The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-01-16
TARIFF REFORM.

Action by the Present Congress Improb-
able.
NEW YORK, JAN 15.-A Washington special
to the Tribune says the impression is gaining
strength among prominent representatives of
both parties that there will be no general re-
vision of the tariff at this session of Congress-
81 suppose the Ways and Means Committee
will report their bill next week, and the House
may be ready to begin its consideration week
LATER remarked one of the most influential
Republicans in the House day or two ago
He continued:-sI do not think any tariff bill
will become law at this session, however. It
looks TO me as though there will be regular
guerrilla campaign against it on both sides of
the House, and that as result nothing Will be
done"
Influential Democratic Representatives talk
in much the same straiu 1t is an open secret
neither the Democratic nor the Republican
members of the Ways and Means Committee
are united in regard to the BILL and it is proba-
bic that two of the Republican members will
oppose it. One of these is Mr.. Dunnell, who is
expected to return from Minnesota upon the
termination of the Senatorial contest The
other, it is whispered, is Mr.. Haskell, Of Kan
sas, who is reported to have said to a friend
yesterday that he could not support the meas
ure as it then StooS. 1t is supposed that Mr.
Hsskell's objections 10 the bill arise from the
deviation in the direction of higher duties by
the committee from the recommendations of
the tariff commission. Conferences of the Re-
publican members of the committee in the
House for the last day or two have, it is under
stood, failed to harmonic existing differences
on certain items, and it is feared that theV NAV
prove 10 be irreconcilable. OF course no one
has st any time expected that the Democratic
members OF the committee could find common
ground on any matter affecting the tariff
Sn the House no scheme of tariff revision
will command the solid Republican vote or
encounter united Democratic opposition There
are twenty Republican Representatives, or
more, whose views accord more nearly with
those of Mr.. Haskell or Mr.. Dunnell than they
dowith the opinions OF Judge Kelley or Major
Mckinley, for example; while on the other
hand ten Democratic Representatives will sup
port the position taken by Mr.. Carlisle or Mr.
Morrison, for every one who will take ground
with Mr.. Randall of Mr.. Speer
II has been quietly suggested recently that
an attempt may be made to revise the tariff
through the agency of a conference committee
of the Houses. This plan would involve the
passage Dy the Senate of the bill now before it,
which comprises tariff reform in the shape
of amendments to the Internal Revenue bill
and non-concurrence by the House, with or
without reference to the Ways and Means
Committee, in all the amendments If this
could be done, the Senate by insisting upon its
amendments could throw the two houses into
conference. This scheme would also require at
the very outset, that the House should admit
the right of the Senate 10 originate revision of
the tariff by tacking IL to bill providing for a
reduction of internal taxation; right which
many representatives are by no means willing
to concede.
Such plan could not succeed without the
votes of clear majority of the House; and it
has been suggested that, by means of a caucus,
the Republican Representatives might be
brought to its support; but that is more than
| doubtful, not only because some of them-like
Mr.. anderson, of Kansas, for example-would
refuse to be bound by caucus action in regard
to the tariff, but for another reason
| The plan described would necessarily limit
very materially the opportunities Tor debate
and amendment; and many Republicans, who
are loyal enough to the principles of protec-
| ton, have been restless and dissatisfied be-
| caute the Ways and Means Committee have
refused them an opportunity to be heard in re-
| gard to certain industries in which their CON
| stituents are specially interested. Representa-.
| tive Skinner Is an example, In his district
there are important manufactures of tanning
| extract, and of tin, which it is contended wers
not properly treated by the Tariff Commission
| Mr.. Skinner does not feel well, because in or
| der to reach the ear of the Ways and Means
| Committee, he has been obliged to set forth
his views TO each member individually on
| meeting. Many other Representatives are dis.
| contended for similar reasons, and they would
| be likely to resent any proposition the effec
| OF which would be to abridge their privileges
| OF discussion and amendment.