Year: 1874

DISCUSSION OF THE SUBJECT BY PROMINENT


MEN VARIOUS OPINIONS EXPRESSED THE


MOST IMPORTANT POLITICAL EVENT SINCE THE


CLOSE OF THE WAR.


BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l


WASHINGTON, April 22.-The impatence of public
men in Washington touching the fate of the Senate
Finance bill eliminated yesterday when the Cabi-
net adjourned, after unusually long session, and
there came no certain intelligence from the White
House in regard to it, To be sure there were rumors
enough, and among them were those that the Presi-
dent had concluded to veto the bill. Several dis
patches were received by members of the House
from NewYork reporting that such reports were
current there, but almost everybody who is ordna-
rly informed on such subjects secuted the idea. and
the rumor was generally dismissed the probable
invention of stockholders When the Senate met
this morning every one was as much in the dark as
ever and twas not until about the time the Cabinet
(which had been in extra session. adjourned, that
the news reached the Capitol that the President had
actually vetoed the BILL and that the message was
on its way to the Capitol.


ANGER OF THE INFLATIoNIsTs.


Logan was the first to get the news, and one Of
the most incorporate in his denunciatons of 1t. Be-
fore Gen. Babcock arrived, he had become very
angry and was expressing his opinion of the Presi-
dents course in the hearing Of other Senators with
more freedom than respect or politeness. Other
prominent inflationists less outspoken but no
less displeased. At the time Gen. Babcock arrived,
Mr.. Salisbury was reading written speech on the
Louisiana BILL and yielded the floor temporarily to
ALLOW. the message to he read. The Senate at the
time was not very full but the reading advanced
one after another came in and took his seat and
a considerable audience of Representatives and
others who enjoy the privileges of the floor occu-
pied the space behind the desks The faces of the
Senators who had taken prominent part in the de-
bate were an interesting study while the message
was being read Mr. Ferry of Michigan showed
very little change of countenance but his face grew
red and his brow slightly lowered. Mr.. Morton
scowled Mr. MerrmOn, who was the mover of the
bill, looked very souowful and disappointed. Mr..
Logan came in from the cloak-room and took
his seat when the reading was nearly COM
pleted, and his face was almost black
with apparent rage He sat erect like statue with
his hands in his pockets, and did not change his
position for some time after Mr.. Salisbury con-
tinued his speech. The hard money men" showed
their approval less plainly than the iniiationists
their anger and disappointment. Mr.. Stewart, who
came into the chamber from the District Inquiry,
was beamiDg with pleasure, and Mr. Sargents face
had upon il a glow of satisfaction. The remainder
of the resumptionists sat without apparent emotion.
Mr. Blaine who is rarely in the Senate, came in
during the reading and occupied front seat ON the
Republican side.


DISCUSSION on THE sUBJECT.


AS soon as the reading of the message was COM
pleted. Messrs. COnklng and Ferry were both on
their feet. The former was recognized, and moved
that the message, with the bill, be laid upon the
table, and the former printed with view to taking
them up early next week for final disposition This
motion was carried without opposition, and then the
Senate broke up into groups for the discussion
of the message. At first MIR. Salisbury was
unable to proceed on account of the confusion,
but after much pounding by the President
pro tem Senators lowered their voices but talked
none the less. These groups were constantly
changing for half an hour, like the views in
kaleidoscope. At one time Mr.. Carpenter was lean
ing upon Mr. Morton's desk, and the latter was ges
ticulating in an excited manner. Then Messrs.
Edmunds Boutwell,, aud Howe had their heads
together, and Mr.. Morton who walks with great
difficulty, Joined them. Then MessrS. Blaine and
Carpenter, Conkling and FreliDghuysen exchanged
views.


VIEWS OF PROMINENT MEN,


In the lobbies about the Senate Chamber the
discussions were very earnest, and opinions were
expressed with unusual freedom. Mr. Cameron
thought that the President had made a great mis-
take. His action would ALLEVIATE the great States Of
the West, on which the Republican party has so
long relied, SO Mr.. Cameron predicted, and would
not save the Eastern States, such as Connecticut
and New Hampshire where his veto would be
approved. " / am not even sure about Pennsyl-
vania," said the veteran politician it will be
harder work to carry that State than before"


Mr.. Carpenter said soon after the reception Of the
message that this would probably end the struggle
in Congress, but that the fight would be transferred
to the Congress districts and that the people would
return Congress with largely increased majority
in favor Of an increase of the currency


One gentleman from Indiana, not a member of
either house, but prominent Republican politician,
remarked, in his anger, that it served the party
right. He was never in favor of taking up Demo-
crat; they were all alike; they would serve the
party while they had use for it, and then they would
cut its throat.


member of the House from Western State who
was in the Senate lobby shortly before the adjourn
ment said that the delegations from seven Western
States a unit in favor of repudatng the action
of the President and had even thought of calling
caucus to do it publicly.


THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT SINCE THE WAR.


1t was common to hear it said about the Capitol
this afternoon that this veto message was the most
important political event since the close of the war;
The infatonists all assert that Grant has committed
political suicide and stabbed the party to death,
and the hard money men" hold with equal
emphasis that he has covered himself with
glory and saved the party. Very much has been
said this evening in regard to the particular con.
sideration which caused the President to determine
to veto the bill. One influence which is supposed
10 have been stronger than almost any other is that
of the banks, the managers of which have repre-
sented to the President that the provisions of the
bill relating TO reserves if put in operation would
L. nf han,