The Press., 1896-11-26
Washington Letter.
Washington, Nov. 28d, 1896

President vs. president-elect promise to be one of the most important features of the short session of Congress. The in- fluence of the two men will be squarely pitted against each other in the question of whether this congress shall attempt to legislate for the increase of the revenues of the government. President Mckinley has already given his friends to under stand that he doesn't wish the Dtngley tariff bill to be passed at this session and that he would prefer that the whole matter should be left for the new con- gress It is known that President Cleve- land will, in his annual message urge that the revenue be increased by amend ing the internal revenue laws, and that he is not without hope that his recomend- ations will be favorably acted upon, in part at least. Thus we will have the president trying to get internal revenue legislation and the president-elect try ing to prevent either that or tariff 1egis- lation at the short session. Even II President Cleveland had the solid sup port of his party, instead of that of only half dozen senators and few represen- lives, he would have the poorest chance to succeed, because whatever their per sonal opinions may be, the republicans all wish to be on the side of the incoming president in order to get as much patron age for their constituents as possible. This isn't so much politics as 1t is human nature.
 There Is no mistaking the bitterness the silver democrats feel. towards Presi- dent Cleveland they speak it right out, and charge him with destroying the party. The bitterness extends to the gold democratic senators. Senator Morgan of Ala, when asked whether the gold demo- cratic senators would be invited to take part in democratic caucuses when the senate meets, replied promptly and deci- dely: "No; not at least without repent ance, and neither of them has shown evi- dences of that. These gentlemen will not wish to associate with men whom they have denounced as anarchists, traitors and dishonest people," .,.....-
 Representative Howard, of Ala, who is close friend of Tom Watson, says; 'tThere will be no more fusion of popu- lists and democrats to aid democratic presidential candidates. The free silver men will have to come to the populist party, which is the party of the people, and which should have led the last fight. It will lead the next fight" MT. Howard says he doesn't believe the populist sena- tols will obstruct tariff legislation, and that personally he wishes the republicans to try high tariff in combination with the gold standard and let the people see just how 1t will work.
 According. to MT. W burlington c. Ford, chief of the, bureau of statistics Of the treasury department, who is supposed to be an expert on everything pertaining to the tariff, the much talked about Dingley tariff bill which was passed by the house at the last session as an emergency measure, intended to supply the deficit in government receipts and which was. held up in the senate by the refusal of six silver republican senators to support it, would not supply money enough to make up the deficit even if it became a law. The people who do not want any sort of temporary tariff legislation are using the figures of MT. Ford as an argument against taking tip the Dtngley bill at this session, because an extra session for the general revisions of the tariff bill, in their opinion is necessary, no matter what the fate of the Dingley bill. MT. Ford says he feels very certain that the Dingley bill would not add over $15 1000, ,0OO year to | our revenue. If his figures were known | to be correct the Dingley bill would not be seriously considered by anybody, as the only excuse for it's being was that it | would wipe out the deficit, but there are other experts who claim that MT. Ford is way of, and that the bill would add more than $35, 100000 year to Uncle -Sam's income. That's just the reason why ex- pert testimony is not more convincing.
 Those who are most anxious for the admission of the territories to statehood admit that they do not expect any favor able legislation at the short session of congress, and that their hopes are not bright of action by the f1fty-f1fth congress. Ex-U. $. Marshal Nix, of Oklahoma, who Is now in Washington, stated the cause which keeps that territory as we'll as Arizona and New Mexico out of the Union when he said: "As long as free silver isl as popular as it is now Oklahoma, I fear our chances for statehood are very slim, for l appreciate the fact that more ad- E voeates of IS to are not wanted in thel senate. If Oklahoma was state now there wouldn't be 8 ghost of chance for gold standard man to be elected sena- tor"