The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-27
Views of Majority Members of the Sem
Phases of the Tariff Question.
BILL THAT NEEDS WATCHING
Scheme to Secure Control Of
Utah'S Asphaltum Deposits.
Place That Colonel Bright Could Not
Give to a Friend-DOnjOn Charged
with Forging His Fathers Name.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-The programme
upon which the tariff debate will be con-
Quoted. outlined by a member of tie
ways and means committee to-day, does not
include fixing time for taking vote as
the bill comes before the house. 1t
is the present intention to allow the debate
to run for some time, and if it then be-
comes apparent that no vote can be reached,
or that the bill cannot be suitably consider
ed by paragraphs, the committee rules
will be asked TO fix a time for consideration
under the five-minute rule and final vote.
1t is believed by the Democratic members
that when there is a general understanding
that final vote is to be taken until the
last Of January, there will be no difficulty
in securing such vote by an agreement on
both sides.
What the Senate will do with the bill is
becoming a matter of interest, as is also
the position OF the Democratic members CT
the finance committee, who will decide
whether a substitute for the Wilson bill is
to be reported. Senator Mcpherson, repre-
senting Eastern manufacturing constitu-
ency, has been known for years as Ran
dali Democrat. and his friends intimate that
he finds many Objectionable features in
the Wilson bill in the direction of 4 reduc-
ton of duties on manufactured goods that
he would prefer to amend it by the substi-
tuition of a complete new measure On the
other hand, Senator Jones' of Arkansas, be-
lieves absolutely in tariff for revenue, and
for no other purpose, and does not consider
that protection is constitutional lie 1oes
not like the retention of the sugar bounty,
and is inclined to the opinion that small
duty on this article, for revenue Purposes
would be far more strictly in accord with
Democratic doctrine and would serve the
purposes of the treasury better al this time.
He finds many traces of the protective the
DRY left in the Wilson bill, ana would doubt
less il he had his way about the matter,
report a substitute for the entire bill, which
would look absolutely to the revenue fea-
ture and knock out all sembance of protec-
ton to whatever interest Senators Harris,
Vest and Vance would be more inclined TO
coincide with Mr.. Jones than with MIR. Nc
Pherson.
the committee, viii have more than other
members to do in shaping its course, may
be denominated a conservative, as between
these conflicting theories, and II is sale 10
say that he will advocate the retention or
the Wilson BILL He holds the opinion that
the Democratic members of the ways and
means committee have done a great deal
Of hard work in preparing the bill. and he
finds in it many features that commend
themselves to him that he thinks ii ought
to stand, with some changes. DE accepts
with favor the ad valorem system, and
also the transfer OF a large number or
items on the raw material list from the
protected to the free column.
With the administration holding the same
view as the chairman Of the committee, ii
would seem probable at this time that the
Wilson bill will hold its place as such when
reported to the Senate from the finance
committee. Unquestionably there VIII be
many changes, but if the internal revenue
bill should provide a fairly satisfactory
means of providing for the treasury deficit
the Wilson BILL after being tossed about,
criticized and altered to a greater or less
degree, will be reported to the Senate by
its committee early in the spring months
Such a thing might happen as Senator
Mcpherson joining with the Republican,
and thus taking the question out OF the
hands of the Democratic majority OF the
committee, but that is not probable under
all the circumstances. Strong pressure may
be brought upon him from his own State
| to pursue this course, but the wishes of the
President will be a strong factor with a
| New Jersey Senator Furthermore, he Is
d man who always prefers to make his
| fight within the lines of his own party.