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

THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMIT.
TEE SUSTAINED ARE THE
DEMOCRATS AFRAID TO
FACE THE MUS1C'
TRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TKBUNE.1
Washington, May 1.-THE Revenue Dill VIII De
brought TO a vote the question OF ts passage Ill
the House next Tuesday, May 20. This VIII allow
eight full days debate and amendment In tue Com
mittee of the Whole under the iveminute rule when
time would be ample for the proper consideration OF
every paragraph and item If the Democrats d'd not
choose to seek ard seize every opportunity 10 waste
time Thus far that is what they nave uohe' 10
day. for example, the Committee Of the Whole was IN
session more than hours, and more than I'VE hours
of that time was wasted in irrelevant debate or by GER
tain Internationally McMin. Breckenridge OF Ken
tucky and Springer-in showing how little they knew
about the matters under review. The Two statesmen
first named made themselves subjects OF pity as "eH
as Of amusement when they nveghed. they repeat
edly did to-day against rates In the pending Dill WHICH
are identical not only with the rates imposed by the
present law but also with the rates proposed by the
Dark Lantern" bill which 1t was supposed they lad
helped 10 Frame and which they advocated 20 earnestly
pnly two wears ago No better comment could nave pec
made on the blind to say ignorant ana uncasohdoo'
natnre of the Democratic opposition than their own
performances I'm regard to such items They Simply
made themselves subjects OF ridcue and wasted Wnat
ever influence they might have exerted in faNof Oh
proposed amendments which may be intTinSicalN soou
Confidence In the knowledge of the minority OF INC
WAYS and Means Committee was also shaken Dl 'ei'a''
statements one Of which, by McMilln' was 10 uie
effect that a certain form of ammonia, upon WHICH
ho wanted the rate decreased important clemens
in the manufacture Of agricultural fertilizers nc
spoke eloQuently and learneGly on TINS SuoIeoV' he
besought the House not TO forget the poor FARMER
reminded them of agricultural DEPRESSION ""Vh -
largely due, he declared, TO exhaustion Oh 'e soii'
etc To say that McIlillin felt "cheap "hcn
Mr. buchanan of New Jersey, who has knack OF ex-
posipc humbug called attention TO the fact that tho
article under discussion Is used manly ior eIecV'd d.
purposes and that the largest consumers III inc Ohc
states are the telegraph companies, against wch tue
Tennessee statesman has expended so much Oh n''
eloouencc is TO put il mildly. Chairman Mckinney
had shown in vain that the establishment of ammonia
works i'm the United states had compelled LONDON
monopoly 10 reduce its price from 20 cents per Pouu
TO ~ cents and afterwad still lower, III order 10 niece
American competition, and that IN order 10 Orcdh u'
the domestic manufacturers the English mohopoN
had reduced its prices TO the lowest limit ana oe-
clared that 1t would drive them out of business even
it should cost $4,000 sterling lnav H"u
no effect on McMiln apparently, but the cNpoSuic Vi
his ignorance did. ILL.,,
Early in the day the House witnessed rather
unusual spectacle-that of Free Traders DcS~"is "p
n,anse mon an avowed Protectionist The Commit
of the Whole pd!u Md!pI iutVt4" 'i - N'
unusual compliment not only Of allowing nm 10 Speah
rs long as he chose but Of listening TO whdt nc h'
Ia say The request for unanimous consent. winch
was required, came from the Democrauc sue Aio
Free Traders had received tip that the speech "oul
not only be sensational one, but one hal Wouiu Ec
them great comfort and therefore they were more tha
willing 10 hear IT, Major ButtcrwOrth had not SPOKEN
long before fhey looked as though they had been made
victims of misplaced confidence, for he declared III
no uncertain terms his belief in and loyalty 10 inc
doctrines Of protection, ana his uncompIonlSihs nos
tty to the theories of free trade Later III Ms
speech however, the Free Traders managed 70 extract
considerable comfort from portions of it and rewarded
him with generous applause which stimulated MN
and undoubtedly carried him further than lie ehoeo
10 go.
After Major Butterwcrth's strong and repeated
declarations in favor OF protection. nobody ought -
doubt shat whatever crumbs OF comfort ne gave thi
Frce-Traders to-day he dropped unconscionsy or IN
advertently and his future and lasting regret III"
gerrymandering of the Congress Districts by the Dem
ocratc Legslature OF Ohio has made his district 50
strongly Democratic that his retirement from Congress
is not a matter which depends upon his choice ana
some men OH both sides Of the House were unG nervous
enough To hint that that fact might have Influenced
his utterances. Nobody who knows him well. how
ever, Will believe any such unworthy nsruation.
For several years past Mr. ButterwOrth has devoted
a great deal OF time and effort to the subject OF q
commercial union with Canada. and, his p ech %
day showed, that investigation has left deed I'M
preston on his nina and 10 some extent. Influenced
his views other subjects. And yet. after all that
can be fairly said In explanation OF eXenuation, the
fact remains that whatever influence the speech NAV
haveand IL will not change single vote IN the iious;
will be distinctly harmful u the Of proc ton
which Mr. ButtcrwOYth processes TO have much a;
heart. The crudity Of his criticisms Of the bill il
many respects apparent, and it seemed T. b. due
mainly 10 lack OF information respecting the details
OF the measure and the facts and principles upon
which il is based. Probably Mr. ButterwOrh with
his own and acknowledged ability would have made q
great deal better BIZ. than the pending If he
had devoted himself to that task bit he has not done
So and therefore the House Will he forced T. content
itself with the handiwOr3 of the Ways aud Means Com
mittee. which has done the best II could after fDar
months of conscientious study and unremttlng work.
Before the hour of adjournment arrived the Demo
cratic Leaders seemed to become dmly conscious that
they were OVERRIDING things and were making great
mistake, for the factions opposition and disposition
TO waste time relaxed 10 extent, so that before
6 O'Clock the chemical schedule had been disposed Of
together with several paragraphs Of the schedule Of
earthenvare, glassware, etc.
In all, something than oncfth OF the dutiablc
list has been passed in onefourth of the time
allotted the consideration Of the whole bin, incud
ing the Internal Revenue provisions ana scNcid
extremely important sections which contain eeirra
provisions relating to customs duties drawbacks. etc
If the remainder of the dutable list IS 70 bc reviewed
In Committee OF the Whole, IL Will be necessary no
only that Obstructive tactics shall be abandoned by
the Democrats but that the most pcrscveiug industry
shall be shown by members both sides Of th'
House. of course II il be true, many observer:
arr strongly inclined 10 believe, that the Free Trader
are afraid to face the music and fairly consider Tx
propositions contained in some Of the more important
schedules they will adhere 70 the scheme first adopted
and depend for relief upon general cutlery aeainS
the arbitrary and unjust action Of the majorty'-'
cry which will deceive nobody. The Committee 0
the Whole TO day again sustained the Ways and Mean
Committee in every controversial pO!Ht
The nsideraion OF the biz leg IN with a ton o
Mr. McMilIn, Of Tennessee, b. reduce the duty OF
ammOnia. lie could reason VIZ this article
of necesSty 70 the ia mcr should be heavily taxed
Mr.. Mckinley, Of Ohio opposed the amendment. an,