The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-08
REED TRIES TO BE WITTY
HADES AND HARMONY ALIKE IN
ONE RESPECT.

Committee
WASHINGTON, March 7.-Having mar
shaled their forces over night, the Republi-
can members of the Ways and Means Com
mittee renewed their attack on the Demo-
cratic majority's tariff and revenue
measure this morning. All of the members
were present at 1910 o'clock, and when the
committee had been called to order, Mr..
Reed opened the proceedings by renewing
his motion that representatives of the
cement industry be heard by the commit
tee. After the exchange Of some tart re-
marks between the opposing lines this
motion was defeated by a strict party vote.
SECOND DEFEAT.
Mr.. Reed again came to the front with a
motion that the marble men be heard, as
theirs was an industry that would be Sc
riously affected by the passage of the pend
ing bill. This was also rejected.
Mr.. Burrows then moved that the Ester
brook Metallic Pen Company, of Camden,
N. j., be granted ten minutes in which to
point out the probable effect of the bill on
their business, which he said would be its
absolute destruction. The same result fol-
lowed when the vote was taken, the Demo
Gratis refusing to agree to any hearings.
MAY SEND IN COMMUNICATIONS.
Mr. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, next Of
fered a general resolution that all industries
affected by the pending bill have the liberty
to file written or printed communications
before the committee, but that no oral hear
ings be granted.
Mr. Kelley moved to amend SO as to re-
quire that these communications already on
file or hereafter received be read by the
Clerk to the committee
Mr. Kelleys motion was rejected.
A PARTY VOTE.
Mr.. Mckinley then requested the commit
tee to hear workingmen and members of
Congress on industries in which they are
interested, and which were touched upon
by the bill. Being put in the form of a
motion this was also voted down, and M.
Breckinridges resolution, allowing com
munications to be filed. but refusing oral
hearings, was adopted by party vote, after
the Republican members had expressed
their minds vigorously in opposition to it.
The committee then adjourned, subject
to the call of the chairman.
A CONFERENCE.
A conference of the Democratic members
was held after the adjournment at which
it was resolved to proceed with cOnsidera-
tion of the tariff revenue bills in commit
tee, when certain information-mainly
tables showing present and prospective
tariff receipts-shall be received from the
printer. 1t is understood that this will be
ready in day or two, and meeting of the
committee will probably be called for Fri
day or Saturday.
REEDS ALLITERATION.
Speaking of the tariff" said Mr.. Reed,
of Maine, to friend to-day, did it ever
occur to you that HI and harmony both
begin with an h.n Mr.. Reed must bave
been thinking of his own efforts to secure
harmony among the Republicans of the
House on the tariff question. Although he
is the leader Of his side and its principal
representative on the Ways and Means
Committee, he has not been able to cajole
or coerce his followers into harmonious sup
port of his little plan. His idea seems to
have been to take Mr.. Randall's scheme of
reduction, consisting chiefly in the repeal of
all tobacco taxes and the tax on fruit
brandies and alcohol used in the arts, with
a reduction or the tax on distilled spirits
from 90c. to Soc ON a gallon
DOOMED TO DISAPPOINTMENT.
He seems to have thought this would be
more certain of a majority of votes in the
House than any scheme embracing reduc-
tiOns in the sugar duties; but when he
began TO show it around for the best plan
for the Republicans to adopt he found that
be made to agree with him. Most of them
told him frankly that they could not sup
port any reduction in the tax on distilled
spirits and that a reduction in the sugar
duties must be separated in any measure
designed to secure their votes. They did
not see why Mr.. Randall should not come
to them as he has always done. They were
certainly not thinking of going to him.
Mr.. Mckinley, Mr. Reeds chief Lieutenant
an ma aN nd
it would be clever thing to put a resolu-
ton repeating all the tobacco taxes through
the House with whirl.
PLENTY OF OPPOSITION
He seems to have thought there would be
little or no objection to it, and he drew up
such resolution last week and showed it to
some of his Republican colleagues. explain
ing TO them that he proposed to steal
march on the Democrats with it on Mon
day. The first Republican he showed it to
said promptly and emphatically; "I'll get
you twenty votes against that resolution
right around here" The next one said he
thought that the number of Republicans
voting against it would be nearer fifty than
twenty and before Mr. Mckinley returned
to his seat and put the resolution in his
waste basket, he had received similar as
surances from dozen Republicans. They
were all Western men, and in that fact lies
Jne secret OF the Wlde dl1erenceS on the Re-
publican side of the House.
ALL AT LoGGERHEADs.
The Republicans are united on nothing
except opposition TO the Mills bill as it |
stands. The Eastern Republicans generally |
want to oppose il with an internal revenue |
reduction bill like Mr.. Randall's, while the |
Western Republicans generally want to |
oppose it with another tariff bill. Mr.. |
Brown, of Indiana, rep esents these men on |
the Ways and Means Committee. Probably |
his bill placing coal, salt, lumber and some |
chemicals on the free list; reducing by one |
half or repeating entirely the duties on |
sugar; repeating the tobacco taxes repealed |
by the Mills bill, and the tax on alcohol |
used in the arts, would command the sup |
port Of the larger number of them. So far |
the two factions of the Republicans are as |
far apart as the two factions OF the-Demo- |
Gratis. 1t is their knowledge of the dissen- |
sions on the Republican side which helps |
make the revenue reformers OF the Ways |
and Means Committee so hopeful of passing |
a bill substantially similar to that which |
they have prepared and will report from |
the Ways and Means Committee.