Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-03-24
DEFEAT POSSIBLE.
The Wilson Bill Occupies a Pre-
carious Position.
PULLING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS
Full of Errors-Josiah Quincy a PoIit.
icaI PhiIantlnropist.
From our regular correspondent.

fore conceded the probability Of the
ultimate success of the Democrats in
passing some sort of tariff bill now
consider that they have at least an
even chance to defeat the bill. AL
though the committee has decided
that the bill shall be reported to the
Senate this week and taken up for
consideration April 2-by the way that
date represe its substantial victory
for the Republicans OF the committee
lit is known that not a single one Of
the ten Democratic Senators who style
themselves conservatives, and are
STYLED "kickers" by the other Demo
Gratis, has promised support the bill.
notwithstanding the numerous con-
cessions made TO them by the Demo-
Gratis of the committee, and some Of
them will, it is believed, vote against
the entire bill, unless they can get it
amended to suit their demands In
stead Of the changes made in the bill
by the Democrats of the Senate com
mittee-most of them against their
will-lessening the Democratic oppo-
sition to the bill they have largely in
creased it. The free traders have been
offended aud not asingle "kicker" has
been propitiated.
Many shrewd observers believe that
upon the disposition which Mr. Cleve-
land makes of the Bland bill for
the coinage of the seigniorage de-
ponds the very existence of the Dem
ocratic party as at present constituted.
At least three members of the cabinet
Gresham, Smith, and Herbert-are
so certain that the veto of the bill
would be followed by an open split Of
the Democratic party that they are do.
ing their best to persuade Mr.. Cleve-
land to sign the bill, as a peace offer
ing to the silver Democrats in the
South and West who are disgruntled
because Of the numerous snubs they
have received at the hands Of the adj
ministration. Representative Strauss,
OF New York, personal friend of Mr..
Cleveland, is also working on the same
line, although himself opposed to the
bill Mr.. Cleveland has given no sign
of what his intentions regarding the
measure are. A delegation of New
York bankers are here to prevent Mr..
Cleveland yielding to the party pres.
sure that is being brought to bear up
on him to allow the bill to become a
law. These New Workers have de-
manded of Mr.. Cleveland that he veto
the bill in accordance with the pledges
made by Secretary Carlisle when he
asked them to save the administration
bond issue from the fiat failure which
il would have been, had not the bank
ers subscribed to them. On the other
hand, more than two-thirds of the
Democrats in Congress voted for this
bill and they are demanding that the
bill be signed, or at least allowed to
become law without the Presidents
signature, and threatening to public
ly repudiate the administration should
the bill be vetoed.
In addition to being vicious the
Democratic tariff bill is very clumsily
drawn Since its revision by the
Democrats OF the Senate Finance Com
nittee the Republicans of that Com.
mittee, and the public, have had an
opportunity to study the bill A Re
publican Senator pointed out a para
graph which would, had it been al
lowed to remain in the bill and the
bill have ever become a law resulted
in tangling up the internal revenue
system to an extent that would have
cost the government many millions OF
dollars. 1t would, in short, have pre-.
vented the collection Of dollar Of in
ternal revenue. except upon such ar
ticles as are specifically mentioned in
the present bill. This error was, Of
course. corrected.
No man serving his first term in
Congress was ever before given the
honor Of being put at the head Of the
Republican Congressional campaign
committee, but it has just been done
for Representative Babcock, Of Wis
cousin, who has been selected 10 be
acting chairman Of the committee,
while Judge Caldwell is making his
canvass for the mayoraity of Cincin-
natl. and as Judge Caldwell is likely
to be elected Mr.. Babcock is almost
certain to become permanent chair
man OF the committee. This selection
was not made haphazard, but because
Mr.. Babcock's colleagues recognized
his peculiar fitness TO direct the work
of the committee, and were only too
glad to learn that he was willing to
undertake it.
The investigation ofthe contract for
printing the Patent Office Gazette.
which was for time suspended be-
cause of the members Of the Senate
Committee on Printing having been
otherwise engaged, has been resumed.
If Josiah Quincy. ex-Assistant Secre-
tary Of State. who is accused Of hav-
ing pecuniary interest in this con-
tract. is not guilty he is a philan-
throphist Of the first water, as he has
given freely Of his time. money, and
influence to aid the favored contrac-
tors. There has been a iooseness
about the whole business that would
in any properly conducted commercial
establishment result in some disnais-
sails. For instance, the contractors
agreed to do the work for one year
from July 4, 1898 for $4,000, yet
with three and one-half months re-
manning Of the year they have drawn