The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-08-08

sire that there should be an agreement
and early action. Mr.. German strength
ened this part of his speech by appeal
ing to those of his colleagues who had
conferred with the president, and each
rose in his place and corroborated his
statement. He spoke in terms OF
strong resentment of the presidents in
reference with the prerogatives OF the
senate, and characterized his letter as
"the most extraordinary, the most un-
called for, and the most unwise COM
munication that was ever penned by
president of the United States" The
speech made a profound impression.
Later in the week Senator Villas, per-
sonal friend of the president and one of
his former cabinet officers, undertook
to defend the president, but his effort
was a most unsatisfactory one. The
main point of his defense was that the
president could not be expected to
know every detail of the tariff bill.
That, of course, is true. But he could
not have failed to know what was the
purpose of the senate respecting the
Two or three items of the bill against
which his letter was chiefly directed.
These were iron ore, coal and sugar.
And if he was informed by the senators
who conferred with him, as they say
they informed him, that in order to
reach an agreement it was necessary to
impose tax upon coal and iron ore
and sugar, and the president did not,
as they state, make any strenuous OBJ
lection, then his letter, from party
standpoint, is open to the severest crit
icism which Senator German and Others
have passed upon it. If he knew that
iron and coal were to he taxed instead
of going on the free list, and raised nc
objection when the bill was pending
but urged that it be passed as soon a;
possible, his severe arralgnment OF the
majority of the senate in his letter wa.
virtual betrayal of party confidence
However this may be, Mr.. Gormar
has shown that he has still the conf
dence of his party colleagues in the
senate, and, under his efficient general
{ ship, the senate bill has been sent t
conference without any concessions
Senator Villas had made motion tina
, the senate recede from the amendmen
E imposing differential rate in favor o
, refined sugar. He denounced the sen
ate's concession TO the refiners as "un
fair, wicked, oppressive and hateful"
but Mr.. Germans lead was so stronl
| that Mr.. Villas was constrained to with
draw his motion, and later to vot
against it when it was renewed by Sen
ator Washburn. Politics has few NOR
2 bitter doses than this. The renewe
motion was only defeated by a ii
vote, Senators Hill and Irby only o
the democrats voting with the republi
! cans. This was very narrow escap
for the bill and for Senator German. /
: the motion had been carried, it is tn
understanding that a democrat wa
ready TO move indefinite postponement
and that the votes of the two LOuisian
: senators, and perhaps of others, woul
/ have secured the adoption of the me
ton. Senator Stewart Of Nevada coul
have turned the scale, but refused t
vote. Senator German has had tr
umph; but it remains to be see
g whether it will be possible to Undue
q the house conferrees to accept the sen
ate bill with these amendments whic
the president denounces as involvin
s party perfidy and party dishonor. Th
q senate evidently cannot yield, and q
e the house appears to be committed
! the views taken by the president, it
= difficult to see how there can be an
important concessions on that side.
e deadlock, therefore, is most probable
e and while the deadlock continues bus
y ness suffers. 1t would be a boon, il
= deed, if this proposed tariff measur
which pleases nobody, could be indefr
itely postponed, or killed outright
Nelo York Independent.