New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-08
/" DARK-LANTERN" METHODS.
WAYS AND MEANS LOCKS IT'S DOORS.
An IN~Ulr TO AMERICAN wcRKINGMEN-h'Hhi
INDUSTRY D-NIED A HEARING.
Ivy TNIrGRiPiI 10 TIE TRIRrNEl

W ,e,,1xorO- March THE Dark-Lanterh
con.ed, rates who compose the majority OF the
Nays and Means Committee showed ther nanus
to-day The proceedings fairly indicate that the
majority Is determined to railroad the Dill
THROUGH the committee exactly as II stands, ana
tb,.,st il upon the House with al It's Imperfect
lions on its head. BY formal party vote the
committee closed the door Of the committee-room,
not ONLY against the representatives of manu-
featuring industries but also against working
men farmers, woolgrowers and fruit-growers
After the committee assembled Mr.. Reed sub
n:tted requests to be heard from the Louisville
Ky) Cement Company, representing capital OF
81 SOC, coo, employing 1000 men, and producing
100000 barrels of cement annually; and OF the
cement manufacturers of Pennsylvania, repre-
scnting a capital of s750,00O, employing 600
men. and producing 400 900 barrels per annum
Both requests were denied by strict party vote
Major Mckinley then moved that Representa-
tive Stewart, of Vermont, be permitted TO MAKE Se
q statement in regard to the marble INDUSTRIES OF
that State. The motion was rejected py parry
vote =.
MIR Burrows asked that hearing Of ten min
utes only be granted to the steel pen manufactur-
ers and the same amount Of time to me president
of the Salt Producers Association OF M WrT9fa
a prominent Democrat, VINO is now III w asnli I'm,
ton Both requests were denied by party vote.
TOTAL EXCLUSION OF ORAL HEARINGS.
The majority grew weary Of voting down mo-
lions in behalf Of specific industries, ana Mr.
breckenridge, of Kentucky, who seems to have
been nromoted TO the rank of Premier by bre.
Vet offered a resolution declaring that no oral
hearings shall be allowed in behalf OF any INDUS
try but grsciousy permitting the nj nrps
or in writing To this resolution Judge Kelley
moved TO add these words:
And AT the opening of each session of the committee
the clerk shall proceed to read to the committee the
statements and protests received during the in'erres
mum.
The amendment was promptly rejected by
Major Mckinley then offered provso that the
prohibition of hearings shall not apply TO work,
inCmen. whose wages might be Affected py inc
operation Of the proposed law, or to Representa-
tfves in Congress who might desire, to give the ne
committee information respecting industries IN
their respective districts with the condition ana
needs Of which they are familiar Inc prOvlso
worried several Of the Democrats. Mr, Bynu1 a.
of Indiana was especially uneasy. and trled 70
have it ruled out on a point of order, which OF
course could not be done The proviso was then
rejected by yea and nay vote ana the other
Democrats Major Mckinley has in his POSES posses
sion several applications TO be heard from WORK
ingmen engaged in various industries
A SHADY MEASURE TO THE LAST
As the Dark-Lantern" majority has denied
every specific request made for hearing before
the committee, and as it is not probable that any
member of il viii read or pay any attention TO
written or printed statements criticising any parb
Of the hin. and as members Of the minority have
not been placed In possession OF the lnforma,lon,
if any, collected by the trainers OF rnG sealed
every source of INFORMATION ana aeterininou 'p ~
it shall be Darx-Lanterns measure T,,on 10
offered BY Judge Kelley shows that the mal9f ny
prefers darkness to light. and the rejection OF me
proviso submitted by Major Mckinley proves that
He majority not only holds the worldngrnan IN
contempt but is ready with yea ard nay vote 10
deny TO the representatives OF the people IN on
rress an opportunity to furnish the committee
sSt.h nsaful and pertinent information bearing on
measure which affects the whole country ana
in which the people feel deep concern.
Mr. Reed made a strong appeal 70 the com
nnitfea in favor of fair play and decent consldera
ton of the proposed legislation. He regarded
hearings as absolutely essential inasmuch as tns
hin had not been considered been granted
70 the facts and information. if any, upon which 10
is based To this Mr. Breckenridge, Of Arkansas
replied that such bearings s, would consume SIX SIX
weeks of precious time. The re1oi1der TO ms
was that inasmuch as it had taken three months
for the majority assisted By certain persons 10
the minority unknown TO gel ready 10 oeglh 10
consider the subject. 1t would be no more than
fair to allow one-half as long time for the com
mittee to gather facts and information ana con-
slider the propositions now submitted. .
A Democratic member said that fair time would
he granted for reasonable consideration. Inc
reply TO this was that what wouu oe reg q 1os
as fair time a matter Of opinion; That II was
admitted that private hearings had Deen grained
90 certain unknown persons, and 1t was only iilr
that public hearings should be accorded TO suen
persons as desired TO appear mat WOULD Dc III
accordance with unbrOken precedents
aPECUNIARY INTERESTS" NOT CONSIDERED.
Tho minority might as well have appealed to
eight brazen images as to the eight Democrats WHO
compose the majority Of Ways and Means. one
of them defended the denial of hearings on The
ground that the persons who would appear are
pecuniarly interested in the proposed leglsla-
tion and his views seemed TO be approved by his
colleagues and so man who has pecunlafy
interest" either as a Manufacturer with large
capital at stake, a wage Garner farmer CT nock
expect that his arguments however cogent, or his
objections. however sound, viii nave teatners
weight with this remarkable COMMITTEE OF WAYS
and Means. Having refused TO ask the secretary
of the Treasury for information respecting the
probable effect Of the proposed measure and smut
and locked the door Of the comnittee-room against
evervbody Mr. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, moved
that the bin be read through without amendment
or interruption"
bin was not to be considered by items In the
usual manner If it was to be so considered, why
waste time IN reating It as whole lie remarked
chat he supposed that after the bill had been so
sead a motion mi ght be made and carried to report
Il Immediately TO the House The minority re-
ceived no assurance that THIS Will not De zone
except a vague promise from Mr. Breckenridge, OF
Kentucky. that there will be an opportunity TO
offer amendments
that no statement had been prepared or submitted
showing the probable. or estimated effect OF the
bill on the and protested against further
proceedings until such a statement IS furnished.
Chairman Mills said that the clerk Of the com
uittee was at work such statement, which
probably would be ready tomorrow night. The
committee then adjourned to meet at the call of
the chairman.
swE WILL CRAM 1T DOWN THEIR THROATs."
1t is reported that the next meeting will be
held Friday or Saturday. Several weeks ago Mr..
McMillin of Tennessee, was reported as saying:
We will cram the tarif bill down the threats OF tho
minority as thoy crsmmed the bill OF 1888 down our
throats
The tariff bin Of 1888 was based on the report
of the Tariff Commission, which was laid before
Congress December A. 1ss2 The Ways and Means
Committee Immediately began TO consider the sub
feet and opened its doors TO wOrkingmen, wool
growers and manufacturers well as 10 free-trade
theorists who desired TO be heard Daily meetings
were held and the minority Of the committee was
allowed every right and privilege which il could
claim Nothing was done in the dark. The