Connecticut western news., 1894-08-30
TARIFF BILL A LAW.
IT BECAME so WITHOUT THE PRESl-
 DENTS SIGNATURE OR VETO.

fn . Private Letter to Representative
 Catchings MT. Cleveland Gives HI. Req
 sons and Exprssses Keen Disappointment
 ct the Action of Ills Party.
 WASHINGTON, Aug. 2s.-At l2 o'clock last night the Mckinley tariff law, which lad been in operation since October 80, 1890, practically four years. died on the statute books, and the new Democratic tariff bill passed by the fifty third con gress became a law without the signature of President Cleveland.
 The constitutional period of 10 days al- lowed the president to consider the bill expired with the midnight hour, and ac- cording to the terms of the constitution, the president having failed to return the bill to congress with or without his ap- proval it became a law.
 The placing of the bill on the statute books ended one of the longest and most remarkable struggles in the parliamen- tary history of the government. It was practically year ago that the preparation of the new tariff law was commenced The extraordinary session of congress was call ed Aug. :, 1898, for the purpose of repeal Ing the Sherman silver purchasing law.
 Two weeks later the ways and. means committee of the house, with Mir. Wilson of West Virginia as chairman, was ap- pointed, and almost immediately the work of framing the Democratic tariff reform measure began.
 Months were spent In its preparation, and it was not reported until after the holidays during the regular session be- ginning in December
 For three weeks it was debated in the house, passing that body July 29 by . vote of 204 to 140 Seventeen house Dem- ocrats voted against it The bill went to the senate and after being considered un- til March 90 was reported, greatly changed from the house bill. The debate, which began In the senate April 9, lasted until July 8, when the bill passed by a vote of 39 to 34.
 The crisis occurred when the bill reach ed conference On Aug. Is the house yielded and accepted the senate bill in toto. Two days aftsrward, Wednesday, Aug 15, it went to the president, and at tho expiration of the constitutional 10 days Sundays not counted) 1t became a law without Mir. Cleveland's signature.
 The President's Letter.
 The president has sent the following letter to Representative Catchings of Mis- sissippi, who consented to its publication in view of its public character and i'm portance: -a.
 WASHINGTON, Aug. 27. Hon. T. c. Catchings:
 My DEAR SIR-Since the conversation had with you and MT. Clark of Alabama a few days ago in regard to my action upon the tarif1 bill now before me I have given the subject further and most serious consideration. The result is I am more settled than ever in the, determination to allow the bill to become a law without my signature.
 When the formulation of Legislation which, 1t was hoped, would embody Demo cratic ideas of tariff reform was lately entered upon by the congress, nothing was further from my anticipation than a re- suit which I could not promptly and en- enthusiastically indorse.
 Ut Is therefore with a feeling of the utmost disappointment that I submit to a denial of this privilege.
 II do not claim to be better than the masses of my party, nor do l wish to avoid any responsibility which on account of the passage of this law I ought to bear as a member of the Democratic organiza- tion.' Neither will permit myself to be separated from my party to such an ex- tent as might be implied by my veto of
 
 pointing, Is still ohargeable to Democrat 10 effort
 But there arc provisions in this bill which are not in line with honest tariff reform, and 1t contains Inconsistencies and crudities which ought not to appear in tariff laws or laws of any kind. Be sides there were, as you and we'll know, incidents accompanying the passage of the bill through the congress made every sincere tnrif reforlner unhappy, while influences surrounded 1t in its lat CT stages and interfered with It's final construction which ought not to be recog nized or tolerated in Democratic tariff re- form councils
 Half Loaf Better Than None. And yet, notwithstanding all its vicis- situdes and all the bad treatment 1t receiv- ed at the hands of pretended friends, 1t | presents a vast improvement to existing conditions It will certainly Tighten many tariff burdens that now rest heavily upon the people. It Is not only barrier against | the return of mad protection, but 1t fur | nishes a vantage ground from which must be waged further aggressive operations against protected monopoly and govern mental favoritism.
 II take my place with the rank and file of the Democratic party, who believe in tariff reform and who know what 1t is | who ref6se to accept the results embodied | In this bill as the close of the war who are not blinded to the fact that the livery | of the Democratic reform has been stolen and worn In the service of Republican pro tection, and who have marked tho places where the deadly blight of treason has | blasted the counsels of the brave in their | hour of might.
 | The trusts and com bin ations--the com munism of pelf-whose machinations have prevented us from reaching the success we deserved, should not be forgotten nor forgiven. We shall recover from our as- | tonishment at their exhibition of power and If then the question is forced upon us whether they shall submit to the free leg islative will of the peoples representatives or shall dictate the laws which tbe peo- pie must obey, we will accept and settle that issue as one involving the integrity and safety of American institutions.
 "l love the principles of true Demoo- racy because they are founded on patriot Ism and upon justness and fairness to- ward all interests. I am proud of my party organization because 1t is conserva, lively sturdy and persistent in the enforce ment of Its principles. Therefore do not despair of the efforts made by the house of representatives to supplement- the bill already passed by further legislation n and to have engrafted upon 1t such modi- hcations as will nearly meet Democratic hopes and aspirations.
 Il cannot be mistaken as to the neces- sity of free raw materials as the founda- tion of logical and sensible tariff reform. The extent to which this Is recognized in the legislation already secured is one of i It's encouraging and redeeminR features, but it Is vexatIous to recall that while free coal and iron ore have been denied us a recent letter of the secretary of the trcas- ury discloses the fact that both might have been made free by the annual sur render of only about s70o 900 of unneo- essary revenue
 II am sure that there Is a common habit of underestimating the importance of free raw materials in tariff legislation and of regarding them as only related to concessions to be made to our manufac- turers. The truth Is their influence Is SC | farreachinU that If disreQarded Q complete