The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-01
SCHEME TO STEAL A SENATOR.
STEVE ELKINS SAYS HIS PARTY
HAS IFS EYE ON OREGON.

The Republicans Determined TO
Gain Control of the Upper House
and screw I'D the Thrift Rhtes-IsI-
I<Ins Confident TnriR DiII win
he Passed, Despite the Predictions
20 the COntFary--He IL OF the opiD-
ION That the Tariff Question:
should He Removed From Politics.
Washington, April SO.-"We are going
out to Oregon for another senator, and
then we will be able to pass any kind Of
a tariff bill we want" exclaimed Senator
steve Elkins of West Virginia, while dis
cussing the political complexion of the
Senate and the effect of the election OF
Senator Deboe from Kentucky. 1--WE can
not afford to take any chances on an even
ly divided Senate" continued Senator El-
kins, but we must secure an absolute
majority that we can depend upon. Ore
gon is a profitable field for some political
missionary work, and there our efforts
will be directed We have pledged the
country that we will give them more rev.
enue, and we cannot afford to falter now,
and, therefore, It is absolutely necessary
that we should have a reliable working
majority. We viii get another senator
from Oregon and then we can proceed to
do the business expected of US"
What ground Is there for the rumor
that the Senate committee has modified
the Dingley bill to such an extent as to
render its passage impossible?"
II have tried 20 keep as well informed
on the subject as II is possible for any
one to do who is not a member Of the COM
mittee, and / am certain that we are go
ing TO pass a tariff bill, all predictions to
the contrary. I have heard rumors that
certain republican senators intended to
defeat the bill, but am confident that Wa
will have enough votes to pass the bill
through the Senate. ! cannot anticipate
how much revenue the bill will raise. when
Il comes from the finance committee, bug
am familiar with the temper of the Sem
ate on this subject. and l know that we
via have votes enough on the final roll
call 10 pass our bill The democrats may
insist upon a close examination of all the
items in the bill, but In view of the assur-
ances given by Senator German and other
democratic senators that they will not OBJ
struct the passage Of reasonable tariff
bill, all talk about the failure OF the bill
Is idle gosslp."
Just what ways and means Senator Ell
lSns would employ TO secure a republican
senator from Oregon he neglected to state.
but being a shrewd, practical politician,
he Is familiar with the methods of In
huencing a state legislature in a close
contest. He Is a strict party man, who
believes that the end justiies the means,
hence he would probably invoke the power
Of the national republican committee and
Mark Hanna's fertile resources.
Senator Elkins says he has reached the
conclusion that the tariff business should
be removed from politics and treated as
a purely business proposition. He Is win
ing TO keep the party pledges made In the
last campaign In that connection, but he
hopes to live to see the day when 1t will
be eliminated from national politics.
There Is but a slight difference in the
contentious of the republicans and demo-
Gratis over the tariff question:" said the
senator, with great earnestness.
we are only about fifty mill
lions apart. We claim that we
can get along with an increase of about
$50 100000, while the democrats declare that
under our policy Of protection, we collect
$5OOW,000 more than we need When you
look at the situation from practical bus
mess standpoint It seems ridiculous for
us to keep changing the tariff every four
years upsetting business interests and
spending more than $jO,000O00 In trying
10 comply with the constantly changing
system of tariff taxation. II we could in
duce the two parties to let the tariff alone
and take up other issues, / believe the
country would be greatly benefited. There
Is the question of foreign shipping. We are
paying Ia subsidies to foreign ships, for
carrying out products abroad, over $50
100000 annually. while we are lighting over
the question of whether we shall increase
or reduce our revenues about $4,000, 000"
Senator Elkins says he has no idea how
long the present extraordinary session OF
congress will continue, but he expects the
tariff bill to be passed and approved by
the President before the beginning Of the
next fiscal year, July /.