New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-07
Il MEETING AT LAST.
LIVELY SCENES IN WAYS AND MEANS.
TIE MINORITY DEMANDS HRARfSos-AccEss TO
SOURCES OF INFORMATION cLosxD-A suLLEN
AND STUBBORN MAJORITY,


AND STUBBORN MAJORITY.
WASHINGTON, March G.-To-lay, three months
after the beginning of the session, the Ways and
Means Committee met for the first time to consider
the subject Of Revenue Legislation, which was
regarded as one Of such Importance by President
Cleveland on December I, 1887, that he devoted
to it the whole of his annual message to Congress
That message was referred to the Ways and Means
Committee by the House. and when the committee
assembled this morning the message was still on
its table never having been referred to its proper
sub-committce To-day's meeting was lively
one. When it WAS proposed to take up the Dark
Lantern, bill Mr. Reed objected, and said that as
he understood il, usage required that the Prcsi-
dents message should receive respectful attention
and be considered under the instructions OF the
House. lie WAS promptly over ruled by Chairman
Mills. Mr.. Reed then bandly inquired where the
bill came from and upon what IL was based hir'
Burrows Of Michigan, also offered some obscr'a-
tons on the subject Democratic ncnper Oh
the committee objected, and the committee by a
PARTY vote decided to take up the Dark Lantern
tariff bill Judge Kelley then offered resolution
directing the clerk of the committee TO request
the Ccnmis ,ioner of Agrcultur to inform the com
mittec in what States and Territories flax AID heml
were grown in the year So1 the nninoer Oh 1rrs
of each planted. and the average yield There
was some hesitation on the part OF the Premier
and his collca CUES. Int Mr. breckenridge OF Ken
tucky expressed his Willingness to have the IN
formation obtained. provided II should be Tor each
year since Ssj. The resolution was then adopted.
SQUIRE MILLS OlFCIATEs AT The WEDDING
Mr. McNIin of Tcnncsscr, then exposed to
view the Dark Lantern" Internal Revenue bill.
and expressed desire that il Lc forthwith welded
to the tariff bill. The minority tried to prevent
this abrupt and irregular proceeding, as neither bill
had received consideration in the committee, but
party vote ovcrrulcd the attempt, ana Inc
marriage ceremony was promptly Performed ny
Squire Mills Major Mckinley then 0Hclcd inc
usual motion that the consolidated bill be referred
to the Secretary of the Treasury for his estimate
Us TO the effect OF the measure upon .he CUSTOMS
and the Internal Revenue, and his opinion respect
ing the admnst fativc features of the measure:
BY "a party vote the committee decided that 1T dld
not want any information or expression OF opinion
from Mr. Fairchild. Mr. Reed then suggested that
many important industries are Affected by the
bill, and that the minority OF the committee, at
least. desired to obtain information not only from
representatives of such industries but from work
ingmcn, whose wages might be affected by the
proposed reductions of duty, and from farmers and
wool growers whose interests are involved ms
suggestion was received with chorus Of OBJ
jections 1t is too late in the session." said one.
"Ah,' interrupted Judge Kelley, " that Is not
the fault of the minority gentlemen. we have
consider this subject. We have not becn-I will
not say permttcd-but invited to any conference,
and we have not enjoyed the benefit OF any hear
ings or information which MAY have been had
or received Judge Kelley spoke with great
earnestncss, hut made little impression on the
sulen and stubborn majority After the com
mittee adjourned, he remarked that he did not
propose to stand silent between the committee
room and American people in respect to matters
in which all of them feel a deep concern. Mr..
Breckenridge. Of Kentucky, suggested that the
persons who desired to be heard could put their
statements in print and send them TO members
of the committee for their information. This
provoked some sarcastic observations from Mr..
/ Reed, who said everybody knows that Congress.
men sit up nights to read printed circulars. ana
are never so happy as when doing it, lie declared
that the proposition. if adopted, would amount TO
| nothing.
Mr. Reed then read letter from the Rosendale
Cement Company of New-iork. whose works arc
I'm Mr. Hopkins district asking that the American
cement producers be heard on the proposition to
eft Of Canadian and English producers. Mr..
Burrows presented an application from the rs
Textbook Pen Company, Of New-Jersey asking
that its representative might be heard Tor Ten
minutes only to show that the proposed reduction
OF the duty on steel pens would ruin the steel
pen manufacturers of the United States and throw
the market into the hands Of English manufact-
urers The members of the minority showed SO
much feeling and demanded with so much earnest
ness that hearings be granted to parties in inter
est that one or two Democratic members hcsi-
tated and, finally, a decision on the question was
postponed until tomorrow. 1t came out IN the
discussion that the Dark Lantern confederates
have granted private hearings not only TO LOBBY
lists in the guise Of disinterested " Revenue he
formers" but to certain manufacturers who IL
was thought. might be persuaded to lend thelI
influence In aid Of the measure in consideration
Of certain promised advantages TO themselves