The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-07-26

| mlSl6Q, Every prominent dLuoAu'
ment to the bill was as we'll known
to him as to me. While neither the
president nor his secretary was in
love with all the provisions of these
amendments; aye, sir, may say in
| fairness that there were many OF
them to which they were opposed, as
the senator from Missouri and the
senator from Arkansas and the dis
| tipguished chairman OF the committee
on finance were opposed to many Of
them and as it was compromise
measure 1t was not satisfactory
to single, solitary house man
| being on this side of the chamber in
all its detail, but assert as whole,
the structure as presented as scanned
| by these gentlemen was satisfactory
and was recognized as the best that it
was possible to pass through this body
and that from no quarter, high or low,
neither from the president or through
his cabinet, nor by any member OF
this body was it ever suggested or in
timated that there was any violation
of Democratic principles in anything
we did.
Now, Mr.. Presidene, this is very
broad statement. l call upon the
two gentlemen who had the immedi-
ate control of the bill, the senator
from Missouri (Mr. Vest) and the sem
ator from Arkansas (Mr. Jones) and |
ask them if they have a statement
which varies hairs breadth from
the truth, and it is due to the senate,
it is due to themselves, it is due to me,
it is due to the country, that the
truth shall be known. Let the people
have the truth. pause for reply
from my friend from Missouri"
Mr.. Vest arose. He began by say
ing that he had not himself seen the
president since the repeal of the Sher-
man law last summer but with the
secretary of the treasury he had had
frequent conversations Mr.. Carlisle
haG repeatedly and distinctly stated
to him that the greatest possible ca
lamity that could happen would be
the failure to pass any bill. He dis
tinctly stated to him that no differ
ences in rates should be allowed to
sand in the way of the coDsumat on
of some scheme of tariff reform. His
colleague, Mr.. Jones, had been sent
by MIR. Carlisle and Mr.. Cleveland
and they both declared that the bill
was acceptable to them. The bill did
not suit him (VesD. He knew it must
have the support OF the administra-
ton to pass it and asked Mr..
Jones if the president would throw
the weight of his influence in favor Of
it. Mr.. Jones reported that the press
ldent had said to him, "I am willing
to do anything to pass the bill through
congress-" "If we go into the fight,
the president must be behind us, Mr..
Vest. Mr.. jones replied that he was
"Thereupon," said Mr.. Vest, 81 gave
MY personal opinions and resolved to
support it. The presidents letter
was the fret intimation to me that he
was against u.s."
When Mr.. Vest sat down, Mr.
Jones OF Arkansas, who was in charge
of tine bill in the senate, took the
flo r. He was as pale as death. He
realized, he said, when the bill came
to the senate that it could not be
passed in its then form, and he had
gone to work with infinite labor and
pains to interview every Demo-
cratic senator. He ascertained
every objection they held and
had carefully noted them.
He had talked with Mr.. Carlisle about
his plan and the president endorsed
it as wise. Then he (Jones) prepared
the amendments in consultation with
Mr.. Carlisle. The secretary was
thoroughly informed as to the situa'
tion and he (Jones) had said to him:
81 will not go one step further if the
administration is not behind me.n 81
requested him to explain everything
to the PRESIDENT said Mr.. Jones, 81
saw the president. He told me Mr..
Carlisle had explained all and he
| (Clevelandl thought he was doing the
wise and proper thing" Among the
amendments thus prepared were those
placing coal and iron on the dutiable
list. Until l read Mr.. Cleveland's 3 let
ter to Mr.. Wilson, said Mr.. Jones
emphatically. / believe he'd cordially
approved our action. / had express
ed to him the opiBion that it must
| be either this modified bill or none at
sll, and he had replied that in the al.
tentative he favored the modification
measure.
AS Senator Jones sat down Mr..
GOrman arose to resume, but Mr.. Villas
inteposed with a series of questions
to Mr.. Jones.
"In your interview with the presi-
dent" asked MIR. Villas, "were tha
subjects Of coal and iron ore ever men,
tioneo?"
YES" replied Mr. Jones win ex-
plosive vehemence, 'at every conver-
sation between the president and my
self coal and iron were specifically
mentioned"
There was burst of applause from
the gallery, which the presiding Of
ficer had difficulty in checking.
"And," continued Mr.. Jones, with
measured emphasis on each word,
1.-The presid9nt never once uttered a
word against coal and iron in the bill
as then in the senate"
"One more question:" said Mr..
Villas. "Did not the president express
hope at all times that iron and coal
should be on the free lisl?"
CAT all times, yes" said Mr.. Jones
"But it was the expression of hope
that the circumstances would permit
it's realization"
Senator GDrman next summoned
| Senator Harris, who leIt the presid
| log officers chair for the purpose ol
appearing as witness. senator Har.
| nj -YaTad u o,t vATgaFiHp "a /, Z,