Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-03-19
WITH RAPlDITY
Will the Tariff Bill Be Con.
sidered in Congress.
Mckinley Listens Patiently to Call.
ers But Acts Quickly.
Matters Of Interest from the Capital Of This
Great Nation.

ident McKinley's mill, but the Republican
leaders in the house are determined that
the tariff bill shall move with model rapid
ity. They have adopted a programme
which gives considerably less than two
weeks consideration to the new tax law,
and they hope to send the bill to the senate
before the end of this month. II they sue
coed in this-and there is no doubt that
they WILT will be one of the quickest
achievements of the sort on record. Inc
Republicans claim there is no need OF lon
ger debate Their argument Is that the
country understands the tariff question SO
we'll now that q prolonged discussion would
be simply a waste of time.
Speaker Reeds Nerve.
OF course the Democrats do not agree
with this idea. They aver that the new
tariff bill is a very important measure;
that it affects favorably or unfavorably all
the industries in the country; that the
rights of consumers, as usual in the franz
ing of tariff measure, have been sacrificed
to the demands of the manufacturers.
They want fair opportunity to discuss
the bill before it passes. They know the
Republicans have the power to pass it any
time they say the word, but they want to
go on record with their objections to its de-
tails. The Democratic leaders are making
a powerful protest against what they call
the Republican plan of railroading the bill
through in double quick order, but their
protest will do no good. Mr.. Reed is again
in the saddle, and he intends to ride at q
stiff gait. He is supported by his party.
Mr. Reed has shown what his nerve is ca
pable of doing even when he is not sup
ported by all his fellow Republican men,
bers. He shut down upon appropriations
even when half the Republicans in the
house were demanding that the gates be
opened to them. The Democrats do not ex-
pect any mercy now that the big speaker
has the cordial cooperation of the Repub-
lican leaders in both house and senate.
1t is easy enough to pass the tariff
through the house. It is in the senate that
the rub will come. In order to get this
measure promptly through the senate the
Republicans will have to play the shrewd-
est sort of politics. President Mckinley is
looked to for good deal of the capital in
this endeavor. His policy of going slow
in the distribution Of the offices is already
seen to be a strong leverage in behalf Of
the tariff. Not only are the Republican
senators kept on the anxious seat concern
ing appointments, but the Populists, the
silver men, even the Democrats, all have
things which they want at the White
House. There are men they want held in
office little longer, men they want named
for nonpolitical places, orders concerning
lands and railroads and all sorts of things
which their constituents look to them to
attend to. 1t is a remarkable fact that a
greater number of Democratic senators are
~,rf,> %<,x IL:
the recent administration. Some of the
most prominent Democratic senator's who
refused to go to the White House at all
while Mr.. Cleveland was there, are now
occasional visitors at the executive man.
sion, and well treated visitors too.
The Old Exclusiyeness.
The truth is that there is different at
mOsphere about the famous old building
since Mr.. Mckinley came in. How long
it win last no one knows. But for the
present the official residence of the presi
dent is more like any other public office.
Indeed the freedom of movement there is
greater than it is at the state department
or the war department 1t is by no means
difficult task to get to see the president.
MIR. Cleveland was very exclusive. He
shut his doors, and his orders to his assist
ants were not to let any one in unless it
were case of absolute necessity Mr.,
Cleveland complained that he had no time
for work, and that if he were to give prom
er attention to his duties he must refuse
to see nine-tenths of the people who called.
The result was that callers were compelled
for the most part to transact their bust
ness with the private secretary
The average American citizen does not
like this He wants to do business at head
quarters. If he cannot see the boss, he
won't play. l have seen hundreds of men.
important and influential men, too, leave
the office of Private Secretary Thurber an
CRY because they could not obtain an inter-
view with the president. 1t must be said
to Mr.. Cleveland's credit that he did not
know of good many of these cases. Men
came and went without his knowledge.
President Mckinley tries to see every one
that calls. When the important visitors are
attended to, the door to the presidents of
lice Is thrown open, and dozen or 20 or
moro people are admitted together. A lit
tie experience has shown that this is the
quickest way to dispose of callers.
Artful and Pretty.
President McKinley's manner in these
catch as catch can interviews is certainly
admirable. He is on his feet all the time.
He moves about from one to the other l
watched him for some time the other day.
and I can truthfnlly say have not seen
anything as artful and pretty in long
time. The chief magistrate contriyed not
to let any of the callers lead him off into a
torner, knowing very well that the thicker
he crowd the shorter the conversation. In
every instance the interviews took place
within earshot of several other visitors
certainly very discouraging circumstance
to persons inclined to grow insistent, con-
hdential and explanatory. The president
listened with good deal of patience, but
without much sacrifice of time. He stands
close up to his caller, looks the man in the
eye, grasps the point quickly and in 80
cases out of 100 says in his bland way:
Have you been to the department vet?
Nor Well, take my advice and get your
papers in there. We can do nothing till
you have seen the secretary. If you want
to do SO, you may leave your papers here,
and we will send them to the department
Tor you. But it will be better for YOU to
see the secretary yourself. .
And If the papers are left in President
Mckinley's hands he pulls ont his lead