New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-02
NOT A DARK LANTERN" BILL.
FEATURES OF THE PROPOSED SENATE TAR
IFF BILL.
SENATOR HARRIss CRAFTY SCHEME WON'T
WORK - THE RECORD Is CLEAR THAT THE
SENATE TARIFF HEARINGS HAVE BEEN

SENATOR HARRIs's CRAFTY SCHEME WON'T
WORK - THE RECORD IS CLEAR THAT THE
SENATE TARIFF HEARINGS HAVE BEEN
OPEN TO EVERY ONE INTERESTED
EXCEPT TIE LOBBYISTS"
Washington, Sept 1 Special .-Scnator Harris
Of the Finance Subcommittee assisted by some
Of the Democratic newspapers, is MAXIM dcs
pcrate attempt TO create the impre that il the
preparation Of the substitute for the Frcc-Tradc
Sugar Trust Tariff bill the Republican members Of
Tn" subcommittee have rcsorted to Dark Lantern
methods which were Justly and severely rcprobatcd
by everybody except the frce-trade leaders and
newspapers, when the Democratic members Of
Ways and Means were hiding in secret places TO
prepare for their assault on American labor and
industries. They os:entatiously excluded the
Republican members Of Ways and Means fcom
participation IN the work Of preparing bill;
they fatty and formally refused to hear working
men and farmers and listened only TO the argyll
mentS Of lobbyists, Of few manufacturers with
whom they could arrangc dcllcr,T of importers
and Of the representatives OF the Sugar Trust ;
they refused even to hca- read in committee the
petitions and circumstances OF worl,ingnen and
others, and Representatives in Congress- we-e de-
MED hearing
The charge that the majority Of the Senate
subcommittee has done any Of these things
is simply false. If any member Of the minorit~
of that subcommittee makes the charge he docs
so knowing il TO be untrue The DemocI1 ic
members are Senators Beck Voorhees, and Harris
Every one of them has been present AZ the hear
ings whenever he chose. and has asked his full
share Of questions in order TO obtain information
from the representatives Of the worllingmen and
manufacturers. Mcssrs Beck, Voorhees, and Ilar
riS VIII not deny this statement
Mr.. Harris is reported saying that he do,
not know that the subcommittee is engaged ID
the preparation Of substitute for the DARK
Lantern bill He must have been misrc-
ported or his anxiety on account Of the cOnd.-
ton Of his Senatorial fences in Tennessee
must have obscured his memory. The Tribune
correspondent remembers distinctly the arrange
mcnt made soon after the hearings began, under
which at least one Republican and one Democrat
were to be present at every hearing and Senator
Harris was selected by his colleagues as the
Democratic representative. If he preferred TO 20
to Tennessee and Senators Beck and Voorhees,
chose TO absent themselves from the hearings, the
majority of the subcommittee could not be held
responsible 1t is too late for Mr. Harris OF Mr..
to plead the baby act Moreover. the report of
the hearings has been and is accessible to every
membt of the Finance Committee. Republican and
Demo rat alike. The Democratic members Of Ways
and Mems not only kept record Of the private
and confidential hearings granted by them, but
they refused from first to last to communicate 10
the minority the substance Of the information OBJ
tanned Probably the hearings" CT too
delicate nature to permit their publication, say,
for example lhe one which results in the change
Of the proposed sugar schedule TO meet the views
Of President Iavcmcyer. OF the Sugar Trust.
Again. no worlingman, no wool-grOwer no man
ufacturer. no Representative in Congress, Demo-
crat or Republican. has been denied o hearing by
the Senate subcommittee 1t is true that law
yer lobbyists and men who are interested solely
in tie importation Of foreign goods have not been
permitted to frame the Senate substitute. and
,hcre is exactly where the Shoe pnchcs
The substitute has been prepared in the interest
of American labor and industries and with view
To reduce the revenues TO the point of safety.
1t will add to the free list probably non
competing articles and materials Oh which the du-
ties last year amounted to $4,000. 1000 or $1,000
600; il VIII reduce internal taxes Oh tobacco aud
On alcohol used in the manufactures and the me-
chanlc arts, probably S35,0O0,OO0 TO S40OO0,000;
II will reduce the duty which j. dat, for rove u
cnlv," and therefore, a tax on the CONSTRUCTION
sugar 30 per cent and thus reduce the cost Of one
If ;hc prime ncccssarics Of life" which has been
artilcialiy enhanced in order to fill the Golfers
OF trust IL VIII correct lIfc-lI|u'
treasury rulings which have enabled
foreign manufacturers and importers TO cripple
American Industries and O?press American labor;
il will protect American wool growers and cn-
courage The growing Of the finest grades OF wool;
II will revive certain branches of iron manufacture
and prevent the Gripping OF other branches; II
will not be open 10 the charge Of scciOnallSm.
for il is not political measure like the Dark
Lantern" bill. 1t is probable that the effect OF
Tin. substitute if il shall become a law without
1el,a Inc n roy
frcn customs duties and internal taxes. on the
basis OF last years revenues, about S13,0OO.OOV.
Such a reduction probably VIII require some
rctrcnchmcnt, or at least = read gstment OF ca
YcndltuTes
viii the substitute be adopted? That is
question which cannot be answered until the
Democratic Senator, show their hands. They q
ready begin TO show signs OF nervousness; not t9
say ugineSs " We must have time for full
discussion and for a yea ard nay vote on every
pronescd change in the House bill they say.
There is scmi-oilcial talk also, of
1 TN , HgreN''' Shall '''" be made fo- the
preparation Of a minority report" by the Demo
cratic members OF the Finance Committee. All
this talk, of course. means that the Frce-lrad
leaders in the Senate are reluctant to face the
issue which they will be called upon 10 meet.
Wen do what the caucus directs. says Sen
ator Beck which means that the SINE methods
arc 10 be followed which prevailed in the lJOusc
and that Mcssrs Mcpherson. German. Brown. and
pcrhaps one or two other Senators. who are SuS-
roctad Of a lack Of warmth Of affection for the
Dark Lantern bill, 10 be whipped into the
traces If uracticabc The rules 0nd custom OF
tho senate permit the wide 81 latitude OF discus
sion and il Will be in the power OF the minority
r. nrotract the debate almost lntcrmlnaby. II II
chooses to do 50. One thing may be set down ~
certain and that j. that the minority VIII he r.
sponsiblc if no final vote on the substitute IS
reached within a reasonable ume'