Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1894 — REFUSED TO SIGN IT. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

REFUSED TO SIGN IT.

PRESIDENT ALLOWS TARIFF BILL TO BECOME LAW. Though He Could Not Conslgtantly Indorse It, He Believes It Improves Existing Conditions—Doest Not Go Ear Enough —HU Letter. New Tariff in Foree. At 12 o’clock Mondav night the McKinley tariff Jaw, whioh had been in operation since Oct. 30, 1890, practically four years, died on the statue books and the new Democratic tariff bill passed by the LHId Congress . ecame a law without the signature of President Cleveland. The constitutional period of ten days allowed the President to consider the bill expired with the midnight hour and, according to the terms of the constitution, the President having failed to return the bill to Congress with or without his approval, it became a law. The placing of the bill upon the statute booKs ended one o' the longest and most remarka tie struggles in the parliamentary history of the Government. It was practically a year ago that the compilation of the new tariff was commenced. The extraordinary session of Congress was called Aug. 7, 1893, for the purpose if iepealing the Sherman silver-purchasing law. Two weeks later the Ways and Means Committee of the House, with Mr. Wilson,

of West Virginia, as chairman, was appointed, and almost immediately the work of framing the Democratic tariff-reform measure began. Months were spent in its preparation, and it was not reported until after the holidays during the regular session beginning in December. For three weeks it wts debated in the House, pas.-ihg that body January 29. Seventeen House Democra s voted against it. ' The bill went to the Senate, and, after being considered until March 20, was reported, greatly changed from the House bill. The debate which began in the Senate Aptil 2 lasted until July 3, when the bill rassed by a vote of 39 to 34. The crisis dccui red when the bill reached conference. On Aug. 13 the House yielded, and accepted the Senate bill in toto. Two days afterward, Wednesday, Aug. 15, it went t > the President, and Monday night, at the expiration of the constitutional ten days (Sundays not counted), it became a law without Mr. Cleveland s approval. The Secretary instructed customs collectors that goods placed in bonded warehouses under the McKinley law and made frea of duty under the naw tariff act are entitled to free entry, and need not be exported and reimported in order to get the benefits of the new act. This is of espo ial interest to the wool trade, a large amount of wool being stored now in bonded warehouses. In this, as in all other mooted questions, the Secretary will follow the intent of Congress and let aggrieved parties appeal to the courts if they care to contest on technical grounds. In accoidance with this determination he undoubtedly will hold that diamonds are dutiable, notwithstanding the erroneous punctuation of the free list. Whv He Didn’t Sign.

While President Cleveland did not sign the new tariff law he was prevailed on by party chieftains to Write a letter which is to voice hit feelings. The letter, which was addressed to Gen. Catchings of the Rules Committee of the House, was of course meant for publication. To address it to Gen. Catchings was a mere convenience and a copy went I<y the press association by the same hand which bore the original missive to patchings. The President objects to the bill for the reason that he regards it as not being in line with honest tariff reform, and because it contains inconsistencies that should not be found in any tariff lav.. He speaks of the vicissitudes of the bill during its progress through the two houses, and to t'n»> tad treatment it received from pi etended friends, and expresses the opinion that notwithstanding these it ,e avast improvement on exi-t ug condit ons. “It is not only a barrier,” says the President, “against a return to mail protection, but furnishes vantage ground from which must be waged aggressive operations against protected mon poly and government favoritism.” hollowing is the missive:

