People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1894 — WILL HE SIGN IT? [ARTICLE]

WILL HE SIGN IT?

Speculation at, to the President’s Action on the Tariff BilL Although Urged Strongly to Sign It Without Delay, It Is Thought He Will Allow It to Become a Law Without His Signature. NO ONE KNOWS. Washington. Aug. 15. —As the house of representatives Monday night adjourned over until to-day. the tariff bill cannot be sent to the white house before. It will be enrolled and carefully compared when both houses are in session, and will receive the signatures of Speaker Crisp and Vice President Stevenson. The bill then will be taken to the president, who will then have ten days (exclusive of Sundays), or until Monday, the 27th, in which to act on the bill. A great deal of pressure will be brought to hear on the president by democratic senators and representatives to induce Mr. Cleveland to sign the bill, but the authoritative statement made that it is the present intention of the president to let the bill become a law without his signature, can be reiterated. It is stated by friends of the president that he has freely expressed this purpose to those entitled to know who have questioned him on the subject, but has said that he will thoroughly consider all phases of the matter. A member of the cabinet said that if the president should chfange from his present inclination and affix his signature to the bill it would be accompanied by a statement in explanation of his reasons therefor. The president has repeatedly told his friends that he could not sign the bill, but many of his closest personal friends have urged him to sign the bill without delay. Several reasons were urged, among them the fact that the opening of fall trade was close at hand and that a delay of ten days might result in serious loss of customs revenues.

Another reason stated was that congress was anxious to adjourn. With the exception of two months the members had been in constant attendance for over a year, and it was represented that, now that their work was practically accomplished, it would be hardly fair to compel them to remain here in idleness, when no positive good could he accomplished thereb3‘. He was advised to forego his scruples in the matter, sign the bill and return it with a message which would leave no room for doubt as to his views thereon. It is estimated that during the next ten days the receipts from internal revenue will amount to between 810,000,000 and 815,000,000, and the government will lose the increased whisky tax to this extent. In view of the depleted condition of the treasury this argument probably will have weight with the president.