New-York tribune., 1879-04-22
A SOUTHERN RAID on THE TARIFF.
EERNANDO WOOD RESISTING An AIltMfl ~ OiSi'i
THF TARIFF RECKLEssIY-HE CALLS FOR The
APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL COMMISSION.

gERNANpO WOOD RESISTING AN ATTEMPT TO UPSET
TUr TARIFF RECKLEssIY-HE CALLS FOR THE
APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL COMMISSION
icy TELEGRAPH To TEE TRBuNEl
WASHINGTON, April 21.-Mr. Fernando wood IN
,roduced q Joint resolution in the House to-day,
authorizing the appointment Of joint committee,
consisting of three members Of the Ways and Means
Committee Of the House and two members of the
Finance Committee Of the Senate TO consider IN
.oniunctlon with the Secretary Of the Treasury,
What changes if any, can be made in the tariff and
.eveuue laws nj the next session of Congress The
,biect Of this Joint resolution is to head oil
he ultra Southern men Of tho Democratic
party. who are determined not only to force
nroueh Congress the political sections that
lave been incorporated into the two appropriation
bills now under consideration, but also TO pass at
lis extra session bill making radical changes In
Die tariff and currency laws. Mr.. Wood has been
,utspoken in his opposition to all these schemes,
md by the firm stand he has taken has brought
Down upon himself the attacks of tho Southern
men, who aspire to govern, and do actually govern
ihe Democratic party through its caucus.
a circumstance that occurred last week Illus
trates in a very forcible manner the spirit and
purposes Of these extremists Numerous para
graphs have appeared in Democratic newspapers
during the past few days stating that great dis
satisfaction exists among members Of the Com
mite on Ways and Means, and of the
House at the appointment of Mr.. Wood;
that no tariff legislation will be passed if
be remains chairman of the committee; that
il has been proposed to elect Mr.. Tucker to
the chaimanshp in his place; and that
II Mr. Wood is allowed to remain as chairman OF the
Committee on Ways and Means, he will be put
upon his good behavior. These publications are
all a part of plan devised by the Southern men
to force Mr. Wood TO bring up the subject OF the
.ariff during the present extra session, Win the
view Of having some radical bill passed IN spite OF
.he announcement that Mr.. Wood has made that he
ioes not believe that it would be wise statesman
hip or good party policy to NEEDLE with TINS I'M
porfant question before next Winter.
OF the eight Democratic members OF the WAYS
md Means Committee, five are IRON the e0uth ana
I'M addition, Mr.. Morrison sYmpathlzes With them In
heir desire to break up tue present status OF alIas
while heis also influenced TO some extent IN Wat nc
does bv another and stronger motive, which ne ap-
parcntlv makes 10 effort to cOnceal-hls jealousy
Of Mr.. Wood, who now holds the place al The hedd
Of the committee which Mr.. Morrison was so
strangely appointed 10 III the ALVIN COIl,
grcss by Speaker Kerr On Wednesday OF
last week, at time when Mr.; WOOD
invited the other Democratic members of the Ways
and Means Committee 10 private conference.
When they came together ne said that II was neces-
sary that the committee should take advanced
ground on tie taUd question, and then added that
as Mr. Wood did not seem to be III accord with the
majority of the Democrats on the committee, he
prCposed that they exercise the right, which he said
they possessed of clecting another chairman in his
place. OF course. the committee had no such right
Under the rules unless q vacancy should occur but
even if II had not single Democrat present at the
conference expressed approval Of MI. horilsons
proposition, and the meeting came to close.
While It is not probable that Mr. Wood has
changed his mind on the subject of the tariff since
ne reported bill in tie last Congress which the
House sat down upOn," and while any measure
which he approves viii not be acceptable tOa ma
juty of Republicans bG certainly deserves the sup
port of all good men in the stand he has taken
against menacIng the manufactures OF the country
extra session Much as his ideas may be diSilked
by protectionists, he is Conservative when com
pared with those Southern men VINO are now stHF-
INC TO drag Congress into Immediate action upon
economic ques lions, and VINO propose GmOng other
Things the repeal Of the internal revenue laws and
QIel measures.