New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-10
MR.. MILLSS PROSPECTS,

The Confederate Brigadiers do not please
some of the Free Traders, who fear their fill
clustering will hurt the Mills Tariff bill. There
is Just bare possibility that it may. In fact,
it WILL if there is ever chance that the bill II
brought to a vote will pass. The Democrats
cannot complain if their own methods are used
to defeat a partisan bill. In order to make
filibustering easier, the Brigadiers obtained
rulings permitting motions to excuse from
voting members whether present or absent, and
there will como a lively time if the Free Trad
ers, most of whom are these same Confederate
Brigadiers who are now flibustcrng, attempt
to force vote on Tariff bill before the Re
publicans have offered and explained all the
amendments they wish
This proceeding may take long time, in the
open House. but they are not responsible for
that. Usually there is given chance to con-
slider the details of bill in committee. But
the Ozark Lantern" ajority of Mr.. MISS
committee, with studied discouItesy unprece-
denied in Congressional history, has deprived
the Republicans and the Democrats who act
with Mr.. Randall Of all part in the framing or
serious consideration of this bill in committee.
Therefore the details will have TO be considered
in the House. This takes much longer, but
Mr. Mills and his associates are responsible
for it. The number of legitimate and rea-
sonable amendments which can with perfect
propriety be offered to such measure. and
which ought TO be offered in the House since
there has been no consideration of the bill in
committee, cannot easily be estimated. There
are 1861 lines in the tariff section Of the bill,
every one of which might with propriety be
amended If the House should refuse the
amendment that ought TO be made, for the full
and Just protection of American industry, it
would then be right to ascertain whether some
other amendment between that and the Free
Traders proposal could not be accepted as a
compromise Then there is the free list, con-
tanning COZ lines; every item can be taken up
if any member thinks it ought to be made duti-
able, and should the House reject duty first
proposed he may think it right to try other
propositions involving different rates.
A long job, this? True, but Mr. Mils's I'M
wise refusal to consider the details OF the bill
in committee forces members TO discharge their
duties as best they can in the House. When
the committee has performed its duty. and the
members on each side have had fair oppor-
tunity TO be heard as TO the details. there Is
some obligation to assume that the majority IN
the House. after hearing reasons, will decide as
the majority in committee did decide after
hearing. But there can be no presumption
whatever when the majority in committee has
practically refused all hearing or discussion.
Mr. Mills will try to stop consideration, OF
course. But he will then discover that his
friends, the Confederate Brigadiers, have made
mischief for him. The rulings and methods
used to prevent two-thirds of the House from
voting to pay an honest debt of the Nation can
Is well be amnloyed whenever an insolent Tee