St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-05-09
a SILVER LINING.

If the Republicans of the senate shall
adhere to their agreed policy to utter
pose no factious opposition to the tariff
bill as finally agreed upon by the Demo-.
cratic caucus, their course will receive
the public approval; for it will be wise.
patriotic and polite. The Democrats,
it is said, are pledged to support the
compromise bill just reported. Senator
Hill is the only Obdurate, but his claims
to Democracy are somewhat below par.
There is a sufficient majority for the
measure without him. and his wishes
should be. and undoubtedly will be.
utterly ignored.
"A reasonable time for discussion" Is
all that the Republicans Will demand.
But what do they consider "a reas0hn-
bic time?" The silver senators per-
sisted ia the claim that all they wanted
was reasonable time for the discussion
of the bill repeating the Sherman act,
yet they consumed nearly TWO months
In fruitlesS and exasperating talk. They
repudiated the charge that they were
tiIlbusterlng, and yet the same ground
was trayersed over and over again-the
same straw was threshed score of
times.
Accepting the pledge of the Republi-
cans as having been made in good faith
there seems to be no good reason for
much delay i'll reaching vote on the
bill. Two weeks will be ample time for
debate. Senator Harris. who is placed
in the leadership. can explain all that
nopHS 10 in,
publican position can be outlined in
equal time, aud none Of the subsequent
speeches need occupy more than an
hour or two. Indeed, so much time
would be superfuous to q majority of
the senators. Without resort to gag
rule, all may be heard. and the bill
passed within fortnight. In the house
it is not necessary to consume as much
time. There the ground has already
been fully covered; every interest has
had hearing; every member is already
on record. There would be no hardship
Ill demanding a vote OH the bill in the
house within week after Its pressnta-
ton, and this should be done, the bill
passed and sent to the conference COM
sAA'ssSS VI VIZ ptCoiuObbs 40 tuC CdSC may
be. before the first day of June.
June is the month in which mer-
chants place their orders for fall and
winter goods. Before the manufact-
urers and jo5bers send out their travel.
ing statesmen they must have time to
provide them with samples and price
lists. These can only be prepared after
the provisions of the tariff bill and
their effects upon prices are known. 1t
would be suicidal for either manufact-
urers or importers to pursue different
course. They may be depended upon
to lose no time in preparing for trade as
soon as the questions which may affect
prices are settled. but they should not
be forced to do in week that which.
to be properly done. should require
months labor.
The improved prospect of speedy
settlement of this vexatious problem
will be gratifying to every business
man. 1t will stimulate preparations for
trade in advance Of the consummation
of the present plan. and the relief af.
forded in every branch of industry will
be most beneficial. We shall hope for
the best, not without fear lest that
hope shall be deferred. The suspense
has been long and wearisome. and at
times there has been scarcely " arrant
for hope of settlement. But the un.
certainty SO long existing has proved
weariSome even to those who have been
the most clamorous for delay, and the
silver lining to the dark and threatening
cloud of commercial disaster is at last
visible.