The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-08
Declared to Be Colorless
and Lacking in Bold
Treatment.
Cleveland No Longer Assumes to
Advise Congress or Act
as a Dictator.
Some California Statesmen Declare
That the Presidents Effusion
Is Void of Surprises.

WASHINGTON, D.. c.. Dec. when
Congress convened to-day at noon the
Pacific Coast was we'll represented. Sem
ators Perkins, Stewart, Jones, Mitchell
and Wilson of Washington were in their
seats. Senator Mcbride of Oregon is con-
fined to his bed by sickness.
Senator White is yet at Los Angeles
and his colleagues are anxiously awaiting
his arrival, for it is feared the Pacific
roads refunding bill will be brought up in
the Senate before he can reach here.
In the House of Representatives the fol-
lowing California mem ers were in their
seats: Mcguire, Johnson, Barham, Hill
born and Loud. McLachlan will arrive
Wednesday, Bowers will be detained at
San Diego for week or ten days.
On Mr.. LIQUIDS desk was a beautiful
floral design, the gift of postal clerks, who
appreciate the service Mr.. Loud has en-
deavored to render them in his capacity
fees and Postroads.
In both the Senate and House the Presi-
dents message received but perfunctory
attention. This is always the case. Most
of the statesmen prefer to read the mes
sage in the evening papers.
Mr.. Cleveland's reference to the Cor
man Wilson act was amusing to those
members of the House who remember the
famous "perfdy" letter which the Presi-
dent wrote to Chairman Wilson and which
that gentleman read in the open House
after the passage of the bill.
Mr.. Cleveland rejects the idea that more
revenue is needed and falls back on his
former proposition to issue long term low
rate bonds with which TO retire the green
backs or the repeal of the law which now
compels the Secretary of the Treasury to
reissue the greenbacks. 1t is fair to as
sumo that Secretary Carlisle will elaborate
both these propositions in his report to
Congress. However, as the Republican
party will pay no attention to either sug-
gestion, but will proceed Gas socn as 1t
assumes power to provide the treasury
with sufficient revenue, these discussions
are superfluous.
Mr.. CIeveland's reference to his latest
order affecting the extension of the civil
service system to the consular service
must be read with caution. While under
his order the consular service is now under
civil service rules it must be remembered
that this has been done upon his execu-
tive order and not by the authority of the
Civil Service Commission, though of
course that body was in entire accord
with the step.
While, therefore, the incoming Secre-
tary of State may, if be wishes, follow the
policy inaugurated by Secretary Olney,
he is not legally bound to do so. But the
sweeping order OF May g. to winch the
President points with pride and by which
ne placed within the classified service
every Office in the executive departments,
cannot be rescinded except by an act of
Congress- and it is a fact that no order
extending the civil service in the depart
ments has ever been rescinded by act of
Congress.
Mr.. Cleveland's reference to the ineffi-
cheney of the antitrust laws will receive q
practical illustration during the next few
mon tbs, for it is announced that Attorney
General Harmon proposes, during the
short span of official life still left to him,
to make another attempt to proceed
against enc or more of the most offensive
OF these combinations.
Senator Perkins, when asked tonight
what he thought of the message. said that
although portions of it were disappointing,
on the whole he considered it conserva-
tive and wise state paper, such as might
be expected of Mr.. Cleveland.
He said, however, that his references to
the Cuban affair and other matters indi-
Gated rather a new departure on the part
of the President for while Mr. Cleveland
had heretofore been very obstinate in as
sorting his own views, and seemed to ar
rogate to himself all matters OF foreign
and domestic policy, he departed from
this course in the message delivered to-day
and seemed content to give Congress all
the information he had at hand and made
but few recommendations.
He construed Cleveland's reference to
the Pacific Coast roads as meaning that
while the Executive had refrained from
interfering with these railroads as here
tofore, because PROPOSITIONS for their set
Element were pending in Congress, he
gave notice in the message that unless the
matter was settled by January l the Ex-
ecutive, through the Department of JUS
tice. would take the Steps required by
law.
Senator Perkins said: ''Of course it
would be superhuous for me to tell The
CALL readers where I stand on the ques-
tion of the Pacific roads debts. /
have iterated and reiterated my views
on this question. The President said
said nothing about Hawaii. This was dis
appointing, but l will say to you that
do not favor annexation under conditions
now existing on the island. Our treaty of
tariff reciprocity has been one-sided
Hawaii has derived vastly more benefit
than we have.
81 cannot help but believe that the
President was right in advising the Repub-
licans to frame q conservative tariff in or
der to hold the sound-money Democrats. l
believe in moderate tariff bili-one suffi-
cient for revenue only. Yet ] must insist
that our California fruits. almonds, wal
nuts, quicksilver and other products of
our State be amply protected. l believe
in putting special duty of IL cents per
pound on sugar in place OF the ad valorem
duty of 40 per cent. The manufacture OF
beet sllpar in California PROMISES to he a