The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-07-25
DEMOCRATS
ARE ANGRY.
Ths Presidents Letter on the Tariff Stirred
Them Up

11eM tf-
The alleged conference of committees
from the House and senate on the tariff
biz. which Is actually only a conference
between eight Democrats and the various
trusts which demand protection Of their
interests in payment for past and future
contributions to the Democratic cor
ruption fund. Is still going ON, and from
what has leaked out there has been some
very lively word battles in the committee
room in which the meetings are held.
Mr.. Wilson, who by order Of Mr.. Cleve-
land was put at the head of the ways and
means committee, got 50 worked mp at
one OF these meetings al the various
demands made on behalf Of the trusts by
the Senators that he left the room in
huff and swOre he would have nothing
more TO do with ii.
No deadlock could be more firmly fixed
than the two houses have at this time up
on the tariff bill. Ii would indicate that
the tariff fight has just begun and that
the ground has got to be gone all over
again. The Republicans. of course, are
in high glee at the inability of the Demo-
cratic factions 10 get together and their
utter ineapaeity TO carry out their pro-
fessions.
In the course OF his speech in the House,
in reference TO the Tariff bill disagree
ment, Chairman Wilson made public
letter addressed to him by the president,
in which an earnest appeal is made for
strenuous insistance, ON the part Of the
House conferees, upon party honesty
and good flith.'' and sturdy adherence
70 the Democratic principle OF free raw
material The President characterized
the placing OF wool ON the free list and
duties ON coal and iron as Outrageous
discrimination and violation ofprinciple."
In the matter ofsugar, the President held
that it was "a legitimate and logical
article Of revenue taxation and might
form ground of compromise. lie con-
cluded with a plea for speedy completion
Of the tariff legislation. His letter is also
significant as containing the first public
avOwal that he does not favor the income
tax feature Of the bill.
In his speech in the House, ex-Speaker
Reed referred to President Cleveland's
letter TO Chairman Wilson as follows:
1--WE have here the somewhat remarkable
spectacle of message sent by the Presi-
dent Of the United States to the House
Of Representatives through his faithful
Committee on Ways and Means. This
seems to be just reciprocal action ON
his part. for the House will recoliect
that the Committee on Ways and Means
communicated Ia this House lis intention
Of having an income tax through the
kindness Of the President Of the United
States. Whether this relationship thus
intimate between a committee Of this
House and the President of the United
States was contemplated by the Consti-
tuition Of the United States or not, is
hardly worth the trouble of inquiry in
the shape in which the matter now
stands before the House. Least of all
would anybody on this side find fault
with the severe language which the Presi-
dent-the Democratic President-has
seen III 10 use about Democratic Senate.
Undoubtedly he has personal intercourse
with the members Of that body and his
official relations with them have enabled
him TO put all the strength of reproof
which that letter contains.
''But the transaction, as ii stands to-
day, Is between them, and him. Far be il
from us 10 interfere. If he has made a
righteous charge, their characters are
blackened and If he has made a false
charge, it is for them to see that justice
i done 10 the truth of history. We have
no concern with il except as spectators.
The public aspect of this affair, however,
shows that the newspaper rumors have
had all the truth that newspaper rumOrs
ever have in regard 10 the relations be-
tween this committee of the House and
the President Of the United States, and il
is shown very clearly that the committee
has his directions TO consent to suf-
ficient tax upon sugar in consideration of
the fact that coal and iron ore shall be
brought here free. In other words, in the
great contest between the trust which
manufactures the sugar Of this country
and which i a home corporation and the
great corporation which is 10 exploit the
mines Of Nova Scotia and enrich by $40.
0O0,OO0 the sci Of men who are engaged
in that enterprise, the President and
committee of this House take the side of
the Boston corporation. Which is best,
let them decide. Which is the most satis-
factory TO the people, let the country de
eide. II is a matter that does not concern
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