the amount of the
tax on coal placed by different democratic
congresses.
s,The same bills you speak off, inter-
rupted Mr.. Hill, placed wool and lumber
on the dutable list.
'They did" replied Mr.. German. He
Droceeded that the democratic platform
did not demand free material. He went
back to the pla form of 1884 on which he
said Mr.. Cleveland was elected "by the
GRACE of God and a great deal of hard