Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-07-11
RECEPTION OF THE TARIFF BILL
IN THE SENATE.
MoxDAY, July 6, 1916.


Mr. SEWER moved that be printed and made the spe-
cial order Of the day for Monday next at II O'Clock
Mr. EVANS expressed hope that il would he referred to
the appropriate commee-the Committee on Finance.
Mr. SEWER averted TO the fact that of the members
OF that committee (Mr. SpEIenr) had gone North Carroll
and might not return during the present session The
committee therefore, being equally divided could hardly be
expected to agree upon report In case the bill were referred
Mr. EVANS observed that the objection might apply
to the reference of all other business 10 the committee, and
they might well be disbanded at
Mr.. M0REHEAD said he believed it was the first time
that such motion had been presented the Senate
motion to make bill of this magnitude the special order for
particular day without first undergoing examination by
mitee bill embracing hundreds Of items, all of which,
least very large number Of which, required the mot mi
investigation. He trusted that the Senate not about
such precedent this He trusted they go
ing allow matter Of this importance, matter in which the
whole country deeply interested be made the order of
the day yhou going through the ordinary channels which
the most unmporan measures Of legislation sub
ectcd What that rendered proceeding
necessary 1t of those every day
which might be presented to the consideration Of the Senate
without any examination. On the contrary,
which about revoutonze the country its very foun
daon. Not TO be referred to committee Why, (sad Mr.
trust The Senate will at the necessity of going
through the ordinary If of the members Of the
Finance Committee be absent suggested by friend OPP
pose why, his place should be supplied If the reference
be dispensed with in this instance, the committee might
well be discharged from the further consideration of every sub
ect that can arise
Mr. SEWER said he thought the Senator from Kentucky
might very well imagine for having this matter dis
posed Of speedily possible The Senator had for many
past urgently endeavorng early day
the adjournment of Congress. He had invariably voted for
the resolution naming the earliest day.
Mr. MOREHEAD. Invariably.
Mr. SEWER. And the Senator DESTROYS of pro-
cTasnating the proceedings of the upon this bill
Mr.. MOREHEAD. Not at ALL.
Mr.. SEWER. II this question of the tariff
question, and there the remotes probability that single
Senator would change his opinion his consequence
of any examination he might bes,ow upon it, there might be
for delay. But there such probability
and desirable that they should get this disposed
of possible that they might adjourn. He de-
srous of gratifying his friends opposite by giving them
opportunity they felt disposed to make speeches upon the
subject The Senator had stated that there hundreds Of
items in the bill to be examined Did the Senator suppose
that would be in the power of the committee to examine
and report upon all these items This matter of referring
subjects of this kind but modern movement But II he
supposed that any good would be done by referring IT. ne
would offer opposition to its reference They had strug
ged hard against fixing day for adjournment in order that
this matter might frs be disposed Of And that they
had got the bill they disposed to act promptly that
no time should be unnecessarily wasted. The Committee
Finance consequence of the absence of the
Senator from Mississippi, equally divided. His friend from
Maine, (Mr Evans who was member of that COM
mittee, formidable combatant, well the Sena-
tor from Maryland, r JOHNSON y and the probability
that they would have considerable difficulty in getting the bill
back from the committee He thought the better way would
their time being Short to fix upon early day for the dis
of the subject and let the bill be printed and the de-
tails be examined by Senators their seats without reference
| TO the committee ut all.
Mr. ALLEN said the necessity the made by his
honorable friend from Arkansas grew out of the unavoidable
absence of member of the Committee Finance, whose
absence put of the power of the committee to make any
report whatever. II wel-known fact that the remain
ing gentlemen who composed that committee, four in num-
Der, equally divided in opinion upon the fundamental
principles involved in this bill and that, therefore, it would
be impossible obtain from the committee any report what
ever, except the fact that they unable TO agree.
Mr. MANGUM suggested that the vacancy in the commit
tee might be easily filed
Mr.. ALLEN continued He spoke of the fact il now
existed He in favor of the motion Of the Senator from
Arkansas He in favor Of fixing early day for taking
up this question. He did not remember single
sion Of the Senate since he had been with pub
lie business when many deeply interesting questions were
crowded within short remnant OF the session. Ii could
not be supposed that they would remain in session more than
few weeks longer and upon the Senate during those
few remaining weeks rested the responsibility of passing
only the tariff but the Subtreasury, the warehouse BILL
the bill for the graduation of the price of the public ands as
well the bill which had rendered necessary
for the government of territory lying upon the border Of
the Pacific. All these extraordinary measures well as
much Of the ordinary business Of the session. remained to be
DONE No measure could be more important than one which
related to taxation This great measure which had divided
the opinions Of the public long, thrown into the group
of which thrust upon the Senate at this
late PERIOD when necessarily very few weeks of the
remain For those it did TO him that the very
safety Of this bill must depend upon the speedy and prompt
action of the Senate upon If it should be referred to the
committee they could do than propose to amend
And this might be done by Senators either side OF the
Chamber reference Of the bill at this time would, he
thought be equivalent defeat of the That
his idea upon the subject.
Mr. HUNTINGTON said he had uniformly voted for the
resolution fixing the day of the adjournment of Congress-
the supposon that the business could be disposed of with
in the originally proposed And the gentlemen who
DESTROYS that this bill should not be referred to the
committee had almost all of them, if ALL opposed that
resolution Now, this bill, (sad Mr.. which proposes to
your whole system of collecting duties imports, which
proposes introduce entirely SYSTEM TO substitute ad
vaorem place Of specific duties, embracing hundreds OF
items tisproposed shall the Senate without any
previous examination by committee either OF its principles or
details This unusual extraordinary proceeding and
calculated keep from the Senate what they ought to know
and what if the committee do their duty they would
know What does the bill profess to be A bill to raise
venuc for state Of when the
of the Government from three TO five hundred thousand
dollars day And suppose that continues any great
length Of time, what will be the effect submit to the Son
ate whether in ordinary times, and under ordinary circum
stances they would think expedent that such bill as
this should undergo the examination of committee but
what are the reasons assigned why should in this be
deprived of the benefit of the investigation Of committee
Why in the first place. that il will prolong the session. But
gentlemen consider bill Of this kind important for the
Interests Of the country, why should not time be taken Tor
proper deliberaton l.
But il is said by the Senator from Ohio that have other
important attend Is that reason that this
bill of all Others should receive the attention which
all others have received Is the Senate to be told now that
because these important pending before tins
BODY another mcasue infinitely important to the nte
rests of the country, be sed Why, there Is much
the more that il should have its reference But the
Senator from Ohio says it is useless to refer it. Useless
Why sir Because he says the members of the committee
equally divided consequence OF the absence OF the Sc