New-York tribune., 1890-04-01
THE AMENDED TARIFF BILL.
FINAL REVISION AT A SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
THE MINORITY TO OFFER THE DARK LANTERN1
BILL, WITH NOTIFICATIONS, AS sUBsTI-
TUTE - VARIATIONS OF THE NEW
MEASURE FROM THE . SENATE
SUBSTITUTE
IBy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUyE.I

Washington, March 3l.-Ihc ways and Means
Committee to-day held a special meeting to con-
slider the last revision of the revenue bill which,
it is expected will be submitted to the House
next week without many important changes or
notifications. 1t is the understanding that the
minority of the committee will content themselves
by Offering the Dark Lantern BILL with some
notifications as a substitute, and that the time
which is to intervene between and the re-
porting of the bill will be devoted by the majority
to the preparation of report, and by the minority
to formulating its views in opposition 10 the
measure.
Since the publication, in The Tribune Of March
81, Of the tariff provisions of the bill as ii then
stood il has undergone some important changes
and notifications which. il is estimated, VIII
abate by 81 900, 600 the reduction of revenue
estimated at that time TO amount to about
$50. 900 900. or the reduction by the bill as
il now stands So. 600, 900 will be charSeable TO
customs duties, and $ll,00o,0O0 to Internal
Revenue.
In the last ten days many erroneous, mis-
leading and contradictory statements respecting
the later changes and notifications Of the bill
have been published as to excite alarm and dis
trust, and make it wise, well expedient. to
give the earliest and widest publicity TO the de-
tails of the measure. The country long ago
learned to respect and trust the Republican party
because Of its courage; its fair. frank and open
dealings and therefore il was not TO be expected
that the majority Of Republican Ways and Means
Committee would disregard the policy and tradi-
tions of its party and initiate " hlde-and-seek
party whose conduct, ever since the war AT least,
has been marked by continuous and protracted
series OF false prctcnces in regard to the tarin ana
every other subject affectinc the public welfare.
on WaVS and Means
has dealt openly with the country from the day
Of its organization. II began its work by in
vting a full and free expression of the views
Of everybody who had views or suggestions 70
offer for its consideration and guidance: not the
manufacturer alone but the farmer. the wool
grower. tie discoverer or founder of the new or
small industries the wage-earncr-all these and
many more. including the fluent Free Trader who
is 50 apt to consider himself the only consumer
Days and weeks were spent in listening 10 argu-
nents SUGGESTIONS statements Of facts. discus
sions relating TO the cost of production. rates OF
wages and a variety of other matter pertinent
70 the case Even after the formal hearings
were closed, the doors of the commttce-room were
rot barred against any man. or woman either,
who had new fact TO state, new argument or
a suggestion 70 submit
I'pon such a basis the bill has been framed.
The comniittee-the ma jority of il. al least-hae
toilrd with conspicuous zeal ayld industry and in
a spirit of fidelity and patriotism, TO frame
measure which. while it should reduce the reve-
nncs. would defend the system OF protection to
American Industries against the sly and treach-
erous rs well rs the open. attacks OF It's enemies,
and protect the great body Of the people, 50 far
as a tariff law could protect them, against the
greed and extortions of trusts and kindred " COM
hincs. II is 10 be regretted that IN the nrst ana
last Of these objects the majority Of the COM
rni,tce has not received more help from the men,
bcrs Of the minority Their cooperation. 1t IS
understood has been mainly confined 10 offering
as a substitute for each of the proposed schedules
the corresponding schedule Of the Dark Lantern
hill-sonetimcs. but not often. slightly modified.
They perhaps have forgotten that the country
passed its verdict upon that remarkable product
OF frcc-tradc Democratic thought and skill less
than seventeen months ago.
OF course. the Republican members of the COM
mittcc have been the objects of desperate abuse
during the last three months: and tie abuse Will
.row to the end. Until cash or breath or both
sivc out. the tariif rcformcr will continue 10
stalk the corridors of the Capitol by day. and
haunt the Offices OF friendly and sympathetic
rcwsparcrs hy night. venting his abusc-under
which, it must be said. the majority members of
The Ways and Means Committee seem TO thrive
rather than pine They actually refuse TO be-
lcNc that loud scolding is either sound argument
or logic. or that economic facts are in danger OF
overthrow by frec-tradc imagnings however
vivid. Bat hope springs eternal in the Free
traders breast and 50 he goes on. day after day,
niliar columns upon columns of cou's and warn
irc in the frcc-trade newspapers and in other
iournals which thrive upon certain abuses o. the
revenue system Of tie courtrN Juit now the
nco-trade jeremiah is haskins in ray of hope
yc, OF sunny hel.cf-in Republican dlsailec-
,ion If he is right. the Republican ReprSs,n-
tativcs who were elected seventeen months ago
on the issue of protection have suddenly become
Frcc-tradcrs. and are now busy whettlne their
weapons TO smire protective tariff bill hip and
thigh.
But he is not right As political prophet he
is rs dismal failure as he is when he plays the
role of political economist. People heard al
about that disallccton' pending the report OF
tho Committee on Rules. time ago: and
everybody knows the exact status OF the
nrophccy As soon as the bill made pubic
to-day. members of tie minority of tie committee.
including Mr. Carlisle and his "eN-Premier.'
Colonel Mills. gathered group of more or less
sympathetic newspaper corrt sgondenis about them,
and BEGAN to coach the latter TO what they
could and ought to say in opposition TO II.
THE Democratic members of the committee
dislike the bill in general and detail Well, that
is not in the nature OF surprise. They and their
friends ~ least many of them. are disappointed
and disguised because, despite the concerted and
protractcd effort To cause deiIcii scare, and
their confident predictions that the majority never
would dare TO propose reduction of revenue
that. in fact. il was only playing make
rnue bll"--that same majority has calmly pro-
poscd and tonight makes public its intention, to
bring in and pass n revenue bill. OF course
,Iessrs Carlisle. Mills and Company will at once.
and all together declare that the bill is sham
because il does not cut into the revenues thrice
IS deeply As stated in these dispatches before
thc preparation of the hill was actually begun, it
follows substantially the lines laid down by the
Senate in its substitute for the Mills bill, not only
IN respect to the adoption of specific duties gen.
H.. ,,ba-c AL ya1orem rates arc now ln1nosad