New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-30
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MOLES IN CONG RESS.

The public does not understand why the
Dark Lantern tariff bill is concocted in secret
When Republicans have had occasion TO revise
the tariff. every step has been taken with open
doors. Thus the committee from the begin
ming to the end of it's deliberations has had the
benefit Of public opinion, sometimes heartily
commencing and sometimes pointing out the
nnwisdom of changes proposed Then, too,
there has always been ample time for con-
alteration. and for constituents even in dis
tant parts of the country to make their opinions
known to Congressman before final action.
and more than once the voice Of the people
has modified the action of the House.
This is exactly what Dark Lantern Demo-
Gratis want to avoid. They are anxious that
members should not have chance to hear
from their constituents about the bill. III
possible. leaders privately admit they will
rush the bill through without any serious de-
bate The greatest pains is taken to prevent
any warning of the nature OF the bill, until
disclosure can no longer be avoided. Hence
the committee is robbed Of its rightful
function, and part of its members hide in
dark holes to transact their business. dozen
rrofessedly authoritative dispatches have been
sent out. regarding the tenor OF the coming
bill. But the features of agreement and of
disagreement alike indicate that wishes rather
than definite results are whispered to reporters
by paSsionately eager partlsans. 10 discuss
either of these reports would probably he
waste of time. There is reason to suppose
that an inner ring Of secrecy exists. even In
side the Dark Lantern conclavc. and that only
two men could possibly tell if they would,
what the majority will finally be required to
report But all this secrecy is intended to
prevent warning constituents Of the character
of the bill to be offered until it is too late for
effective expression Of public opinion.
Thanks to this Dark Lantern method. tho
bill will come before the public at the outset
as one which its authors have been afraid to
let the public consider Every man of them
will protest that he has no such aim. Yet
there is not plain citizen in the country who
does not see that no other motive explains the
performance. IF these Democrats were mob
aware that public opinion would oppose them,
they would be most eager to get the full benefit
Of popular support for their measure. They
know that every week Of publicity will make
the passage of the bill more difficult and so
they hide it from the light as long as they can
Tho same purpose prevents consideration of
the measure in open committee. There OK
pcricnced and able political opponents would
have chance to point out its mistakes. Re-
publican leaders in the House have sought the
criticism of foes, and of all parties concerned
as to every feature Of tariff bill, in order to
avoid mistakes as far as possible The Dark
Lantern statesmen have a different object. TO
them it is trivial matter whether bill is
exactly right or not They treat with con-
temptuous indifference the question whether 1t
will hurt important industries. All that they
care about is to contrive bill that can be
passed. that will enable them to pretend they
have reduced taxation. and that will 90 as far
as possible toward satisfying free traders.
Especially. they want to satisfy the foreign I'M
porters, upon whom the party relies for large
campaign subscriptions That being the
motive, the method is fitting. 1t is likely to
result IN a bill full of blundcrs and particularly
dangerous to industry. But the Dark Lantern
statesmen do not care, provided it will help
them to snatch the offices for another term.