Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-08-28

the Tarin Legislation of His Party, but
 Says That While He Cannot Indorse It
 the New Law Is Better Than the Me-
 Kinley Law-He CongratuIates the House
 on Its Fight For Free Raw Materials and
 Bitterly Refers to the senate's Opposition
 as the "Deadly Blight of Treason" WASHINGTON, Aug 2S.-At 12 o'clock last night the Mckinley tariff law, which had been in operation since October So, 1890, practically four years, died on the statute books, Ind the new Democratic tariff bill passed by the fiifty-third con gress became n law without the signature | of President Cleveland.
 The constitutional period of 10 days al- lowed the president to consider the bill expired with the midnight hour, and ac- cording to the terms of the constitution, the president having failed to return the bill to congress with or without his ap- proyal 1t became law.
 The placing of the bill on the statute books ended one of the longest and most remarkable struggles in the parliament tary history of the government. It was practically a year ago that the preparation of the new tariff law was commenced. The extraordinary session of congress was call cu mug [. IooOs Iiic puEpOSt Ol ing the sherman silver purchasing law.
 Two weeks later the ways and means committee of the house, with Mir. Wilson of West Virginia as chairman, was ap- pointed, and almost immediately the work of framing the Democratic tariff reform measure began.
 Months were spent in its preparation, and it was not reported until after the holidays during the regular session bo- ginning in December
 For three weeks it was debated in the house, passing that body July % by 0 vote of 204 to lI0. Seventeen house Dem- ocrats voted against 1t The bill went to the senate and after being considered un- til March 20 was reported, greatly changed from the house bill. The debate, which began in the senate April 2, lasted until July 3, when the bill passed by a vote of 39 to 34.
 The crisis occurred when tho bill reach ed conference On Aug. 13 the house yielded and accepted the senate bill in toto. Two days afterward, Wednesday, Aug. 15, it went to the president, and at the expiration of the constitutional 10 days Sundays not counted) it became a law without Mir. Cloveland's signature. The President's Letter.
 The president has sent tho following letter to Representative Catchings of Mis- sissippi, who consented to its publication in view of its public character and im- portance:
 ''WAsHINGToN, Aug. g. Hon. T. c. Catchings:
 My DEAR SIR-Since the conversation had with you and MT. Clark of Alabama a few days ago in regard to my action upon the tariff bill now before mo have given the subject furtheE and mnst. t.seriaus consideration. The result is I am more settled than ever in the determination tu allow the bill to become a law without my signature.
 When the formulation of legislation which, it was hoped, would embody Demo | cratic ideas of tariff reform was lately entered upon by the congress, nothing was further from my anticipation than a re- | suit which could not promptly and en- | enthusiastically indorse.
 It Is therefore with feeling of the utmost disappointment that submit to a denial of this privilege.
 II do not claim to be better than the masses of my party, nor do I wish to of the passage of this law ought to bear as member of the Democratic organiza- | tion. Neither will I permit myself to be | separated from my party to such an ex- | tent as might bo implied by my veto of tariff legislation which, though disap- pointing, Is still chargeablc to Democrat | ic effort.
 But there are provisions in this bill | which are not in line with honest tariff | reform, and it contains inconsistencies and crudities which ought not to appear | in tariff laws or laws of any kind Be- sides there were, as you and I we'll know, incidents accompanying the passage of the bill through the congress which made every sincere tariff refOrmer unhappy, | while influences surrounded it in its lat CT stages and interfered with its final construction which ought not to be recog- mixed or tolerated in Democratic tariff re- 1 form councils.
 Half a Loaf Better Than None. l And yet otHithstnndinr all its ricis.