National Republican., 1883-03-06
The Defeated obstructlonlst..


the republicans in the enactment Of the tariff
law that, while tho matter is yet frcsh the
republican press would do well TO rccto the
admitted facts.
Tho tariff commission was created at the
first session of the congress which has just
expired, and, as required by law, reported II
tariff scheme. The tariff rates proposed by
them were of course not binding, but they
were intended as basis for legislation.
without tho assent of tho house there
could have been no tariff commission,
and therefore no report. The assent of tho
house to tho formation of the commission
was to some extent an assent by the house
that its report should be basis for lcgsla-
tion. These admitted facts, with Others to he
stated, materially mitigate the supposed in
vnsion by the senate of the constitutional pro.
rogative of tho house to originate all revenue
bills. If it be urged that the house should
nevertheless have been alone allowed to bring
forward the report of the commission, the OBJ
lection goes to the form rather than to the sub
stance. II would undoubtedly be somewhat
far fetched to argue that the senate could
originate u revenue bill if it could first
ascertain what bill would exactly suit
the house. But in the present case the
finance committee of the senate did in fact re-
port to the senate, rs an amendment to a
house bill, the very tariff measure which the
house had aided in framing through the instru-
mentality of tariff commission it helped to
| create. The measure underwent much change
before it passed the senate, the democrats Of
that body, more than their opponents, giving
it tho shape and form in which it finally
reached tho house. Upon the vote on its
| passage the democrats, who had thus made
it, deserted it, only eight Of them, led by Mr..
bill. Thus it appeared that the democrats
were willing to put their views intoa measure
and then to attempt its destruction.
Meanwhile the house committee on ways
and means had reported tariff bill, and the
majority used every endeavor for weeks to
assert the house prerogative Of originating a
revenue bill. In the discharge of this high
and imperative constitutional duty the house
was sturdily challenged, impeded, and de-
featod by the revolutionary expedcnts known
to minority in all parliamentary bodies.
| The rules adopted for the protection of the
minority against headlong and arbitrary con-
duct by the majority were perverted and
dragooned into the service of faction to
override the majority and prevent the house
from originating revenue bill because it was
not acceptable to the minority. New occa-
sions teach now duties. The majority
in the house were confronted with the new
occasion, and right well did they comprehend
it and address themselves to learning the new
duties it taught. They found the democrats
not only bent upon preventing any action on
the house bill, but they found them resolved
to force the senate bill down their throats
rithom an opportunity for amendment They de.
clared that the house should swallow the
senate bill whole, or they would let it so to
the speakers table, where it could only be
reached by a two.thirds vote. Think of this
from set of men who whined about
being gagged because they were moi
allowed thus to gag the majority. There
was all this time no indignation
among the house democrats over the asserted
violation Of the constitution by the senate in
originating tariff revenue bill as an amend
ment to a house internal revenue bill. If the
vote could be taken directly on concuring il
the entire senate measure, then there was t
be no exhibition of II bleeding constitution
Indeed, to slightly paraphrase the words
of Representative Tucker, of Virginia
the democratic strict constitutionalists
stood ready to sWap the constitution 70
lou tariff They were willing to say
"We will not raise tho constitutions
question until after we vote ON concurring il
the low tariff amendment Of the senate, ant
if we can get that bill we will swap the con
stitution for it. FIVE do not, we will draw
up tho constitution as shield to prevent tn,
people getting any reduction of taxation"
The republicans of the house refused t.
have a senate measure thus forced upon then
without any opportunity for amendment
Prevented from getting a vote on the hous
bill, resolved not to have the senate dictate
revenue bill, and determined not to ALLOW
tax reduction 10 fail, there was but one cours
left to pursue, and that was to appeal t,
the constitutional power Of each house t,
determine the rules of its proceedings.
Accordingly in due form, and in the manne
prescribed for amending the rules, the ma
jority determined a rule for its proceedings
whereby the proposition of the senate coulC
be made the subject of conference between
the two houses, and of compromise between
opposing opinions, instead of being arbitraril!
dictated by the upper house. The result is
, tariff reduced 10 per cent, and a reduction o
, taxes to the amount of S70,0OOOOO.
To recapitulate, the senate republicans an
eight democrats passed tariff bills with
: full knowledge that unless they did ther
T would be no tariff legislation because Of tn
| conduct of the house democrats The demo
Gratis of the senate so mutiated the tariff com
a mission bill reported by the finance commit