Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-03
A TARIFF TANGLE
Which Lasted for Seven Hours in
the House.
REPUBLICANS REFUSED TO Vote,
And There Was Not a Quorum Of
the Democrats.
MIR. REEDS COMPROMISE.


wound and the days'session closed. The
trouble was occasioned by the resistance of
the republicans to what they considered an
unjust arrangement for the reporting OF the
tariff bill in the interim between the ad-
journment of the extra session and the con-
vening of the regular session next Decem-
ber After the adoption by the House.
early in the afternoon, of the resolution
providing for the adjournment Of both
houses of Congress today, and the objec-
ton of the consideration of the resolution
authorizing the ways and means commit
tee to file reports during the recess. all OF
which was reported in The Star, the COM
mittee on rules reported an order provid-
ing for the immediate consideration OF that
resolution. The previous question was or
dered and Mr.. Reed of Maine opened the
debate in opposition to its adoption. He
said:
MIR. Reeds Opposition.
Mr.. Speaker, 1 am very much surprised
to see such a resolution as this introduced
at the close of this session, because
think it is most unsatisfactory In its char
acter and most unreasonable in its demands
upon the members of the ways and means
committee. 1 suppose the ground on
which the demand is made is that the coun-
try may more speedily be Informed OF the
condition of public affairs: and II 1 thought
that in making opposition TO this measure
was preventing the country from obtain
ing as early a knowledge as possible of all
the facts which it is necessary for II TO
know, l should hesitate very much. But L
am quite satisfied that neither Will the
country be more early Informed nor will
the bill be really advanced by the PROPOSE
ton which Is here presented.
1T is an extraordinary proposition. 1t is
that the committee on ways and means
arfra int Ia-
tween now and the reassembling Of the
House. and during this interval shall file
its results and its reports with the clerk OF
the House / think that that has never
been done: at least / am not aware Of it;
and whether 1t has or has not Is a matter
of very little consequence. The country
may have the impression that this trans
action is one which is somewhat necessary;
but that is because the country does not
understand how either this bill is being
framed or the bill called the Mills bill was
framed. The House of Representatives has
committed this matter to the committee on
ways and means. The committee on ways
and means has been appointed now for
nearly three months. That committee has
not had a single meeting upon that subject
Never Been Alluded to I'm Committee.
1.-The matter which has been referred to
them has not been alluded to in the COM
mittee itself; in other words, Instead OF the
committee on ways and means of the House
of Representatives doing its duty and con-
sidering the question. representing all
shades Of belief and opinion. it has never
attended to the matter the least in the
world; consequently any member Of this
House can see that the proposition to call
the committee on ways and means to-
gether during the interim is simply impos-
ing upon them an entirely unnecessary
duty. II this thing goes on as IL seems
to be likely to go on, the committee on
ways and means will have absolutely moth
ing to do except to record the verdict OF
some gentlemen at present unknown to us
or to the country; and consequently they
have but a formal duty. II the question
pie what Is going to take place, there is
absolutely no difficulty attending It; not
the least in the world.
whenever gentlemen, whoever they may
be, who are engaged in the business of
making the tariff have satisfied their own
powerful minds upon the subject all they
have to do Is to announce IL to the world,
and they could announce 1t to the word
just as readily through the newspapers as
they can in any other way. That, no doubt
would be the most satisfactory way in
which it could be done; SO that 1t could be
presented for criticism by the public, and
are the authorized agents of the House
would really be in a much better condi-
ton to decide upon the question and pass
upon 1t with the various lights thrown
upon 1t by those interested every side
of the question.
The People VIII Look After the Tariff.
But what is the proposition now? 1t is
that the committee on ways and means
shall be called together, after the good old
French fashion, of which We have had so
many examples, to form a bed of Justice
to register the views of gentlemen at pres
emit unknown, but whose names will prob
ably be disclosed at some future time. That
is the proposition made, and the only ex-
cuse for it is that it may hasten the mat
ter. So far as the committee is concerned
it can hasten nothing. because a new tariff
bill is not going to be the result when IL
Is passed, of the opinion of any set of
gentlemen known or unknown. Ii is going
to be modified according to the carefully
formed oririon of the people Of this coun-
try, and they are going to have a hearing
on 1t. They can have a hearing Just as
well when these gentlemen present their
bill in the papers, whenever they get ready
to do SO. Therefore. 1 say that
to bring in this resolution at the close of
the session, under the whip and spur of
the report of committee that does NOT
even have to have matters referred to II
by the House. is something that certainly
Is not either suitable or proper"
Mr.. Wilson's Reply.
Mr.. Wilson replied as follows: mfr
Speaker. the gentleman from Maine Is right
In saying that one or the objects sought by
the adoption of this resolution is 10 give TO
the country as soon as may be Information
as to the proposed tariff legislation of this
Congress. Another object is TO advance
the preliminary stages of that legislation
so that Ii may be ready as soon as POSSIBLE
after the assembling of Congress for this
House to enter actively upon its considera-
ton. In view of the resolution which the
House has taken to adjourn this session
tomorrow, the majority members of the
committee on ways and means felt that
some such resolution as this should be BASS
ed by the House before il dispersed for this
session. We shall, as soon as this House
disperses. be able to give to this work all
the hours of the working day, and part also
of the hours of the night, in order that at
as early day as possible we may present
to the people of the country for their in
formation, for their judgment, for their
criticism, the result of our labors. And We
desire to have this bill presented as early
as possible to the American people; we de-
sire to have IL passed through the necessary
committee action, the necessary parlia-
mentary ripening, to have ii ready for the
action of this House as soon after il reas-
sembles as may be practicable. AMI In orcer
70 secure this result IL will be absolutely
necessary not only that the democratic
members Of that committee shall continue
their work night and day, but that there
shall be lodged somewhere a power TO con-
vene the full committee to act upon such
bill the majority may prepare; so that
we may not be guilty of the discourtesy