Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1894-03-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Fight on the Tariff BiIl-ItS Fate
as yet Undecided-The Bland Bill
and Mr.. CIeVeland's Position.
Times.

rs Yet OuUtCtUFu-A nc OlauO Dill
and Mr.. CIeVeland's Position.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, March II, 1894
The tariff fight between the demo
cratic free traders and the democrat
ic home protectiOnists having been
won by the latter, che battle is now
temporarily transferred to the full
Senate committee on Finance
There are eleven members of this
committee, elk democrats and five
republicans, but one OF the demo
crats-Vance of North Carolina lis
away. II the democrats can succeed
in putting a substitute for Vance on
che committee-they will probably
make the attempt this week, unless
they can get Vance TO come back
they will have majority of one;
otherwise the committee will stand a
it politically, aud nothing can be
done without the consent of at least
one republican. The first contest In
the committee will be over the time
that shall be devoted to the consid-
Grafton of the bin In committee, the
democrats desiring to report the
bill at once and the republicans to
go over it section by section, point
ing out it's defects and offering a
mendments to remedy them. The
republicans generally regard the pro
lection which the revised bill gives
to coal, iron ore, sugar and lead ore
in the light of defects, because they
are clearly determinations made
merely to get enough votes to pass
the bill, and only serve to bring out
more distinctly the injustice of the
rest OF bill. The republicans are forum
ate in the makeup of their side of the
Finance committee. 1t would be
difficult, if not impossible, to select
FIVE men as we'll qualified in every re-
spect to do baUUle for republican
principles as are Senators Morrill,,
of VT; Sherman, of Ohio; Jones, o
New; Allison of Iowa, and Aldrich
Rhode Island. Ii they do not &C
complish anything 1t Will be simply
because nothing can be accomplish
ed.
1t is not yet certain that the re-
vised bill can be passed by the Sen
ate Notwithstanding the concession
made to the kickers, although, {
course, the probabilities are decided
In it's favor; but there remain severa
elements of doubt either of whic
may result in defeating the bill
Two of the populists-Peffer and A
len-have declared their intention I
vote against it and the votes of Ser
ators Hill and Murphy are not a
sured for the bill; but even with til
loss of those votes it Is still poseib
for the democrats to pass the bill.
%h.r, ff IL -
derstood that he will, having Il
good and sufficient reasons connec
ed with the distribution of ottici
pie given his promise to that effec
A small number of Senators appe'
to think that Senator Peffer's &C
ion ia Offering a resolution for t.
investigation of the charges made
gainst five democratic Senators,
having used their positions to o
tain Information as TO what was
ing done In connection with the gu
ar clause OF the tariff bill. In ord
to speculate in sugar stock, was u
dignifed, but q majority is hard
likely to take that view of the mt
ter and Mr.. PETER says he is det'
mined that the resolution shall n
be pigeon holed. The suprisil
hing to most psople was that o
of the Senators charged with sp
ulation did not ask for an inves
cation.
There is considerable speculate
as to whether Mr.. Cleveland will
to the Bland bill for the coinage
seigniorage, which will certainly p
the Senate this week. Senator Vii
who Is about as close to Mr.. Gle
land as anybody Is, says the bill
be vetoed, but others who are 8
close to Mr.. Cleveland say that
will allow the bill to become a
without his signature, with the h
that it will remove the silver q
ton from the coming Congressio
campaign; his idea, according
these gentleman, being that the n
will be kept busy for several year,
coin the 100000 silver dol
required by the bill, and that it
be useless to further agitate for
free coinage of silver until the m
have got through with that pro
ed for in this bill. If your cOrresl
dent were disposed to make a Wi
on this matter he would not hest
to give odds in favor of veto.
Cleveland will, in my opinion, be
~ TOO glad of an opportunity to
the silver men whom he has u
liked.
The House Judiciary comm
will almost certainly make a faV
BILE report on the bill fathereC
Representative Bartholdt, of
making Lincoln's birthday a
holiday, although the point
been raised that Congress cannC
more than recommend to the 81
that it be so observed. Mr..
tholdt, however, thinks Con
has full authority to declare the
a legal holiday and will endeavC
get his bill through.
Representative McRae, OF Ark
4ioo, f0r fhOoo HOnao democrats