Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-12-06

WASHINGTON, d. c., December s.
The gathering Of the members Of Con-
gress offered an opportunity to get at
the real sentiment Of the Democrats
members on the new tariff bill which
has been presented by the minority Of
the Committee on Ways aud Means.
There are, Of course, members Of the
House who are not satisfied with the
bill and who will, no doubt, vote for
some changes, yet 1t is apparent from
the way they talk If the bill should
come to a vote in its present form it
would pass with few dissenting members
among the Democrats. II the Republi-
cans have any hopes that there Is suf-
icent force in the House to defeat the
bill they have made a mistake for the
Democrats seem only anxious TO have
the bill through as soon as il can be
possibly passed. 10 seems 10 be not so
so much question Of rates as settlement
Of the whole question that the majority
of the Democratic members are inter-
ested In. A member Of the Democratic
majority Of the committee voiced the
sxntiment OF a number Of Democrats
when he said the bill would
NOT NEED MUCH DISCUSSION
n the House; what was wanted was to
get the bill over to the Senate at an
early day as possible. He indicated that
even II 10 should be necessary 20 apply
the clOture rule that ia was likely the
Democrats would put the bill through
without very much debate IL would of
course be necessary for the Democrats
TO have behind them a good working
majority, or at least a quorum Of the
House in favor OF the bin. 10 now looks
as II there would not be much difficulty
ia securing such a quorum, III the talk
INDUCED In by the Democrats that have
thus far arrived is any indication Of the
sentiment OF those who have said moth
ing. In all the number who may be
heard talking on the subject none 60 so
far, even in private conversation, as to
say that unless some notifications are
made th4t they Will oppose the bill. or
course, this is not the sentiment among
all che Democrats. There are plenty Of
them who say they will make an effort
TO get something for their own particu-
lar district, but falling Ia that they will
support
THE BILL AS A PARTY MEASURE.
The President in his message points
out a method that they may adopt when
he says that 10 is not 20 be expected
that all can be satisfied, but that 10 the
great issues and upon q great question
some sacrifice must be made for the
great principle involved. The Presi-
dents approval Of the Wilson tariff bill
will go a long way 70 uniting the party,
If there had been any differences Of
opinion Of any remarkable degree.
What Is most often heard In connection
with the tariff bill from the Democratic
mem ers is the statement that the
members Of the Ways and Means Com
mittee we're charged with the work Of \
preparing a bill and that they made a.
study Of II and oRsht 60 know what
was best for thsfparty. Those who did
not nret9ndFtO know so much about it
muss be content with what the party
has done through its committee, for it
is probable that the committee made a
most thorough and careful investi-
cation, and 10 able TO better judge what
was wanted than those who have not
given the matters any consideration.
1t had been supposed that the Ques-
ti0n would be allowed to rest in the
Senate until the Wilson bill should be
passed by the House Of Representatives
and reported to the Senate IN
the regular order OF bust
ness. Mr.. Voorhees,, as Chairman
Of the Committee, at the meeting
to-day brought up the subject and gave
il as his opinion thai the condition Of
the business Interests Of the country is
such that the committee should use all
expedition possible in the consideration
Of the question, so as to be able 10 report
70 the Senate on the bill az
THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE DAY
after the bill comes over, to the end that
IL may soon be reported to the Senate
and passed upon by that body at the
earliest practicable time. he suggested f.
that with the view Of accomplishing this |
purpose the members Of the majority Of |
the committee should begin forthwith /
TO hold daily meetings. There was no /
opposition 70 this course. The Repub- /
lican members asked whether persons /
interested In changes Of the tariff /
whether for or against, would be given /
an opportunity 70 be heard. In reply /
TO this query the Republican members |
were assured that whenever theirs 1
was good reason for granting a hearing |
IL would be given. That while the cOm- |
mlttee desired to get the bill out of /
the way IN the interest OF business as |
soon as possible, no interest should be |
denied a hearing when there were evil /
IDENTIFY good
GROUNDS FOR THE REQUEST.
It is understood that the Republican /
members themselves conceded 10 the /
opinion that it would be best 70 have
the bill! reported as soon as it can be
without passing lightly over any Of the
material portions.
The Wilson bill will be used as the
basis of the committees Investigations
as a matter Of course and the general
trend Of opinion expressed by Demo
cratic members indicates as far as they
express themselves az this time that il
will be quite clearly followed by the
committee, the Chairman also appoint
ed a new
SUBCOMMITTEE on TARIFF
consisting Of Senators Jones, Of Arksn-
sas; Vest and Mcpherson, Democrats,
and Aldrich and Allison, Republicans.
The investigation at present proposed
will not be conducted by the subcom-
mittee, however, but by the Democratic
members OF the entire committee as a
party organization.
u
n