New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-14

The fighting over the Tariff bill in the Com
mittee of the Whole has come TO he, on the
mart of the Democrats, a fight for delay On
the part of the Republicans it is a fight to
overcome inSincere pretenccS and systematic
obstruction. and to secure reasonably speedy
action. Il is to be expected, therefore, that
the Free-Trade organs throughout the country
will do what they can to make it appear that
the majority is disposed to suppress honest
amendments and candid consideration. The
| country should watch this business attentive
! ". and if it does, will have no difficulty in dc
Gliding whether the Democratic claims are well
founded.
! Ict il be remembered that amendments
| practically unlimited in number, can he offered
/ 10 each and every provision or paragraph OF
Tariff bill. \ single line, for instance, fixes
the dutv on boracc acid at ; cents. 1t Is pos
,ible 10 move. as an amendment, that the duty
he fixed ut any other figure whatever; at the
,hou>lndth part of one cent, and if that he de-
fcatcd AT two thouSandthS OF one cent, and so
on. More than five thousand amendments
/ conld thus be offered on that one line OF bill
covering many thousand lines and distinct pro-
visions BY multiplying amendments in TINS
way. debating each Of them and demanding
vote on each, more than an entire year could
easily be consumed by small minority.
The majority has. and must necessarily have,
absolute power TO limit this kind of obStruc-
ton and in the exercise of lis indiNputabIe
right il has fixed a time beyond which the con-
sidcrafiOn Of details shall not be permitted 10
extend That act has given fair notice 20 those
who honestly desire to have the bill amended
in any particular and they now know that UNI
less they bring their amendments within "A
reasonable number. and coniinc the debate
uron them 70 a reasonable time. only part OF
them can he considered AT all. Il rests with
them 10 select those propositions which they
think most important, and 10 determine now
much time they will expend in discussing them
If they waste the whole time in talking and
acting upon matters of trfng importance,
they will have only themselves 10 blame II the
days set apart for this measure are exhausted
before questions Of importance can be reached.
But even in that event no member Of the
House will be deprived of any right. For
every member i free 70 decide for himself
whether he approves or does not approve the
measure as it may finally be shaped in the Com
mittoe of the Whole If he diSapprovcs he
can vote against il. but has not the fantcst
shadow of right TO prevent action by ma
ority who approve the measure. Nor can any
thing be done even the closing of debate ana
the ordering of a final vote, unless the ma
ioritv Of members 50 desire. If they wish 10
end discussion or amendment Al any time they
| have. and clearly ought TO have, the right 10
! do so.
This is so obvious that the Free Traders are
driven 70 set up tho dishonest prctcnce that
! Republicans fear 10 face a direct and SePila'c
vote in the House upon. certain features OF the
pending bill But the delay and waste OF time
are caused, not by Republicans. but by Dem
ocratis opponents Of the measure They have
| full and undi>pu,cd power 20 force a separate
vote upon either Of dozen amendments, if
they choose. and of that power they are per
fcctly aware the majority can in 10 way de-
privc them In one way only can the Demo
cratic Free Traders be deprived OF a separate
vote on any clause or amendment, and that *
! by their own act, in wasting 50 much time that
the particular clause or amendment cannot be
reached.
The duty of tho majority rs 10 this measure
is determined by other than partisan interests.
All the industries and all the business Of the
| country are unavOidably embarrassed and sub
icced 10 some loss by delay and uncertainty
regarding a change Of the tariff. No matter
whether tho change contemplated i wise or
unwisc this AT least is certain, that delay does
harm The majority is therefore bound to
secure action aS early as possible, especially
because the measure must 90 over for a year
unless il can reach the Senate within a com
parativcly short time. II would he most dam
aging TO the business and industries of the
people and consequently most harmful 10 the
party responsible for legislation, TO suffer this
important measure 10 hang over without action
until next winter. II is plain enough already
that Democrats desire, for partisan ends, 10
subject the country to all this loss. Both Tor
public and partisan reasons it is the duty OF
the majority to prevent the injury by securing
final action in the House at an early day.