Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-08-08
How THEY STAND.
Secl etary Blaine and the Ways
and Means Committee.
Their Positions on Tariff and
Reciprocity.

Stories without Foundation Have Re-
Gently Been Sent Out-Members of the
Committee Still Continue to Think
Reciprocity with the south American
Republics is ImpracticabIe.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.--The position
of the ways and means committee in re-
gard to Mr.. Blaine and reciprocity Is
thus stated by Maj. Carson i'll his dis
patches to The Philadelphia Ledger:
Dispatches have been recently sent
from this city to the effect that the Re
publican members of the ways and
means committee were manifesting act
i've opposition to the proposed reciprocity
scheme of Mr.. Blaine; that they had
sought the aid of the president to have
his secretary of state disciplined; that,
finding that the president was III sym
pathy with Mr.. Blaine, they had exhib-
tied signs of weakening, and were pre-
pairing to accept any plan for reciprocity
that the senate might incorporate in the
tariff bill. The same dispatches relate
that the Republican members of the
committee have held and were still
frequently holding meetings to prepare
themselves for a reciprocity attachment
ton for these stories.
The Republican members of the ways
and means committee have not held any
meetings to consider any features of the
tariff bill since it left the house, nor
have they individually or collectively
done anything in reference to reciprocity
or any olher proposition that relates to
the tariff. The reciprocity matter was
fully considered when the bill was in
their possession, and the arguments OF
Mr.. Blaine were given careful investiga-
ton before the measure was reported to
the house. They deliberately decided,
after listening to Mr.. Blaine and fully
considering his arguments, that reel
procity with the South American re-
publics was impracticable, and there is
no reason to believe that any of them
have changed their views since the bill
went to the senate. But whether they
have or have not changed their views
on the subject, it can be confidently
stated that no action has been taken ol
contemplated by them to influence
either the president or the senate on
this question. They feel that they have
at this time nothing whatever to dc
with the bill, and will not have until il
is returned to the house, and that any
action on their part would be unwar
rantable and would be resented by th'
senate.
Having rejected the plan of reciproc
ity proposed by Mr.. Blaine, which die
not include free admission for the sugar
of Caba and Porto Rico, these gentle
men are waiting the action of the sen
ate on the proposition, and do not IN
tend to do anything until that bodY
has acted and returned the bill
to the house. They very prop
erly feel that they have no just ground
for the assumption that the senate vii
adopt the reciprocity scheme of Mi
Blaine, and that it would be premature
for them to charge with Quixotic en-
thusiasm upon reciprocity wind mill
that may not be erected; that it will b
time enough for the Republicans of tn
ways and means committee to conside
reciprocity when it is presented to tha
! committee from the senate in the fOlI
Of an amendment to the tariff bill.