The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-16
WORK ON A TARIFF BILL.
A MEASURE MIGHT BE PREPARED
BY FALL.

An Extra Session of Congress- Called
for That Time More Advisable Than
One in the Spring-The President
Not Apt to Call One in April-The
Men to Prepare II.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15-To have a tariff
bill ready for the next congress when it
meets, perhaps in special session in Septem-
Der, Is the programme which Is finding favor
among leading democrats in preference TO
an extra session Of congress in the spring
II is argued that committee which had
carefully considered bill and had it ready
for action would accomplish as much and
accomplish it as quickly as nearly
800 democratio representatives and
senator's gathered In special session.
The demand for special session is al
ways heard from few politicians as soon
as there is q change in the control OF the
national administration. but President
Cleveland In 1884, and President Harrison
in 1888, put his veto upon it, and it Is be-
lieved that Mr.. Cleveland will do it again
next spring. Il is admitted that steps
ought TO be taken to promote intelligent
tariff legislation before congress comes here
in December, 1898, but Mr.. Whitney, Mr.
Dickinson and other democratic leaders
believe that there Is better way to pro-
mote it than by bringing congress here in
April.
LONG TASK.
The work OF framing q tariff bill has
always been matter Of several months and
both the congress which framed the Mills
bill and that which enacted the Mckinley
L.. ,,1 l.
both cases preliminary work of several
months was done in committee, while the
House itself spent the time on the appro-
priatlon bills or on measures which
had no chance Of enactment. So
far as tariff legislation was concerned
the House in both cases might as well
have adjourned from December to April,
while the committee Of ways ard means
was taking evidence and formulating its
conclusions. 1t was april IS, 1890, Def ore
the Mckinley bill was reported to the
House, in spite of the fact that the COM
mittees were appointed early by Speaker
Reed and that Maj Mckinley gave hear
ings during Christmas week.
CAN'T BE DONE QUICKER.
1t will probably take nearly an equal
time to frame a new bill, especially as it is
to be one which will not only meet political
criticism, but will have to stand the test of
actual experience The appointment of a
tariff commission with legal authority
would probably require the consent
Of the Senate and the President,
and this might not be granted by
the republican majority in the present
Senate or by Mr.. Harrison. There would
be nothing 10 prevent, however, the ap-
pointment of House committee, TO rep'rt
to the new congress whether its recon-
luendations were binding or not This
committee could be made up entirely of
members who had been reelected, aud who
would be able 70 second their recommends
tioHs on the floor of the House.
A SPECIAL SESSION IN THE FALL.
IL the work could be done before Deem
Der it might be desirable to call special
session OF congress about Sept 20. This
would allow three months for the consdera-
tion Of the subject before the HOLIDAYS, and
II the bill could be sent to the Senate in
January it might become law in season to
take effect July /, 1894, with plenty of
notice to business men Of what the new
rates we're TO be. 1t is doubtful il a special
session called next spring would make much
better progress than this, or accomplish
better results than session in September
which had the outlines of a bill before 1t.
THE PRESENT COMMITTEE.
All but one of the ten democratic mem-
bers OF the present committee of ways and
count in Michigan shows the election of
Mr.. Whiting. The five republican MEM
bers have also teen returned, SO that the
work of framing bill could easily be left
to the present members of the ways
and meaLs committee. Tia. commit
tee Yves subject to a good deal of
criticism when it was appointed because of
the reactionary tendency of Speaker Crisp,
but with such cid members as Mr.. McMil-
lin, Judge Turner and Judge Wilson and
such an aggressive new member as Mr.
Bryan Of Nebraska the radical reformers are
pretty we'll represented, while the con-
servative element is strong in such men,
.ers as Mr.. Cochran of New York and Mr.
Stevens OF Massachusetts.
SIZE OF THE COMMITTEE.
An effective committee usually consists of
much smaller number than fifteen, but
the conflicting interests to be dealt with in
tariff legislation would probably justify the
appointment Of a large committee to pass
final Judgment on proposed bill and the
actual work OF framing it could be delegated
to subcommittee of five to seven. OF
course the democratic leaders could select
an entirely new ways and means committee
Tor this purpose.