New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-22

THE WAY OF TARIFF LEGISLATIoN-A NE" NE
PUBLICAN SCHEME.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrSE.l
WASHINGTON. Feb. 21.-The prospects OF tarlf
LEGISLATION are still involved in about az much op
scnrtv as ever. despite the passage Of the Senate
hill II should he understood that this state OF af-
fairs results not SO much from any uncertainty ss
TO whether a majority of the House would vote LOT
or AGAINST the bill as from the uncertainty whether
or not a majority will ever get chance
10 vote upon the bill at all. III Is Vi
course difficult for most people to realize that
q majority OF the House. unless 1t includes two-
thirds of the entire membership of that body is, on
matters like the one pending. at the mercy OF
the minority. Therefore it is that the success OF
the Senate bill or any other tariff bill depends upon
the removal of certain grave parliamentary oo'
stacles.
Under the rules of the House majority can pro-
ceed to business on the Speakers table. where the
Senate bill now is and when that bill shall have
been reached il must be sent to the Committee
of the Whole for consideration under
the five minutes rule and be open 10
amendment According to all precedent and usage
the bill must then be read by clauses, each OF whch
is open TO debate and subject to amendment III
short the bill will be in no better condition tha Is
the WAYS and Means bill. If bir HaskelPs motioh
should bs declared iu order by the Speaker ana
adopted by the House, it might facilitate progress
somewhat but there are few none who expect
that this will be done.
WHAT COULD BE DONE UNDER THE KAssoN RULE
If the KaSson rule should be adopted
MAJORITY of the House could take the Senate bill
from the Speakers table and IN short time BRING
II to vote. upon motion to concur in the Senate
neutrality-suspicious. no point should be raised by
any member against the consttutionahty of the
Senate's action But the Kasson rule has not been
reported TO the House by the Committee
on Rules, and its adoption may be re-
carded as very uncertain Mr. Carlisle and
other Democratic leaders freely say that their side
will solidly oppose IT and declare that the Republi-
cans will be obliged to muster quorum OF their
own men IN order to pass it, The latter are py no
means unanimously in favor of it, however, since
the passage of the Senate bill. which is extremely
Objectionable to many of them. Mr. Carlisle said
to-day that all of the Republican members OF the
Committee on Rules-Messrs. Kefer, Reed and
Robeson-are against the rule. 1t is GER
tainly true that Messrs. Reed and Robson
were very non- committal the subject to-day, and
it NAV fairly be inferred that they will not vote for
favorable report on the rule unless they shall be-
come satisfied that enough votes can be obtained TO
send the Senate bill 10 a conference committee.
REPUBLICANS STUDYING NEW PLAN.
Several prominent Republican members have
been busy all day studying the details OF a new
scheme to overcome the parliamentary difficulties
which confront the Tariff bill without
resort to the expedient of changing
the rules. which is so Objectionable
to many. The Libraries of the House have been ran
sacked to find precedent for the proposed action,
but thus far it is understood without success the
most that can be said that point being that there
is no contrary rule or precedent. As the Democratic
haan a
new scheme there is no for keeping it secret
While Republicans are divided in opinion
upon the question as to whether the
tar1ff revision amendments proposed by
the Senate to the Internal Revenue bill are All ill
vasion of the constitutional prerogative OF the
House a majority of them hold that such is the
case and as the history of the past shows, this is
matter about which that body is extremely sens-
tive.
THF PRERoGATIvE OF THE HOUSE.
Major Calkins takes great interest in this ques-
ton and he has prepared the following resolutions
which he proposes to offer at the proper time;
Resoired That this House maintains that 1t Ia its sole
ami exclusive privilege 70 originate all bills directly
nosdon reduction or repeal OF taxes and in the exer
of this privilege In tne first instance to limit ana a
point the ends purposes considerations and limitations
OF snch bswnet aer relating TO the
time OF their introduction subject 10 tue ilght OF
the Senate 10 propose or concur win amendments as on
That, In the opinion or this House, ~ ~ not
competent for the Senate under cover OF amendment TO
pace Internal Revenue bill originating IL TIE
House q complete revision of the tsrin laws.
The scheme before mentioned includes two
separate propositiOns-one of which is the sub
stance of the foregoing resolution. The other is to
refer all questions Of difference between the two
Houses-differences respecting the rates of duty
which should be imposed upon different articles, as
well as differences the question OF constitutional
prerogatve-to a committee OF conference which
shall review the whole subject and report its COD
clusIons and recommendations to the respective
Houses These resolutions it is proposed to offer as
matters of the highest privilege, thus supersede the
ordinary rules of procedure and at once clothe q
conference committee-to ba constituted by
a majority of the House and the Senate.
appointed by the presiding officers of these
bodes-with full power to revise the tariff
Should the Speaker hold that the question of prvi-
lege is broad enough to both the propositions
involved the plan would probably succeed far as
the House is concerned
DIFFICULTIES IN THE REPUBLICAN PATH
Wbether Al shall succeed not, the fact that 1T
has been taken into serious consideration by such
mem as REPRESENTATIVES Reed, Robinson Of Massa-
ehusetts. Burrows, Haskell and Others will help
readers of The TRIBUNE 20 realize the narrow strait
10 which the maiorityof the House has been reduced
by the parliamentary dangers and difficulties whic
beset the pending legislation. on the rate OF whcn
90 great interest felt. It is still very uncertain
whether, IN vote shall be reached, majority
Of the House viii favor oppose concurrence In the
tariff amendments OF the Seuate. They are not yet
in print, and great many Representatives Will
reserve their opinions until after thorough
examination. Comparatively few have an
intelligent idea respecting the rates adopted.
On the Republican side men like Mr.. Anderson, OF
Kansas and Mr. UpdeQraff of Iowa say they are
will ng to vote for the Senate bill az il stands, In
preference TO having it made subject conference
Bomc Republicans, like Mr.. Rauney, of Massa-