Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-05
T AR F F AND SILVE r
Democrats Seem to Be Amused at the
Senate Situation.
Mr.. Gorman's Remarkable Change
Mr. Dfngley's Bill on the Lines
of His Amendments.

He laughs best who laughs last At any
rate there is a widespread impression to
that effect.
Democratic Senators are said to be find
ing some amusement in the Senate situa-
ton. 1t tickles them to see the republican
tariff bill thrust back for another free coin
age bill. Mr.. German, Mr.. Smith, Mr..
Villas, Mr.. Hill, Mr.. Lindsay, all are quoted
as sharing in the mirth. They are thought
to have an eccentric sense of humor. They
are not free coinage men. The ink record
ing their votes against free coinage is
hardly dry. But they are willing TO use
free coinage bill in an effort to club a tariff
bill to death, regardless of all financial
records and considerations.
Startling Proposition.
The argument they advance is that the
tariff bill is drawn on most Objectionable
lines. and that the treasury does not, Or
soon will not, need more money from that
source. This, in the case of Mr.. German
and Mr.. Smith, is regarded as very start
ling proposition.
Objectionable lines? What were the lines
upon which Mr.. German drew all of the
amendments to the Wilson tariff bill and
carried them through the Senate by demo-
cratic Votes? Is protection any more dis
tinctly recognized in the Dingley emer-
gency bill than in the tariff law as it now
exists through the activity of the demo-
cratic Senators led by Mr.. German? Has
not Mr.. Dingley merely rounded out the
work begun by Mr.. German in the last
Congress? The Wilson bill as it passed the
House was rejected by Mr.. German on the
score that it did not provide money enough
for the support of the government. He added
% the bill until he thought it carried the
necessary amount, and then he passed it.
The Supreme Court eliminated the income
tax feature Of the bill, and that subtract
ed thirty millions per anrum from Mr.. Cor
mans work Mr.. Dingley, therefore, mere
ly supplies this deficiency. Is he not justi-
fled in doing by Mr.. Gorman's own per-
formance! Would Mr.. German have voted
to incorporate the income tax in the Wilson
bill if he had not thought the government.
would stand in need of the money it would
yield? How can he consistently, then, op-
pose bill which merely supplies what by
trying to supply himself he has confessed
to be necessary? And if he We're obliged to
choose between the Dingley bill and an in
come tax bill would he take the latter as
means of raising revenue?
Radical Change of Base.
The assertion that 10 more revenue is
needed is based upon the declaration of the
President and the Secretary Of the Treas
TRY. The same declarations were made
by those officials when it was first pro-
posed to increase the amount carried by
the original Wilson bill. Mr.. German, how
everything he proposed and carried amend
atory Of the Wilson bill was in open def
ance of them. He asserted that both the
President and Mr.. Carlisle were wrong,
and he still holds that ground. Why, then
does he rest so content On estimates from
those sources now when he rejected the
estimates of two years ago, and when the
subsequent events have justified his ac-
ton? In fact there is now presented the
very remarkable spectacle of the Presi-
dent and Mr.. Carlisle standing up for the
work of Mr.. German. which, when first
performed. they repudiated, and of Mr..
German accepting as prophets the two
officials whom as prophets he at that same
time as frankly held up to scorn.
The People Will Not he Confused.
The republicans are embarrassed. But
to no greater extent than the country al
large is. They have no fear that the
| question will become confused before the
people. Their stand is distinctly for the
proper support of the government A de-
| ficit exists; that the treasury is daily run
hing behind cannot be denied. The rem
edy seems to them as plain as day. They
have brought it forward. The Dingley bill
is drawn on protection lines. The country
in 1894, and again in 1885, voted overwhelm.
ingly for protection. 1t is for the opposi.
ton, therefore, to shoulder the RESPONSE
policy Of starving the government when
the need Of more money stands fully re-
vealed.
VIII Not Advance Silver.
The cause of silver cannot be advanced
by this move. The silver forces will not
unite on any such line. Divisions already
appear. The suggestion is advanced, in
deed, that divisions in some silver quarters
are desired. Mr.. Vest is the author of the
present complication. He is silverite, but
before and atove that a democrat. Silver
as the overshadowing issue would prove
very injurious to the democracy. He does
rot want TIE tariff to disappear. He is
| determined that ii he can prevent it the
tariff issue shall not disappear Silver
yes; but silver at the expense of the dem
ocratic organization, no. And so the play
is politics now, and politics on the old lines