Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-11
Republicans Must Not Let the Tariff
Bill Die in Committee.
LET THE SENATORS GO On RECORD
MIR. Teller's Course a Surprise and
lnexplicable.
FEELING ON TIE LOAN

Republican Senators are being advised not
TO permit the emergency tariff bill to die in
committee, or even to remain there much
longer. An entirely open policy about the
measure viii, they are being told, prove to
sEe the best policy. The divisions in the
party are in a general way known. Some
Senators want the measure to carry more
revenue, and other Senators practically de-
clare for no revenue at all by insisting that
a. free coinage rider shall go on the bill. The
only way by which the exact situation can
be made matter of record is to bring the
hill to vote in the open Senate. Nothing,
then, will be left to rumor, or conjecture,
or mere threat. Every Senator will be
obliged to declare himself, and shoulder re-
sponsibility for his own actions. The coun-
try, it is Insisted, wants vote, and will not
be content with less.
Mr.. Teller's Course n Surprise.
Mr.. Tellers course is not only a surprise
but it is inexplicable. Those who differ with
y. him are unable to see what he can hope to
gain by it. He is one of the sincerest, as he
is one Of the ablest friends of silver 1t is
conceded that ne has right to show to the
country that free coinage has majority
vote in the Senate. But that is to be done
on the substitute for the bond bill now under
discussion A silver vote comes appropri-
Rtely on that measure. But why, except for
mere purposes of obstruction, force another
vote on the same proposition on the emer-
gency tariff bill? Can mere obstruction be
made TO serve the cause of silver? Mr..
Teller, 1t is pointed out, must treat with
his own party on this subject, or fight it.
, If hn is to treat with it, he is moving in
unpromising way: if to fight it, he ought to
leave it and deliver his blows from the
outside.
No Blunder In Accepting the Com
mfttecs.
Did the republicans blunde~ in accepting
the committees of the Senate? This ques-
ticn IS row frequently heard. The more
experienced leaders of the party think not.
They have Nd fear of consequences If only
the courage exhibited in The assuming of
the initiative is kept up. The country, they
assert, cannot be n,isle1 about any phase
of the matter if every step taken is calcu-
lated To bring everybody out into the open.
The forty-two republican votes are not suf-
fcient of themselves to pass any measure,
and IL there are particular measures upon
sshich they cannot be united, let the fact
appear of record
Legislation on republican lines was not
guaranteed when the committees were re-
organized, but merely the fact proclaimed
that as the republicans had plurality vote
they were willing to take the lead unlar
the accepted American construction of
party responsibility. Em1arrassments may
grow out of demonstrated helplessness
here and there. but greater ones would
have followed an exhibition of a want of
courage. Helplessness may be forgiven, but
towardice never.
viii Divide the Loan.
The feeling in certain republican circles
about the new loan is that the administra-
tion will divide It between the syndicate and
the people 1t is expected that there will be,
even under the existing disbursements, a
popular response for thirty millions or more
If the bonds That response, or whatever it
nay be- can be accepted, and the remainder
OF the bonds awarded to the syndicate. The
suggestion that the syndicate will bid for all
or none is not seriously regarded. The syn
dicate is composed of long-headed bankers
who know the value of half loaf, or two
thirds of a loaf; and, while they are not
starving, they are always ready for bread.
There will be pretty big money" in the
handling of sixty or seventy millions of the
lcan and they will be far from refusing it,
Meanwhile the sentiment calling for a popu-
lar loan will have been responded to by the
acceptance of the bids of that kind received