New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-09
DAWDLING OVER THE TARIFF

|
on IRON.
| lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.I
WASHINGTON, Feb. S.-The slow rate at which
the House Tariff bill moves in the Committee of the
Whole is depressing, and nearly every Representa-
tive who sincerely desires tariff legislation at this
session is discouraged. This is not saying that ALL
or nearly all, the Republicans are downcas and in
regard to this and some other matters
1t is quite time that the truth should
be told. To begin with, there are not q
few Republican Representatives who think it would
be smart political trick TO let the subject 20 over
to the next House and then see the Democratic
party go t. pieces in an attempt to deal with II.
:" A Democratic Congress can never revise the
| tariff" say these wal-eyed statesmen who bank ON
| future Democratic bunders, and cannot see the
| blunder which they are making by using the sub
| ject of tariff revision pawn piece on O chess
| board of small party politics.
| There is another class of men, embracing Demo.
Gratis as well as Republicans who do not
| care the toss of copper about tariff
revision, except that they would prefer
none at all to one which should eff
feet any material reduction in tho
schedule now under consideration by the House
Said the frank Mr.. Miller, of Pennsylvania, to a
TRIBUNE correspondent yesterday, Il do not be-
lieve any bill will pass. We have very good tariff
well satisfied" Mr.. Miller is not the only
Pennsylvania Representative who takes this view
OF the matter. One of the best-nformed Republi.
cans in the House, man who foresees the blunder
they will commit ii they do not do their utmost to
respond to the demand for revision of the tariff
and the relief of the business interests of the
try from the paralysis caused by legislative uncer-
tanties said to-day: "There Is growing
imOresson which 6as become already too general
on side Of the House that some OF
our own leaders not acting in good faith-not
dealing sincerely with the country; and In short
that they quite willing to allow matters to drift
into such shape that there be tariff legisa-
ton by this Congress. Some on our side even
believe that Judge Kelley is great deal more solic-
itous for PeDnsylvanias interests than he is 70
meet the public demand for a general reduction of
taxation. His parliamentary management of
the bill is not that of q man who really wants to
push it to conclusion; he dawdes, dictates
answers to his correspondents while irrelevant de-
bate rams on and on until precious hours lostn
It has been painfully apparent for some ti me that
Chairman Kelley's determination to manage the bill
in Committee of the Whole was unfortunate He
lacks yig)r and aertness to in time and circum-
vent the artful devices OF the opposition to waste
time without appearing to filibuster The brunt of
the fight for several days has been borne by Mr..
his CONTROL and therefore his efforts are much less
effective. All the parliamentary motions to facill-
tate progress must wait until the chairman sees fit
to make them, and frequently that is not the case
until he receives whispered suggestion from some
impatient friend of the bill. Any one who was not
thorough convinced that Judge Kelly is sincerely
ANXIOUS that the bill shall be passed would be
very likely to infer from his man
agement that he is playing into the hands Of
IT'S opponents. This afternoon, for example tho
chairman allowed the discussion to for near
ly two hours on Il single paragraph before ne made
a motion that the committee rise for the purpose of
limiting debate and only ten minutes Of the time
had been consumed in discussing the merits of the
under consideration. OF course Mr..
Carlisle called attention to this and demanded more
line for his side, which Judge Kelley refused to
grant. Thereupon the yeas and nays demanded
~ the Democrats, and a half-hOur was consumed
II calling the roll, after which Judge Kelley offered
he other side halhour fOr debate In other words,
,efore vote can be reached on any part of the
paragraph three hours Of time will have been con-
umed, when one hour would have amply sulliced.
The metal schedule contains elghty-two separate
upon the first twelve of which the Com
nittec OF the Whole has spent two days. including
N evening session, and the twelfth paragraphs
till unfiDished. At this rate the metal schedule
Iuch of the waste OF time to-day was caused by
lck OF self-restraInt the part OF the Republicans
yourselves. OF course, they have a heavy cross to
ear every day, as they are compelled TO listen TO
he harangues of free-tTade demagogues. who fill
he pages of The Record with the Outpourings
their ignorant but luXurant imaglnatIons;
ut probably nobody supposes that TO answer tho
riyel OF these demagogues or to expose the abb
Tdity of mlsstatements, even when made by Mr..
arlse or Mr.. Tucker, will change a single VOTE
recital of tariff creeds, such several Republi-
lns favored the House with to-day, might be in
resting and not Inappropriate under other crcum-
dnces, but just now, when every hour Is precious,
might be; better omitted.
An interesting speech was made by Mr. Lynch,
no gave cogent reasons why the laboring people
the South, as well as the cotton planters, favor
reasonable tariff for the protection of American
dustry Mr.. Lynch was born a slave and Is self
ucated; but his speech OF to-day will compare
vorably with any that has been made during the
scussion aud it was received with careful atten-
IN BY men of both sides.
An incident of the days discussion was the cruel
uishment administered to Ludwig the Spring
/" by Mr. Reed, who had been asked some pert
estons by the Illinois statesman. ITO havea
ant, SAID Mr. Reed, the seed must first be sown;
what is the use OF sowing the seed if there is no
rth INTO which il may drop and take root DOES
0 gentleman from Illinois follow mel might
swer his questions over and over again, but what
the use If [ cannot make the connection at the
ler end 2 There is the difficulty" The House
lred with laughter, and even Mr.. Springer seemed
catch the meaning of Mr. Reeds illustration.
The action of the House to-day showed that many
publicaDs in earnest when they resented
, action of the Speaker in taking three members
the Ways and Means Committee from Pennsyl-
lia, and also when they declared that the bill
ught in by the committee designed to take
Z of Pennsylvania interests at the expense Of
er States and their industries The bill fixed
LIit.. ntnal nilrrax I.o. q tim