The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-02
OPPOSED TO CHANGE.
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND WANTS THE
TARIFF BILL LET ALONE.

TARIFF BILL Ii ALONE.
G. S. Fairchild' 3 vlews-Thlnks the Present
Law Should Receive Further Trial-sen.
ator Carter Talks Tariff.
The impression is spread from Wash
ingston that the programme of the Ad.
ministration will be to discourage the
passage of the Dingley bill at the com
ing session of Congress. The main
reason for this position of President
Cleveland is said to be that the Wilson
German bill has not yet been given a
fair trial. The policy of Mr.. Cleve-
land as far as it can be gathered from
the views of men believed to be in
sympathy with him, will be to stave
oil all kinds of legislation this winter,
except the appropriation bills, and let
Major Mckinley wrestle with tine
vexed questions OF tariff and finauce.
This was the plan pursued by Presi.
dent Harrison just before Mr.. Cleve-
land was inaugurated the second time,
so the latter's friends say, and there is
therefore good precedent for such a
course of action. Besides this, Mr..
Cleveland does not want to be forced
into the position where he will have to
veto the Dingley bill, and hence he
will use his influence in obstructing
its passage.
It is well known that the friends of
the Administration in this city are de.
cidedly averse to any legislation this
winter except the appropriation bills.
Their views on the subject are best ex-
pressed by Charles S. Fairchild, Sec
retary of the Treasury in Mr.. Cleve
lands first administration.
IL think it would be better for Con-
gress to wait and see how we come out
next summer before attempting to
pass any tariff legislation this winter"
said Mr.. Fairchild. 1--WE can much
better get along with our present in
come than have the business world
kept in state of suspense and uncer-
tainty by tariff f-tinkering at either the
short session or a special session for
that purpose.
"The calling of an extra session would
be a serious blow to the business world,
and would be very grave mistake for
Major Mckinley to make.
''Besides this, I think that it would
be foolish for Congress to pass the
Dingley bill. The Government is not
so bad off as many people imagine.
We have plenty of money in the
Treasury-enough at least to keep the
Government running all through next
summer. There is no need of being so
precipitate in such an important mat
ter. And, besides, the business world
certainly needs a chance to recuperate
and recover from the drastic depres.
sion of the past few years.
1.-The returning prosperity will very
much increase the Governments rev.
enue. The Custom House receipts
will certainly show improvement in
the coming months. And the Gov
ernment's revenues cannot fail to be
affected by the industrial
revival on all sides.
"There is nothing to fear from
Treasury raid just now. We have
gold galore. Indeed, the chances are
that we shall get more gold within the
next few months.
What should concern Congress
more than anything else, is how to cut
down the governments expenses. To
increase the revenues would only be
to invite more extravaganza. The ma
TONS finances should be administered
with as much care and economy as
those of a private corporation. Con
gress is becoming more spendthrlft
every year. The question to my mind
is not how to increase the income of
the government, but how to retrench
and reform our extravagant methods
of carrying on the government.
1T is in view of this condition fat
fairs that I think it would be unwise
to pass the Dingley bill at the present
short session of Congress, and am
glad to see that there is little prospect
of it being done.
"If now special session can can be
avoided the business world will have
chance to rest and recuperate, and
next winter we shall be able to- see
more clearly than at present exactly
what legislation we need"
It will thus be seen that ex .Secreta-
ry Fairchild favors a "let alone" plan.
Just how far Mr.. Fairchiid echoes Mr..
Cleveland's views is not known, but
there are good grounds for believing
that many of the sound money Demo
Gratis in the Senate entertain prrctical-
ly the same opinion as that advanced
by the ex. Secretary of the Treasury.
Senator Thomas Carter of Montana
is at the Holland House. He is free
silver Republican. but he heartily sup.
ported Major Mckinley for President.
1t is we'll known fact that he does
not believe in trying to obstruct tariff
measures because he cannot get free
silver. He was among the first to de.
cry the dog in the manger policy of
some ultra free silver Republicans.
When a Commercial Advertiser re-
porter saw him today he was walking
down Fifth avenue with Robert P.
Porter and other Republicans. In an
swer to a question he said:
81 would no more attempt to locate
the grave of Moses than to say what the
of the Republicans in the
Senate will be. do not believe any
one can say what it will be. From all
know, no programme has been ar
evil the free silver Republicans
work with the other Republicans