The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-24
SHALL WE HAVE A TARIFF COM
MITTEE?
From the ". Y. World.

MITTEE?
From the ". Y. World.
Whatever opinion may be entertained con-
cerning the first of the resolutions recently
offered in the House of Representatives by
our active and Jealous member from the
Sixth New York Congressional district, pro-
viding that the annual taxation shall not ex-
ceed $250,0 ,000-including 1925, 900, 600
for principal and interest of the public debt;
however questionable it may be that even in
the present reconstructed House a majority
vote can be obtained for the second resolution
pledging the country to a purely revenue
tariff in opposition to tariff for the protec-
tion of class interests at the general expenses
however much the country may be divided on
these two, there is no doubt that the third of
these resolutions is received with general
approval bordering on unanimity. Even the
Tribune, little disposed as it generally is to
do justice to a free trader, frankly and freely
tenders Mr.. Cox its thanks for his attempt to
secure for the contemplated tariff revision q
careful and statesmanlike consideration.
The third of these resolutions is to this
effect:-
ResolUed That in case this session adjourns with
out the appointment OF the Committee of Ways and
Means, special committee OF seven be appointed
revenue, and such bill or bills embodyng a revenue
tariff on the foregoing principles as will best carry
the same into practical effect; and in case such
Con mttee of Ways and Means be appointed at this
session. that then the said committee shall perform
the duties required in this resolution
and embodies, only conditionally, it is true,
proposition of a reform which has sug-
gested itself before now to many thinking
men. This proposition is none other than to
remove all consideration of the tariff from
the Ways and Means Committee, and transfer
it to committee specially devoted to that
subj and none other.
The enormous labor now devolving on the
Ways and Means Committee is sufficient to
appall the heart of the stoutest, if he have
the conscientious desire to do his duty. The
late chairman, Mr. Schenck has left or record
pathetic description of the fearful persecu-
tion from hundreds of tariff axe-grinders to
which he submitted daily during each discus
| sion of a tariff revision. The strongest man
in the House could not do justice at one and
the same timess to the manifol problems of
internal revenue, of the management of the
debt, the general supervision of Treasury
business, and the tariff besides; and, unfortu-
nately, the present committee consists, with
! one or two notable exceptions, of the veriest
incapables. The Ways and Means Committee
the most important committee in the House
| is notoriously always overburdened with
work in an active session, and consequently
| the most important work of Congress is gene
rally the most poorly done. On this ground
alone division of the work of this committee
seems eminently desirable But there is
another ground which makes this division
almost Imperative.
If there is one thing upon which almost all
tariff reformers, and indeed all honest men,
are agreed, it is that all evidence on the tariff
should be heard in open session of the COM
mittee, and made public. 1t is absolutely
necessary that some such measure should be
adopted in order that the general public may
| know upon what facts aud arguments the
action of the committee is based, and in
order that interested parties may have the
amplest opportunity to meet and refute all
statements affecting their interests. As the
work of the committee is managed now, i'm
portant interests are sacrificed without the
parties affected having the remotest
hint that their interests are under
discussion, or what arguments have been
used to influence the action of the CON-
mittee. When the report of the committee
is made to the House it is next to impossible,
without direct political influence, or unless
the matter is of very general Importance, to
secure a reconsideration. AS matters are now
managed, the most useful class of witnesses
that such a committee could have, men of
character and reputation, professionals and
experts in their special spheres, are unwilling
to appear, fearing to be classed with the cor
rupt and shameless lobbyists who haunt com.
mittee-rooms for their own selfish ends. But
the committee might readily benefit by the
advice and special knowledge of these men,
if they were protected against uni ust
suspicion by thorough publicity. And
publicity, too, would save the com nit
tee from the appearance of many who
have heretofore been their chief ad
visers, but who would not dare testify a:
they have done if they knew that their facts
and arguments would be before the whole
country before they themselves could leav,
Washington. Members not on the Ways an(
Means Committee would certainly hail thi
publicity of the tariff discussion as specia
boon, for it would relieve them from tn
worst, most annoying, and least satisfactor
duty which they now have to perform-ths
of urging upon the attention of members o
the committee the claims of their constitu
ents. of whose merits they are, in ninety min
cases out of hundred, either totally ignoran
or Incapable of judging.
If it is true-and we think il can scarce
be doubted-that publicity of the tariff dis
cussion IN committee is almost essential,
must be evident that this forms very stron
additional argument in favor of a sea prat
committee; for with the exception of tn
> tariff, the work of the Ways and Means Com
{ mittee is peculiarly untitled for prematur
publication, and the objections to partial O
irregular publicity will suggest themselve
r readily enough to whoever will take the trou
BILE to consider them.
There need not, as might at first blush seer
: likely, be any conflict between this new
Y tariff committee and the Ways and Mean
Q Committee; for if the House will fix tn
d amount of revenue that it requires to be dc
f rived from the tariff the new committee ca
d adjust such tariff, without any interference