, Executive Mansion, i Washington, D. C. i The Hou. T. C. Catchings: My Deab Sib—Since the conversation I had with you and Mr. Clark, of Alabama, a few days ago in regard to my action upon the tariff bill now before me. I have given the subket further and most serious consideration. The result Is I am more settled than ever in the determination to allow the bill to become a law without my signature. When-the formulation of legislation which I it was hoped would embody Democratic ideas : of tariff reform was lately entered upon by i the Congress nothing was further from my anticipation than a result which I could not promptly and enthusiastically indorse. It Is therefore with a feeling of the utmost disappointment that I submit to a denial of this privilege. Ido not claim to be better than the masses of my party nor do I wish to avoid any responsibility which on account of t>he passage of this law I ought to bear as a member of the Democratic organization, neither will I per- I mit myself to be separated from my party td ; snch an extent as might be implied by my veto of tariff legislation which, though disap- ■ pointing, is still chargeable to Demo- ! cratic effort. But there are provisions in this bill which are not in line with honest : tariff reform, and it contains inconsistencies and crudities which ought nut to appear in tariff laws or laws of any kind. Besides there were, as yon and 1 well know, incidenls accompanying the passage of the bill through Congress wnich made every sincere reformer unhappy, while infli fences surrounded it in its latter stages and interfered with its flnal construction which ought not to be recognized or ■ tolerated in Democratic tariff reform councils, j And yet, notwithstanding all its vicissitudes and all the bad treatment it received at the hands of pretended friends, it presents a vast improvement to existing conditions. It will certainly lighten many tariff burdens that now ; rest heavily upon the people. It is not only a barrier against the return of mad protection, but it furnishes a vantage ground from which must be waged further aggressive operations ' against protected monopoly and governmental favoritism. , I take my place with the rank and file of the Democratic-party who believe in tariff reform and who know what it is; who refuse tc| accept the results embodied in thia bill as the dose of the war; who are not blinded to the fact that the livery of Democratic tariff reform has been stolen end worn in the service *i Republican protection, and who have

marked (lauea where th< dead!” blight ot treason haa blasted the councils of the brave in their hour of might. The trusts and combinations-the communism ot pelf-whose machinations have prevented U 8 from reaching the success we deserve, should not be forgotten or forgiven. Ws shall recover from onr astonishment at their exhibition of power, and it then the question is torced upon us whether they shall submit to the tree legislative will ot the people’s representatives or shall dictste the laws which the people must obey, we will acceit and settle that isaue as one involving the integrity and safety of American institutions. I love the principles of true Democracy because they are founded in patriotism and upon justice and fairness to* ard all interests. I am proud of my patty organization because it la conservatively sturdy and persistent in the enforcement of its principles. Therefore 1 do not despair ot ths efforts made by the Houae of Representatives to supplement the bill already passed by further legislation and to have engrafted upon it such modifications as will more nearly meet Democratic hopes and aspirations. 1 can’t be mistaken as to the necessity of free raw materials as the foundation ot logical and sensible tariff reform. The extent to which this is recognized in the legislation already secured is one ot its encouraging and redeeming features, but it is vexations to recall that while free coal and iron ore have been denied, a letter of the Secretary of the Treasury discloses the fact that both might have been made flee by the annual surrender of only about tmo.ooo of unnecessary revenue. I am sure that there is a common habit of 'underestimating the importance of free raw materials in tariff legislation, and of regarding them as only related to concessions to be made to our manufacturers. Tbe truth is, their influence-la so far-reaching that, it disregarded. a complete and beneficent scheme of tariff reform cannot be suoces-faUv Inaugurated. When we give to onr manufacturers free taw materials we unshackle American enterprise and ingenuity, and these will open the doors of foreign markets to the reception ot onr wares and give opportunity for the continuous and remunerative employment of American labor. With materials cheapened by their freedom from tariff charges the cost of their product must be < orrespondlugly cheapened. Thereupon justice and fairness to the consumer would demand that the manufacturers be obliged to submit to such a readjustment and modification of the tariff npon their finished goods as would secure to the people the benefit of the reduced cost of their manufacture and shield the consumer against the exactions of inordinate profits. It will thus be seen that free raw materials and a just and fearless regulation and reduction of tne tariff to meet tbe changed conditions would carry to every humble home in the land the blessings of increased comfort and cheaper living. The millions of our countrymen who have fought bravely and well for” tariff reform should be exhorted to continue the struggle, boldly challenging to open warfare and constantly guarding against treachery and halfheartedness in their oainp. Tariff reform will not> be settled until It is honestly and fairly settled in the Interest and to the benefit of a patient and long-suffering people. Yours very truly, Gboveb Cleveland.

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