New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-21
A BOOMERANG, PERHAPS.
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER LIKELY TO
COST VOTES IN THE HOUSE
1T WAS AIMED AT REPRESENTATIVES, AS WELL
AS SENATORS. AND MANY OF
THEM RESENT 1T.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBryy,


Washington. July 20-The more President Clevc-
lands letter TO Chairman wilson is discussed by
Democratic Representatives. the Jess they seem to
like It. and It would not be hazarding a Wild guess
TO say that the Senate "amendments' TO the WI
son bill could command more votes tomorrow in
the House Of Representatives. than they would have
received yesterday. variety OF reasons for this
change OF sentiment might be assigned. many of
which spring from the same root-impatience Of
Executive dctation in regard TO legislative mat
ters. II may be remembered in Mr.. Ceve.ands
letter accepting the Democratic nomination for the
Presidency in 1884 he said:
It should be remembered that the office OF Presi-
avs enacted by the legislative branch OF the
Government the Chief Executive Is bound faith
fully TO enforce.
That ut,erance showed that Mr.. Cleveland then
clearly comprehended the structure OF the Gov
eminent and the rights. powers and duties which
belonged to the executive and legislative branches
respectively. Again. after he became President
and the Senate called upon him for certain pa
pers relating 10 suspensions from ofice-matters
into which the Senate Committee on the judiciary
thought, that body had constitutional right TO
inquire. nasmuch appointments could be
made except by It's advice and consen-Presden:
Cleveland wrote n long brief In which he justified
the refusal TO furnish the papers. and took high
ground in defence OF the proposition that the
executive branch OF the Government Is supreme
within It's own province. which cannot be consttu-
tionally invaded by another branch OF the Gov
eminent When these Incidents were recalled TO
the memory Of a prominent Democratic Repre-
sentative today by a Tribune correspondent, he
said in substance. and after some hesitation:
or | do not want TO enter into any con-
troversy a this time over the Tariff bill. As you
know | strong tariff reformer and heartily
sympathize with every movement in that direction:
| voted for the Wilson bill and favor It now but II
necessary to obtain any tariff legislation shall
vote for the Senate bill With all that can be said
against executive dictaon In matters OF legislation
! also sympathlze. and that most heartily. was
much opposed 10 II when Il was exerted In faVor
OF the unconditional repeal OF the sherman law as
| now am. although II then took less odious shape
than II has In this
People who jump TO the conclusion that the Presi-
dents letter to Mr.. Wilson was aimed solely against
the Senate grievously mistaken They forget. or
do know that there at least sixty or seventy
Democrats in this House who prefer the Senate bill
the former II they had opportunity. Chairman
Wilson and President Cleveland both know this, and
that alone a sufficient in their opinion
why the letter should be sprung upon the House
Remember. ! am In favor Of the Wilson bill AZ
against the German bill every time and yet can
sympathize with Democrats who disagree with me
and over whom the club OF Executive displeasure
is raised. You ought also to remember that Presl-
dent Cleveland's anatherna Is pronounced as well
AGAINST the seventeen Democrats In this House who
voted against the Wilson bill against the few
Democrats In the Senate who were able 10 compel
that body TO amend II. In a word. then. the letter
was made public to coerce the action OF the House
OF Representatives well as the Senate.