New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-22
PROSPECTS OF FINANCIAL LEGISLATION

The election Of Mr. Kyle by Republican votes
In South Dakota, and the deadlock In Oregon,
NAV have important consequences. There are
forty-two Republicans who will sit in the Senate
after March f. not reckoning Mr.. Kyle as one. or
Mr. Jones. of Nevada. According TO dispatches
Mr.. KYLE has been elected under pledge to sup
port the Administration and its measures, except
as TO silver and not TO allow that issue to prevent
the success of protective tariff bill. Kentucky
should have a Republican Senator by appoint
ment or by election at the extra session or the
LAgislature Oregon has failed to elect thus far,
and unless the expulsion of absent members on
Saturday results in breaking the deadlock it is
possible that the Legislature may be adjourned
without action, leaving the Governor power to
appoint after March 4. If the seats from Oregon
and Kentucky should be filled in this way the
Republicans would have, with the aid of Mr.
KYLE exactly half full Senate and such meas
ures as he would support could be passed with
the casting vote of Vice-President Hobart.
But the Senate will not be full until Florida has
elected Democrat in place of Mr.. Call, and the
Legislature will not meet until April, so that
some days after March - there may be va
cancy on the Democratic side. Prior TO APRIL
then, il the Kentucky and Oregon seats should he
filled, as above supposed, Mr.. Hobarts vote Will
not be needed on any measure But it Is Also TO
be remembered that Senator Jones, of Nevada,
with two or three others, among whom Mr.. Het-
field. of Idaho has been mentioned, are so Ear IN
accord with Republican principles that they are
expected to support Republican tariff. In that
event there would be no need of filling the
vacancies above mentioned or Of calling npon the
aid of Sound Money Democrats, four in number,
or upon Mr. McEnery, Of Louisiana, who is an
avowed protectionst.
As there is therefore little reason to doubt that
a sufficient majority will be found for the pas
sage of protective tariff bill, it seems extremely
important that those prepared to support such
measure should also be prepared to act together
In the organization of the Senate for that pur-
pose and in passing n brief bill tending to pre-
vent excessive imports in anticipation OF coming
duties The first thing needful is to forlify the
Treasury by an adequate revenue, but impoTta-
tons into the warehouses, the goods there to re-
main until after the new tariff had been hnally
enacted. would not be of present service. Nor Is
II easy 10 see why there should be any hesitancy
as 10 the passage of such n temporary measure
on the part of those who recognize that 1t Is cs'
sential TO provide for better protection Of indus
tries and for larger revenue.
When that question has been disposed Of there
comes tne pOSslDIIty vi dttioH VII i'c 'hi.Ou,
forms of the money question. There are believed
20 be eight Republican Senators who. would be
disposed to favor free coinage of silver but there
are at least seven Democrats, and probably more
who would vote against it. In the next Senate
N IN this the free coinage people would be in a
minority unless some Senators voted against the
Republican policy who are publicly committed ia
support H. The responsibility on that question
win rest with the Sound Money Democrats, who
vfn quite numerous enough TO block all mischiev-
are, action If they stand with the Republicans
INST who would easily be swamped and con
unanimously RELOCATED to back seats II they
.should consent to enter a Democratic caucus on
the subject.
Because Of the overwhelming preponderance
Of sound money votes in the House. there need
h no fear that any dangerous measure could
BASS that body, il it could get majority N the
Senate. 1t is probably true that the Senate will
also stand as an insuperable barrier against any
measure for the retirement of greenbacks, even
II q majority could be mustered for 1t IN the
House. The Democrats who have followed Pres
dent Cleveland's leadership are few, and the line
Of policy ne has been persistently advocating as
. cureall Is sure to be opposed by Democrats Of