The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-05
ARE TALKING.
Silver Republicans on the
Coming Session.
Very Little Legislation Is Ex-
pected by Them.
PETER Fav0rs Free Trade II Coun-
try Has Gold Standard.

Washington, Dec. g. There are now
quite a number OF senators who walked
cut OF the Republican national conven-
ton In this city. Senators Cannon. Du-
bois and Pettigrew are here, and met at
the capital yesterday. but discussed mat
ters only in a very general way. There
has been some speculation as TO whether
these former Republican senators would
attend future Republican caucuses One
of them, when questioned, said that II
would be time enough for him TO decide
when he was invited TO caucus. and
called attention to the fact that notices
are always served on Republican sem
ators that a caucus Is to be held THE
burden OF determining our standing In
the party rests with those who call the
caucus" he said. IF we are asked to
participate we will then decide what to
do" Another sena.or said that he would
not attend any caucus at present, and
would await developments.
Senator Teller Of Colorado and Sem
ator Mantle Of Montana have notyet ar
rived. and 1t is quite probable there Will
he no concerted action on the part OF
the silver men until the arrival or the
former. The general impression OF the
silver senators Is that no important legis-
lation can be passed at this session.
There is also an impression that the Re-
publicans and silver men would prefer
| that nothing be bleught TO an issue until
| after the various senatorial elections in
| the western states, when the complexion
| of the silver and independent forces in
| the next senate would be more definitely
aScertained.
Senator Pettigrew, in an interview,
| said he did not consider the prospects
| FOR tariff legislation at the approaching
session very good, and added that he was
| protectionist, and opposed TO obstruc-
ton. Il would like to see the Repubh-
cans given all the protection they want,
he said. 'in order that the country might
discover that it is not the want of pro-
| lection which is at fault in the present
| condition of affairs"
| Senator Baker Of Kansas also thinks
that the prospect for the passage of the
| Dingley bill is very meagre. and is
| strongly opposed to 1t. He expressed
the opinion that the question Of an
| extra session of congress next spring
would depend largely upon the result of
| the senatorial elections this winter. IF
| II becomes clear as the result of these
| elections, that the Republicans would
have a majority of the senate favorable
to the passage of a protective bill it
| would be worth while to call special
| session, but otherwise 1t appears TO me
that it would be useless experiment.
Senator PETER yesterday denied the re-
port telegraphed from Topeka that he
had entered into an agreement in re-
gard to the tariff in connection with his
campaign for reelection. THE dispatch
Is wholly untrue" he said, and con-
tinued; II have no managers anywhere.
and have not made or promised any
agreements relating to my reelection.
Next weeks edition OF the Topeka Ad-
vocate will contain an article giving my
tariff views. They are, in brief, these:
Il never favored high duties on any
article except luxuries, and have long
advocated free sugar, salt, lumber and
ccal. / would levy high duties on all
articles used exclusively by the rich and
fastidious, and this not for protection,
but for revenue. As TO articles in uni
versal use among the poorer classes, they
ought to be admitted free Of duty. What
our farmers sell is sold at prices reg
ulated in foreign markets, and our work
ing people are in open competition on
their own ground with the foreign
laborer. If we have to work and sell in
competition with foreign labor and for
eign products, let us buy at foreign
prices. We can raise our revenues easily
and far more justly than we are now
doing, through graduated tax on large
landed estates and incomes.
II would reduce, rather than increase
present tariff rates. An additional ta,
of 81 barrel on beer will give us all tn,
revenue we need, and its collection viii
not add a farthing to the national ex
penses. Besides that, nobody would fee
: II.
Changing conditions have wrough
; corresponding charges In my tariff views
. And If we are TO permanently maintain
: a single gold standard. l shall favo
absolute free trade, except as TO articles
used only by the wealthy and the profit
? gate"