The Washington times., 1894-03-28
BETWEEN YOU AND ME.

Western Democrats openly charge that the
trusts have been too strong for the Senate
committee and that the Wilson bill is far worse
than it was originally. Some Of them charge
that the Senate committee has framed the bill
with the sole intent Of making an excuse to
defeat the income tax provision, as the antici-
pated revenue under the proposed measure
will be about $50, ,OOo, 900 in excess ofthe needs
Of the government, and that is just about the
the amount it was expected the income tax
would yield. They also charge that the COM
mittee has given out wrong figures as to what
the bill would yield for the purpose of deceiv-
ing the Senate AMI the people. 1t Is generally
conceded that Senator Hill will antagonize
the bill with all his power, and it is believed
by some that he will be Joined by Senators
Mcpherson, Smith, and German.
Some of the silver Senators tell the Presi-
dent that vote of the Bland bill will defeat
the tariff bill. If free silver amendment is
not added to the bill in the Senate, Mr.. Bland
will offer one on its return to the House. and
some of the ardent silver men now say that If
this Congress enacts any tariff legislation at
all it will be coupled with free coinage None
of the Senators express much confidence in
the success OF the income tax. To keep it in
the bill would produce surplus, and to get
rid of a surplus either 1t or some of the trusts
must be sacrificed, and as there are powerful
lobbies against the income tax, they look
upon it as doomed.
And now come reports Of serious outbreaks
in the Democracy of Michigan against the
rule of Don Dickinson. This gentleman has
had control Of the patronage in that State and
things have not worked smoothly. Represen-
tative Whiting, of the Seventh district, was
turned down in his district and he is not dis
posed to submit. He breathes hard and
talks hard about Dickinson and his famous
referee system. Conventions have been held
in several cities and resolutions denuncatory
of Mr. Dickinson have been adopted, and in
some instances the resolutions have referred
to the President in no complimentary terms.
Gen. Shakespeare, one OF the leading party
orators, In recent speech denounced the
Wilson bill and the President both. Michi-
gan Democrats admit that the course of the
ubiquitous Don has been most disastrous.
To frame law that will break up trusts is
question that engaged the attention OF sew
eral members Of Congress. The judicial de-
cisions that have been rendered against the
present law have practically nulliHed #.
Trusts are rapidly absorbing almost all the
various industries. A Chicago syndicate has
Just purchased over 5000 acres Of coal land in
Ohio. and it is reaching out for more. The
American Steel Casting Company. of New
York, has absorbed within few days the
properties, rights and franchises of several
steel plants in Pennsylvania, New York, and
Ohio.
There is a very defnable coldness in the
atmosphere surrounding the Presidents off,
cial family. 1t appears that the Secretary Of
War is the only member Of the Cabinet who
has been consulted by the President in the
matter of the Bland bill, and Mr.. Lamont is
the one upon whom the President relies in all
emergencies. The silver men say that il it
were not for the Secretary of War the Presi-
dent would sign the seigniorage bill.
Some OF the Republican Members of Con-
gress are chuckling over the hole. They say
the House Committee on Elections has been
deposited in IT, In the EnGlish-Hilborn con-
test recount OF the ballots cast in one pre-
cinct gave Hilborn four majority. The con-
testant has filed the affidavits Of voters show
ing that the votes were in reality cast for him,
and the committee accepts the affidavits
rather than the ballots. Thus the Republicans
claim that precedent is set for successfully
contesting the seats of many Democrats in
the South. In accepting affldavits in the
present case the committee only follows pre-
cedent set in 1894. The case was English
against Pelle in Indiana. Pelle was elected
by the ballots. but a witness went before the
committee and gave evidence that he had at
| sometime reeornted a part OF the votes and
found errors in favor OF English. The wit
ness had no authority to count the votes, no
one assisted him in the count, and no record
was made of it, other than pencil memoran-
DUN on the back Of an envelope; yet the
committee gave the seat TO English.