The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-01
THE SENATORS IN A huff.
They Want to Know if Mckinley is
Chief Engineer of the
Machine.
Tho Republican Senators May
Pass a Tariff Bill of Their
Own.
Manufacturers Who See Through the Nc
Kin,ev Bill--Petitions CrowdinK in
Upon the House Committee.

uDOn the House COmmlttec.
All sorts of ru1nors are rife concerning
the probable action of the senate finance
committee or the tariff, says washington
special to tho Denver News. republican
senator. who is member of the finance
committee, was asked day or two ago II
the senate would pass the house tariff Dill.
With abundant deliberation he replied
..The senate will pass tariff bill. but not
the house tariff bill.''
From his declaration it is argued that
Mr.. Mckinley, in the house. was to get up
a measure SO stiff with protection that 1t
could not bend, but made up in such a
careful manner that every man who
asked for high protection would get the
impression that he was to have 1t. Inc
promise of the campaign would PC maze
good to the extent that the intention was
Shown. As it was not to be passed 1t
would not make any difference II hld ies
were made dutiable, or lime increased AoO
ner cent. or pictures made free, or OIL
paintings and autographs taxed. IL was
POSSIBLE it might have spoiled IN the mousse
# the caucus compulsion was not applleG.
A. ali events it was to be an exhibition
bill. It is claimed. also, that Judging from
tha .' course taken by the finance COM
m,;ttee this must have been the plan, and
that while the house is discussing the NC
Kinley bill, the senate committee Will 60 on
with it's work. When u conciuoes ma. Ine
changes made by Mckinley are advisable
they will be approved. The senate Will
bring forth measure very near Identical
With that reported and passed by it IN 1888.
and should the Mckinley bill come
to the senate before this session is
ended the senate bill 10 to be
snbstituted for that of the house. That
will. of course, compel aconference commit
tee. and possibly the most important seized
ules of the bill will DO adopted i'll 1870, as
thew were in 1858, by vote OF majority OF
the conferees, respectively of the house and
senate. Six men, or four men, to be pre-
else, will pass the new tariff bill.
The republicans appear to have unbouna-
ed faith in the success of carrying on TINS
game, It does not fit in with the threaten
ing language attributed to Mckinley, but
it makes the protesting shoe and leather
men of the east look ridiculous. There are
worsted importers and WOODEN manufac-
turers who believe that the tariff IS to be
Chinese wall, and they hear the story about
the double play of the republicans with
amazement, while the worsted men are ex-
planning that the new Dingley bill, pro
posinp to tax worsted as wooden. will, if
passed, inhct great injustice upon them II
they attempt to carry the contracts made
under different understanding. They Won
der what this gossip about the purpose of
the senate can mean. On the other hand
Senator Allison says that so far as he
knows there is no truth in the report that
the senate committee on finance has begun
the preparation of tariff bill, to De pre-
sented as substitute for the Mckinley bill.
finance committee, he speaks by authority.
He says they have not YET received the
tables showing the effect which the Mckin-
ley bill will have on the revenues 1t is
possible, however, in his opinion, that. IN
order to save time, the senate committee
may begin to informally DISCUSS .H i11 snoJece
of the tariff before the house bill comes
over. The senator added that i'll his
opinion the committee on finance will not
bring in a substitute for the Mckinley bill
but will report that measure back with pos
sible amendments, after giving 1t due con
sideration. Members of both houses admit
that there is radical difference of views
between the senate finance committee and
Mr. Mckinley on several points. large
number of protests are being received by
the WAYS and means committee from in
terests in various parts OF the country, many
of which conflict with each other. Over zoo
formal petitions, bearing many hundred
signatures, have been received since the bill
was reported. The worsted men, who have
been trying to impress their views on the
republicans of the ways and means com
mittee. have left Washington, disguised
with the brutal treatment they have re-
ceived from the majority, whose ears APP
turers. They laid the facts before the
committee to-day and stated their position
fully, but they found the committee SEEM
ingly determined to pay no attention to
their protests.
Tho wooden people had evidently cap
tured Messrs Mckinley and Dingley and
their colleagues. Having failed to get Sec
retaries Manning and fairchlld to inter
pref the law as they desired, the wooden
men, through political bargain, the ma
ture Of which is we'll known, induced Secre-
tary Window to read the law to suit them.
Mir. Windom's decision compelled import
ers to pay WOODEN duties on worsteds. which
they had already sold on the basis OF
worsted rates, but when tho importers car
ried the matter into the courts they gained
the day. Now the manufacturers ask fol
,pecial legislation i'll the shape of the
0ingley bill, to make worsteds pay woole1
duties.
It is now understood that tho republicans
in the house hope to limit the general de
bate on the tariff to six days. and the de
bate under the tive-minute rule to ten day
moro, making in all sixteen legislative days
These gentlemen say that the democrat
can antagonize by debating il and expose 1t
weakness better under the tive-minute rul
than by burning the midnight oil and pre-
pairing tiresome tariff essays rs contribu
tons to the current literature on the sub
iect. 1t is doubtful. however, if the repub
llcans can dispose of the measure within
the reriod agreed upon. The democrats
will insist upon longer time. and 1t may
be month before the measure shall be dis
posed of and sent over to the senate.