The record-union., 1894-07-20
THE NEWS IN THE SENATE.
Senators Very Guarded In Their Talk
ON the Presidents Letter.


on the Presidents Letter.
WASHINGTON, July 19.-The news of
the reading of the Presidents letter was
not long being transmitted from the
House to the Senate. Mr.. Wilson had
kept the secret of his possession of the
letter well guarded, and it produced de-
cided sensation. Information as to the
contents of the document was eagerly
sought on both sides of the chamber. A
copy was furnished the Associated Press
and it was in great demand. 1t was taken
to the Democratic cloak-room and read in
turn by groups of Senators of four or
five, one of them generally reading ii
aloud to the others, aud in one instance
two of them looking over the shoulders
and reading with the Senator holding 1t.
After the Senators became familiar with
it's contents they again gathered in
groups to discuss the document, both
the policy of the President in writing it.
So intense and general was the interest
that for two or three hours very little at
tention was paid to routine proceedings
on the floor of the Senate While no Sem
ator hesitated to express his views pri-
vately, the Democratic Senators were
10th to submit TO interviews Tor publica-
a
unusual, and because of their action as
body in opposition to the position taken
by the President they could not give pub
licity to their opinions, whatever they
might be.
Republican Senators were at first in
clined 10 express themselves very freely
on the policy OF the letter, but when they
discovered, as they soon did, that their
Democratic colleagues were inclined to
remain silent, they changed their policy
as if by common consent, and announced,
when spoken to upon the subject, that
they preferred the Democrats. should do
the talking, declaring it was time for
Republicans to be silent.
The most common expression among
Senators was that the writing of such
letter was very extraordinary" and in
many instances, where the speaker was
sure of not being quoted, stronger words
were used. These expressions were heard
with slight variations on both the Demo-
cratic and Republican side of the cham
ber.
The proceedings in the Senate to-mor-
row are expected to be of unusual inter-
est. 1t is hardly probable that many of
the Senators will express any personal
resentment, but there are aXpec.eI to be
some very emphatic declarations against
change of front by the Senate, es-
pecially from the conservative Senator'S,
who are regarded as responsible for the
most pronounced increases made in the
bill. Lit was understood before the letter
made its appearance that several of the
Senators, including AIessrs. German,
Smith and Brice, had announced pur-
pose to state to the Senate that only the
Senate bill could pass, and to say in Civ
ing their reasons for this view that the
bill had been the result of most careful
deliberation on the part of the members
T. 1. g \ -
the only bill that could pass when the
Jones amendments had been arranged in
the caucus, and then an attempt to change
it materially at this late day would prove
there had been no modification of senti-
ment since that time.
Senator Hill has announced an inten-
tion to take advantage of the Presidents
position and influence to make another
effort to secure a recession by the Senate
from its amendments for duty on coal
and iron, and he is said to believe that he
would double the vote which his propo
sition received when first advanced.
The Republican Steering Committee
has held meeting and the general opin-
ion was expressed that it was good policy
to allow the Democrats to do most of the
talking on the subject.
On the House side the question as to
whether the tariff situation had been
simplifed or further complicated by the
Presidents letter was the subject of much
speculation, after the stirring proceed
ings of the day. Members on both sides
Of the cham ber agreed that it would make
q very profound impression on the situa-
fion, but there was q disposition to wait
until its effects on the Senate has been
seen before prophesying the result it
might accomplish.
The latter, together with Mr.. Wilson's
speech, constituted declaration of pol
icy which was very satisfactory to the
rovenue-reform element in the House.
1t was construed To mean that the House
would never yield its principle OF free
raw materials, and in this it had the
strong support and influence of the press.
AS to the effect on the latter, the sugar
conflict was wide in its diversions. The
Louisiana members professed to be well
pleased with the Presidents letter, and
said that 1t clearly recognized and ap-
proved the policy of raising revenue
from sugar. On the other hand. those
members who have most persistently
urged the policy of free sugar expressed
apprehension over the letter. They said
il seemed to make deadlock certain.
From the Republican standpoint, the
general view was expressed by Repre-
sentative Hopkins of Illinois, a Republi-
can member of the Ways and Means
Committee. president Cleveland's let
eer is without precedent in the history of
the country" said he. The Queen of
England, even the Georges. in their most
arbitrary days, would not have dared to
have expressed such views to a legislative
branch of the Government