The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-11-25

revenue for the support of the govern
ment and furnish reasonable protection
to domestic industries There is an APP
prehension that if the Dingley bill passes
and becomes a law, that viii be the end
Of all tariff legislation with the certainty
that it would not be followed with such
a revival of business as would be salts
factory TO the people.
Something must be done, and that
something il such legislation as will I'M
sure a full Treasury and prosperous
people. This accomplished we have
heard the last of the silver question
Without it, the contest of 1896 was but
skirmish compared with the battle to
come in 1900"
SENATOR LODGE CONSIDERS
TWO POINTS.
Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts,, who
has Just returned to Washington for the
winter, said yesterday, when asked what
Congress would do at the coming session
in regard to tariff legislation:
1.-TWO points are to be considered. First,
What can be done. and second what it
would be wise to attempt The most inn
portant questions are whether there arc
votes enough in the Senate to pass the
whether there will be time to do it il we
have the votes. At the last session we
did not have votes enough TO take the
bill up. Whether we could get enough
votes now for that purpose l do not
know, and l do not think any one can tell
until Congress comes together.
"As to the second point, what it would
be wise to attempt, that is something
upon which l should not care to speak
until the Republicans in Congress have
had an opportunity to meet and consult
with each other and until it is also
known what the views and wishes of the
next President may be in regard to the
policy to be pursued by the party in Con-
gress this winter.
MIGHT CAUSE APPROPRIATION
BILLS TO FAIL.
Every one, of course, is most anxious
to have the tariff disposed of and the
government supplied with sufficient rev
enue at the earliest possible moment. But
in all the suggestions that / have seen in 4
regard to the immediate passage of the
Dinley bill every one has said that it
ought to be amended or modified. There
can be no question that it ought to be
amended in many respects before, under
present conditions, it is enacted. When
the bill is once opened to amendment,
however, that means that before the work
is done we should have perfected the
measure and made not temporary tar
iff, but one which would stand-which
is precisely what the country wants.
This, however, is a work of time, and
it must be remembered that this is the
short session and there will be only a
little over ten working weeks in the ses-
sion. During that period we must pass
thirteen appropriation bills, which will
be about as much as can be done if no
other legislation is undertaken. Ii we
should undertake to pass a tariff bill,
which would inevitably bring amend
ments and cause a debate, both in the
House and Senate, some OF the appropria-
ton bills would be sure to fail, thus fore
ing an extra session. These are some
of the practical difficulties TO be consid-
cred; but after Congress meets we shall
be able to tell better what the conditions
are and what is the best course to be pur-
sued.
PROBABLE ATTITUDE OF THE
DEMOCRATS.
Senator Pugh was found yesterday at
his home on r street, resting from his
return journey. THE tariff and silver
questions" said the Senator, when asked
as to the probable legislation this winter.
will probably continue to absorb the at
tention of the country, as 1T has done in
the past / anticipate quite a variety of
opinion i'll the two houses and in both
parties on the general question Of tariff
and currency. AS to any specific legisla-
ton, it is still more difficult even to spec
ulate upon the probable action Of the ses-
sion. ANY special legislation for tempo
rary purposes will be postponed on ac-
count of the necessity of dealing with the
general subjects in the next Congress.
The Republicans are not likely to at
tempt any legislation for pressing pur
poses, as that will necessarily interfere
with the general revision OF the tariff, to
which they are pledged They have really
made no promise to do anything but to
maintain the gold standard. AS this is
not likely to be done except by retiring
the greenbacks or by bond issues to OBJ
tain gold, / do not anticipate that the
Republicans will try either OF these ex-
periments, as they are both very unpopu
lar. There will be skillful engineering to
maintain the gold reserve, and the future
only will determine what will be the sue
cess of this undertaking. As for the
Democrats, do not anticipate any diyis-
ion on the subject Of tariff. 1t may be
considered advisable to aid in the con-
sideration OF the Dingley bill, as this
would stand in the way of the general
revision which Republican voters expect.
Democrats do not want revision of the
tariff, and our next point will be to EN-
barrass and prevent it,
JONES FAVORS BEER AND IN
COME TAX.
Senator James X. Jones, of Arkansas,
the chairman Of the Democratic National
Committee, returned to the city yester-
day for the Congressional session. The
Senator appeared to be in his usual good
health. In his talks the Senator express
ed the opinion that it was not at all like
ly that the Dingley revenue bill, passed
nv the House at the last session, would