Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-07-27
Washington Notes.

letter from President Cleveland, IN
which he savagely attacked the Senate
Tor its attitude on the Tariff question, and
submitted that free raw mater ais was
vital issue. Wilson made speech in
which he severely criticized the Senate for
its surrender to Trusts, and the Demo
erats of the House, without discussion
sent the tariff bill back to the conferees
with instructions to its conferees to stand
firm against the amendments the Senate
had made upon it.
Cleveland, in his letter, says there must
be tax on sugar, but that coal and iron
must be free
The Sugar Trust Investigating Commit
tee decided to resume its inquiries, and
will summon two well known New York
brokers to testify.
On Friday, in the Senate, Hill moved
to recede from the Senate amendments
imposing duties on coal and iron ore, and
followed his motion with bitterly ssr-
castle attack on the Senate bill generally.
With regard to the Presidents letter to
Chairman Wilson, Mr.. Hill quoted those
portions referring to free raw materials,
and added:
approve every word that l have here
quoted. 1t is an honest and manly state
ment of tbs true attitude which the party
should assume in this crisis. / am not
required to defend the propriety or Wis
dom of the promulgation of this letter at
this particular time 1t may have been
indiscreet; it may operate as firebrand to
spread the flames of discord already kin
died among party friends honestly diff
fering, as I am disposed to concede, upon
questions of public and party policy. II
may widen the breach already existing In
this Senate, and in that view it may be
regarded as unfortunate and lll-sdvised'
1t was a time for diplomacy, ststeman-
ship and Cancellation, rather than recrimi-
nation. denunciation and arraignment.
But aside from the question of its mere
e1pidiency, am here to defend the Presi-
dents letter in 80 far as it demands that
the party shall not be led astray into the
violation of Democratic pledges and prin-
ciples.
The House of Representatives, fresh
from the people, which represents more
distinctly and peculiarly than we do the
taxing power of the people, repudistes
our bill, and Democratic President has
emphasized that reputation, and the con-
dition which confronts US is one OF ex-
treme embarrassment. Shall we retreat
or advanced Shall We surrender to the
House while we can do so honorably, or
shall we wait until we are driven to III.
Mr.. President, in the light of the letter
of the President Of the United States,
the House cannot honorably retreat. II
has no other alternate except to insist
upon its bill, wherein it provides for free
raw materials. The President cannot ap-
prove the Senate bill after what he has
said in this remarkable letter. He ar
rai9ns the Senate and intimates that the
en- nsctment Of the Senate bill means party
perfidy and party dishonor"
After Hills speech the Democratic lead
ers forced an adjournment OF the Senate
until Monday.
On Saturday the House, by two-thirds
vote and better, passed the resolution pro.
posing an amendment to the National
Constitution providing for the election OF
United States Senators by the direct vote
of the people.
There was no change in the tariff sitna
ton ar the Democrats were still at odds
with each other. Probably the most
graphic picture Of the situation ~as that
drawn by ex-Speaker Reed in the speech
in the House on another measure Refer
ring to the tariff deadlock, he said: "The
Lord has confOunded the Democratic
party. 1t reminds one of some of the
stories in Scripture history where the
angel interfcred especially. and set the
wicked by the ears set them to attacking
each other and pounding each others
faces, the best thing that any OF them
could pound on this earth"
Senator Harris in an interview said that
President Cleveland advised the passage
Of the Senate bill, even after it went to
conference.
In it's century Of existence the United
States senate never listened to more re-
markable speech nor witnessed q more re-
markable scene than it did on Aenday-oi-
this week Not Clay's denunciation OF
John Tyler, Douglas criticism OF james
Buchanan, Summers srraignment OF Gen.
Grant, nor Roscoe Conkling's assault on
HAYES and Garfield surpassed in scathing
bitterness of invectiye nor created deep
er impression than Arthur Pue Gormans
reply that day to Grover Cleveland's letter
charging "perfidy and dishonor" against
Democratic senators who had forced the
compromise bill.
These are superlatiyes, but the occasion
can only be described by superlatives.
The presidents was an extraordinary and
unprecedented attempt to influence legis-
lation and it was resented Monday IN an
extraordinary and impressive manner. As
on Friday last the talking was wholly
confined to the Democratic side. The Re-
publicans sat silent.
The burden of Germans attack on the
President was that he had been made per
fectly familiar with the difficulties which
surrounded the finance committee in its
efforts to formulate a bill which could
command votes enough to pass it, and that
he knew just what the senate proposed L"
do. Secretary Carlisle, who was himself
tariff reiormer and had the ear Of the Pres
ident constantly, knew what the senate
bill contained, and the daily press an
nOnnced without contradiction that the
president concurred with Mr. Carlisle in
indorslng the bill. Not only so, but two
of the Democratic leaders had consulted
with the President, knowing that the bill
would not pass without the hearty coop
GRAFTON of the executive, and what the
President said at the time gave him (Gur-
mani the right to make the statement he
did that the senate bill would receive the
Endorsement of Democratic house and a
Democratic President.
These declarations were corroborated by
the evidence Of other senators. Mr., Jones
had seen the president and Secretary Car
Isle and both had assured him that the
amended bill would be perfectly satisfac-
tory to them, the president adding: ~ am
willing to do or say anything to pass this
bill through Congress"
Tuesday, Hill again spoke in the Senate
advising German, Harris, et al 70 go
ahead in their own way, and do as he did
'keep away from the White House."
The oldest outcome Of this imbroglio
to the Washington public is to sec Hill
in the part OF Cleveland's champion. Al
though his championship il largely Pick
wickian, it has nevertheless had effect on
the situation. Aside from that Washing
ton enjoys the spectacle Of seeing Demo-
cratic senators assert that the President
has deceived them, while the Presidents
friends vociferously decla-e that these
same senator's attempted game of bunco
on them. And Washington enjoyment
of the situation is heightened and acceniu-
ated by the fact that each side seems to
prove its case.
The Democrats OF the senate on Tues
day decided 10 retire behind closed doors
for the purpose Of settling their differ
ences on the tariff ard trying to reach an
amicahle understanding. A program was
arranged for caucus, and accordingly at