The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-28

der-lnstead or making the amendments which the
Senate directed TO be made, they report the bill
back TO you, and ask TO be discharged, declining the
performance Of their duty. Am / not right, then,
IN eharaeIerizing this most extraordinary, as
an unprecedented procedure on the part Of the COM
mlitees What is the reason assigned for this ex-
lraordnary conduct Why, the first reason, and
the only reason, Is that suggested by the senator
rom Alabama (the chairman Of the committee) at
The close OF his remarks, that there was not time
Tor the performance Of this duty. Not time!
Not time 10 do what In the first place,
Mr., President, this body decided that they had
time. They did not tell them 10 report the bill this
morning. but under full knowledge that the Senate
was TO adjourn the 10Th Of August, directed this
duty 70 be done And now what has the commit
Tee substantially donei Why, they declare that
they think the Senate ought not TO have imposed
thus duty upon them because there is not time for
Its performance. This they say, when the Senate,
by It's act has declared that there is time for the
performance Of this duty! | say, then, that the
Senate on yesterday, having decided that this bill
should not pass without these amendments, the
committee to whom il was intrusted have reported il
back wiIhoutthsm and ask TO be discharged in order,
as the senator from Missouri says, that test vote
may be taken. | say, then, and say il with great
respect, that ths Senate If agrees TO the request of
the committee is about TO give its saRction TO the
doctrine that Ishal be in the power Of a committee
TO disregard It's order, by coming In and refusing
To make smendmsnts specially directed TO be made;
and thus present. on their own authority, the naked
question again for the decision Of the body, which
the Senate have decided should not be put all after
these amendments made. But there is not time.
Not time! What Is the first clause in the amend
ment proposed
Mr., sPElGHT. Look to the latter part Of the
Instructions
Mr.. HUNTINGTON | shall come to that
presently. The first amendment is TO the effect
that you are 10 graduate this bill with reference TO
the act Of 1912, IN regaH to the raw material used
by mechanics and manufacturers. Well, now,
practically, what is " raw material :" Who does
not know what II isl II is known, technically,
quite well. There can be 10 dispute about il. Every
body knows what II nans. But in addition to
this, the committee haze not gone into the in
curry as 10 what Is rawmeteral. Have they come
together and consulted Have they inquired OF my
friends from Maryland and Maine, what constitu-
ted raw materaR-cotton or hemp, or wool No.
They have had no consultation at all. But major
ty OF the committee report back the bill without any
amendment at ALL and hen come in and say they
do not know what is meant by raw material. II"
That they do without euieaVorng TO ascertain what
Is raw material Is this according TO the
usual mode Of legislation II they can ascertain
what is raw material, pmy, how long time would
Il require TO make the amendments which have been
ordered All they have eDt 10 do is TO take the tariff
Of 1892 ascertain this raw material and accommo-
date it to the scale Of thai II free all they have
got to do is TO put 1t in their free list If taxed set
L down at the same rate al which il is taxed in the
act Of 1912. Note the amendment-"so that no
other and higher duty, &c" All they have got to
do is TO take this volume which contains the act Of
1872 look To the list OF the raw materials apply 1t To
that act, and amend your bill accordingly. The
whole process would not take half an hour. Sir,
there is not a member ofthis committee that in one
hour, could not frame the amendment in pursuance
Of these instructions. Well what is the second clause
Of the Instructions $50 to regulate all the duties
proposed by this bill as TO raise revenue sufficient
for the exigences OF the country" Not time to do
thisl Not time, Mr.. President, to ascertain what
the country wants. Why, have not the department,
within few days, reported to you what they want
ed 10 expendl Has not my friend, the chairman Of
the Committee Of Finance, told you what this bill
would raise' Don't you know how much this will
be reduced, if il be reduced at all, by compliance
with the first clause Of the instructions Can't you
tell the difference remaining to be provided for' My
friend from Mississippi Mr. SrEiGHrl thinks there
is not time to make these wonderfully elaborate cal
cuations within the eleven working days Of the
ton which remain. ask him, is he not as able to
make this bill conformable the second instruction
as he is TO say that the bill itself is now in cond
ton in which it does not want any amendment for
any purpose connected with the revenue'
Mr.. SPEiGHT. ! am not able to do il; and
do not think that any gentleman is able to do it,
Mr.. HUNTINGTON. The inability must be
owing entirely to the state Of the senator's health
which | regret is not at present vigorous. Because
otherwise, know-no, will not say that-but
believe he is very competent to amend the bill in
the time left us. But If he thinks il cannot be DONE
there is my friend, the chairman Of the Committee
Of Finance. He understands this business; and
think my friend from Maine Mr. EvANsl under
stands something about it. He has been almost
long enough in the traces to know something about
the finances and commercial affairs Of the country
and think If you would give him an opportunity
to express his views in relation to the second in
struction, he could produce them, not only very
practically and promptly, but also very usefully to
the country But they do not give HIM chance.
He has no opportunity to give to the country, or
the Senate, the benefits OF his experience. And so
it is also with my friend from Maryland, Mr..
JOHNSON. So also with us all, for the committee
have decided that there is not time and therefore
they refer the bill back to the Senate. Now | sub
nit to this body-and submit it with confidence
whether they are prepared to establish the prece-
dent that committee intrusted with the perform
ance Of great duty-a duty devolved upon them
by the Senate-shall come up to this body and vir-
tualy say that they have not complied with the or.
der because they think they have not time, when
the Senate have decided to the contrary Sir, !
think it is not only unusual and extraordinary but
think 1t is due to the Senate and those who voted
for this amendment that the original purpose of the
Senate should be adhered to. My friend from Missou-
says that fthe committee be again instructed he will
SCI himself 70 WoIh' WISH 10 know whether II be
necessary to have reiteraton of the order of the
Senate in order to have the duty performed which
was assigned to that honorable gentleman and the
other members OF the committee | make these
remarks with great respect and with entire kindness
to all the gentlemen composing the committee. But
1 repeategain, the course. of the committee is not
only unusual but think that it ia due to the Sen
ate that after having solemnly decided this question
and referred 1t to the committee, thus declaring not
only that it is practicable to make the amendment,
but that there is time to do it, the committee should
be held to the discharge of their duty. therefore
hope that the Senate will refuse accept this propo-
sltion made by the chairman of the Committee of
Finance, that they will not be discharged; and tina,
they will be sent back to put this bill in shape con-
formable with the instructions ordered by the Sem
ate, and which, in my judgment, it is the duty of
the committee to carry out
Mr.. JARNAGIN next addressed the Senate, and
said: From the position which occupy, deem it
my duty to put an end to this whole affair, am
satisfied now that no amendment be, or will be,
made to this bill. And, therefore, it would be use
less to insist upon the committee keeping the bill
before them, when they inform US that if an amend
ment is to be made it will have the effect of pre-
venting nction m tho hill unnJ M, J;.,b, r,,a