New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-15
THE JEADERS HAVE A SET-TO
,,,v AND HILL CROSS SWORDS IN
DEBATE.

,,,r, c,,xrrssEs TIE FAILURE OF THE
,,,,r ,s 4 REvENuE-PRoDuCING MEASURE
.,.n APPEALS FOR REPUBLICAN HELP-THE
..rv.yoRK SENATOR'S SARCASTIC REPLY
fry rrLEoRAru TO THE 1RIpuNE.l
.S,retop. Jan. lathe violent and deep
80 factional antagonisms which make any
s'" - Democratic agreement on financial or
Hop. legislation the most transparent mock
Gu - dramatically exploited this afternoon
cry senate when Mr.. Hill and Mr.. German
Ill w svords for the first time since the
c'V's. .n,b,lng OF Congress. If anything was
"a 10 emphasize the hopeessness Of the
hee '.,ons among the majority leaders in Con-
oN ,oday's debate furnished the amplest
.ost decisive proof that the Democratic
anu .asrs have virtually agreed to disagree and
h'"" nm all expectation OF doing anything at
e' ssssion T. tighten the rapidly accumulat-
'". embarrassments Of the Treasury. Their
sa,s common concern seems now to be to
Zen the burden OF remedial legislation Sc
.r,s,v upon the shoulders Of the incoming Con-
-. Mr. German. the recognized leader Of the
nsr,ocratic party in the Senate. and Mr.. Hill.
.,o most daring and ambitious aspirant who
s,s,utes this place. were both forced by the
.x,eencies Of to-day's discussion to avow their
,osnective plans and expectations for the cur
-snt session. and both in the intervals OF par
t,san and personal recrimnation went upon
rscord as neither suggesting nor anticipating
,.s,sIatior Of any character calculated to re-
usye the Treasury from impending bankruptcy.
t, Mr. German. in the course Of an able and can
dd yindicaton OF his course last summer In
standing out for higher duties and larger reve-
rues than were provided for In the Wilson Tarin
hill confessed absolutely the failure OF the pres
ont tariff law as a revenue-producing measure
and declared that In spite of the Senate's In
creases Of duties the impending deficit for this
year would exceed the appalling sum Of slOo,-
ran 900 while for the next fiscal year an even
greater deficiency was threatened. Yet the only
remedy he could propose in this emergency was
the prompt Iassage OF the appropriation neces-
eary for the execution Of the income tax section
Of the present law. with request 10 the he-
publican side to suggest some scheme Tor re-
nlenishing the public revenues which he. as
eadcr II the majority. would guarantee should
be enacted into legislation.
Senator Hill. while sneering at Mr.. German
nrogramme as an abject and piteous appeal to
charity. showed himself equally par
rem Of suggestions for the relief OF the treasury
Though dismissing the recent currency sche'hes
devised by the majority members or the finance
Committee with contemptuous sarcasm he was
s,ll unable when pushed to the wall, 10 produce
a legislative panacea OF his own. and he sue
Ceeded IN SIueLClDe tHt
acter O. his attempted leadership oniy D! aNaIi-
ins himself Of the convenient preteXt that no
remedial legislation Of any sort was worth at
tempting at this session while the rules oi '"e
Senate remained unamendod =, .
Mr. Hill and Mr.. German. IT was only 100
yjdent were far more deeply concerned III
heir public utterances in defending their own
asst records and discomfitinG critics WITHIN !he
anks of their own party than in clearing 'ne
way for the passage of any measure whlcn s.ia,
ven In some slight degree forestaIl praCt'1ai
suspension Of public credit Mr.. German, ny
publicly emphasizing the failure or the Iesisia
ion against which he protested last SUNNI
nd throwing the blame for the wreck OF 'he
revenues on the President anu
Professor Wilson seemed to think himsen re-
eved of all responsibility 10 repair 'he IN
uries inflicted by their folly. ON the olhei
and. Mr. HILL falling back on his own re Cn.
Z opposition to the passage OF the W1soh.uoi
IN hin in the Senate seemed delighted 10 De
HE N yindicate his guerilla attitude OF last
vrr,er et the expense both of Mr. German
nd Mr. Cleveland. Neither spokesma"
&c nrevafling sentiment on the majority siue
. the chamber showed the least incnnat'ol,
= commit the party TO positive ieelsiauo" VI
ny sort and in this signifcant Iea'uIe -,
ay.s Interesting and highly personal uiscusS ,or
%. he found the key TO the present oeWoi
a. s,tuation In Congress-a situation IN winch
!, regard for the public interest Is s"aI'o"e1
- IN personal and factional contentious anu
y, an;mosities and chickering's or the past arr
. far greater moment than the most vi s sr,
nd threatening problems or the presen., g.
,i.,ooi incapacity Of the ruling party IN N0I-
na hos long been known. 1t has never pc
ore nerhaps been so frankly seh-cohies''u'