People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 August 1894 — REFUSED TO SIGN IT. [ARTICLE]

REFUSED TO SIGN IT.

President Cleveland Allows the Tariff Bill to Become a Law. It Does So Without His Indorsement—Hfl Explains His Attitude in a Letter to Mr. Catchings—End of a Long Struggle. NEW TARIFF GOES INTO EFFECT. Washington, Aug. 28.—At 12 o’clock : Monday night the McKinley tariff law, 1 which had been in operation since October 30, 1890, practically four years, died on the statute books and tne new democratic tariff bill passed by the Fifty-third congress became a law without the signature of President Cleveland. “Executive Mansion, Washington, Aug 27.—Hon. T. C. Catchings—My Dear Sir: 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 subject further and most se- : rious consideration. The result is, I am more I settled than ever in the determination to ali low the bill to become a law without mv signature. “When the formulation of legislation which ■ it was hoped would embody democratic ideas : of tariff reform was lately entered upon by J this congress nothing was further from my an- ! ticipation than a result which I could not , promptly and enthusiastically indorse. It is therefore with a feeling of the utmost disapi pointment that I submit to a denial of this privilege | “I do not claim to be better than the masses of my party nor do I wish to avoid any responsibility which on account of the passage of this law I ought to bear as a member of the democratic organization; neither will I i permit myself to be separated from my party to such an extent as might be I implied by my veto of tariff legislation, which, though disappointing, is still chargeable to i democratic effort. But there are provisions in i this bill which are not in line with honest i tariff reform and it contains inconsistencies and crudities which ought not to appear in tariff laws or laws of any kind. “Besides, there were, as you and I well know, • incidents accompanying the passage of the biil through congress which made every sini cere reformer unhappy, while influences surrounded it in its latter stages and interfered j with its final construction which ought not to i bo recognized or tolerated in democratic tariff i reform councils.

■ And yet, notwithstanding all its vicissitudes and all the bad treatment it has received at the hands ot its 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 Irom which must be waged further aggressive operations against protected monopoly and governmental favoritism. "1 taae my place with the rank and file of the democratic party who believe in tariff reform and who know what it is, who refuse to accept the results embodied in the bill at the close of the war. who are not blinded to the fact that the livery of democratic tariff reform has been ato.eu and worn in the service of republican protection, and who have marked the places where the deadly blight of treason has blasted the councils of the brave in their hour of might. “The trusts and combinations—the communism of pelf, whose machinations have prevented us from reaching the success we deserve, should not be forgotten or forgiven. We shall recover from our astonishment at their exhibition of power, and if then the question is forced upon us whether they shall submit to the free legislative will of the people’s representatives, or shall dictate the laws which the people must obey, we will accept and settie that issue as one involving the integrity and satety of American institutions. T love the principles of true democracy because they are founded in pa iotism and upon justice and fairness toward all interests. lam proud of my party organization because it is conservatively sturoy aud persistent in the enforcement of its principles. Therefore, Ido not despair of the efforts made by the house of representatives to supplement the bill already passed by lurther legislation and to have engrafted upon it such modifications as will more nearly meet democratic hopes and aspirations. “I can t be mistaken as to the necessity of free raw materials as the foundation of logical aud sensible tariff reform. The extent to which this is recognized in the legislation already secured is one of its encouraging and redeeming features, but it is vexatious 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 free by the annual s. rrender ot only $700,(M) 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. The truth is, their influence is so far-reaching that if disregarded a complete and beneficent scheme of tariff reform cannot be successfully inaugurated. • ■ When we give to our manufacturers free raw materials we unshackle American enterprise and ingenuity, aud these will open the doors of foreign markets to the reception of our 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 taeir product must be correspondingly cheapened. 1 hereupon justice and fairness to the consumer would demand that the manufacturers be obliged to submit to such a readjustment and modification of the tariff upon their finished goods as would secure to the people the benefit of the reduced cost of their manufactures and shield the consumer against the exactions of inordinate profits. ■'it will thus be seen that free raw mater als and a just am fearless regulation and reduction or the tariff to meet the changed conditions would carry to every humole home in tue land the blessings of increased comfort and cheaper living. The minions 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 camp. 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, “grover Cleveland.' The placing of the bill upon the statute books ended one of the longest and most remarkable struggles in the parliamentary history of the government. It was practically a year ago that the comoilation of the new tariff was commenced. The extraordinary session of congress was called August 7. 1893, tor the purpose of repealing 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 democrat!, 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 was debated in th house, pa-s----ing that body Janu-.ry 29. seventeen house democrats voted agains 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 April 2 lasted until July 3. when the bill passed by a vote of 39 to 34. The crisis occurred when the bill reached conference. On August 13 the house yielded and accepted the senate bill in toto. Two days afterward, Wednesday, August 15, it went to the president, and Monday night at the expiration ot the constitutional days (aundavs not counted) it became a law without Mr. Cleveland’s approval