The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1882-04-18
How Not to Do 1t.


works-Bleak House-he carica-
lures an English institution which
he styles. aThe Circumlocution
Office" the chief aim of that Office
being,.- apparently, to illustrate
"How not to do it," Our own
American Congress furnishes ma
terial just at present for similar
literary creation in its pranks and
antics on the proposed revision of
the tariff. "One hundred and
sixty-fve members of the House,"
says a Washington letter, shave
already entered their name on the
Speakers roster for speeches upon
the tariff, being more than one-half
the whole body, Deducting the
days set aside for social subjects.
these speeches at the rate of four
a day, if delivered, would carry the
debate up to the 1st of July"
The intention of the monopolists,
when they contrived the commits
sion scheme Of delay and indefi-
mite postponement of reform, was
to hurry the bill through Congress
with as little discussion as posi-,
ble. That plan succeeded in the
Senate, where only few speeches
covered the ground on both sides.
But If the present temper should
hold in the House, free and easy
debate. sufficiently prolonged,
would be apt to bring out an ex-
preston of sentiment from the
country that might materially in
terfere with the plans of monopo-
lists and their commission, which,
practically considered, means a
new lease for the existing tariff
until 1886.
Suppose the bill of the Senate
to pass the House, as would be the
case on direct vote at this time,
what would naturally happen after
ward? The commissioners are to
report on the first Monday in JAN
uary, 1888, when Congress would
be enjoying holiday recess. That
report would be referred to the
committee on finance in the Sen
ate, of which Dir. Morrill, is chair.
man, and to the ways and means
in the House, OF which Mr.. Kel-
ley is chairman.
Mr.. Morrill, and Mr.. Kelley are
two of the most extreme protec.
tionists we possess, and they be
lieve in the doctrines which they
preach. Nobody supposes that
they would hasten to bring for
ward any bill that would aim to
impair policy which, according
to their peculiar theory, is beneG-
cial to the country.
Hence, with this power lodged
in the hands of two chairmen, it is
absurd TO suppose there would be
any serious attempt at legislation
next session, even if the commits.
sioners completed their task. Fail
ure at the next session would
throw the subject over until the
winter of 1S83-S4. Then it would
be necessary to revive the COM
mission, or to pass joint resolu-
ton reviving the report Of the
commission, assuming it to be
made conformably to the bin as it
passed the Senate.
That would bring the question
before Congress, if at all, on the
eve of the two national. conven-
tions, and the Presidential election
in November, 1884. By common
consent it would go over, not to
be touched until the new admins
tratlon came into power, in the
Presidents first message ofDecem.
Der, 1885.
The commission bill, therefore,
means in plain English, FIVE or
six hundred millions Of profit for
the monopolists during this Pc
Rod Of delay, to be extorted from
the taxpayers by device of de.
ception. If discussion in the
House will kill this job, for it is
nothing else when clearly under
stood. then We hope it may con-
tinue all summer, until Congress
shall be compelled to deal frankly
with the country, and to bring in