New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-03


crrr1vc EDUCATED-AT PUBLIC COST
Our Democratic friends are learning ura"-
uallv they are discovering things which iHh
TRIBUNE told them months ago. une Oh 'hcsc
was that a tariff bill cooked up in advance py
the Treasury Department, or the Reform Uiuo
or any other body outside Congress "o"u
nrove waste of time, il indeed it did not tcnu
to nreyent the legislation desired, by exci'lhs
the jealousy and antagonism OF Kepresch'ruVeS
At first this suggestion was treated by Dc"'o-
crafts rs foolish. The Reform Club went on 10
nrepare bill Then Secretary Carlisle ihNI'eu
Nessrs. Wells and Atkinson to labor over inc
matter. Presently it was announced that MI
ro,hot formerly clerk of the Ways and Means
Committee was engaged on the same task
prt Il now appcars that the wise men In con-
sultation have doubts whether it is best Tor
them to do anything. Mr.. Wells, ACCORDING 10
1.-THE New-York Herald" states mat ne
not engaged in getting together inc data lor
the tariff bill of the next session." MI La
hot thinks no preliminary work OF the sor' Is
being done or will he attempted, and observes
according to 1.-THE Hcrald": Experience mas
clearly demonstrated that all preliminary work
an the tariff for an incoming Congress Is time
and money thrown away. This was the ex-
nor;encc of the Tariff Commission, and 1t Will
he the experience Of any one who undertakes
the job" .,. -
II should not have taken three months OF
doubt and consultation to arrive at conclusions
80 obviously suggested by experience But tne
Washington correspondent of 1.-The Herald
odds facts which ought not to have escaped inc
careful attention of Democratic statesmen:
Tho ncxt House OF Representatives will have 50
orv NOW members that the passage OF a tari Dill
however inst, will be difficult, and Will necessarily
toke much tine. Each of these new 'oher'Ss'"e"
will want 10 have his say, II not on 'he "oor vi NV
Uousc at least 10 the committee III oro'r " "''',
the Marty a certain amount OF attention must w P"
to what these men say. preliminary win N y" ,,
tariff hin Is therefore out of the question. MI
C1ore,ond evidently realizes this and 1t Is ior 'h'
NOR. than any other one thing that he has deci'ci
~ call Congress together AT an earlier da'e 'hah i
customary.
The new members, and old members as
well are sure to insist upon full hearing re-
pardinc the interests which most concern 'helr
constituents. In every district there are some
branches of industry which will be affected by
= new tariff, and each of these will influence
votes. and each will appeal to members OF Con
Dress 70 sec that Justice is done thom. in many
cases his own political future will depend upon
=, members energy and effectiveness in repre-
sontinp those interests. No tarilT bill cooked
IN nv preliminary conference of leaders,
committees or a commission could possibly fail
70 an,agonize many of these interests and the
hostility of their representatives VIII be power
fully aided and intensified by natural jealousy
and opposition to every attempt 10 take inc
work of Congress out Of the hands OF repre-
scntatives chosen by the people.
1t is safe to say that such opposition with
that of the Republicans will suffice to prevent
the passage of any "prelimlnary' measure
however well it may meet the views OF a ma
iorty of Democrats But it is not little cool
for the Presidents friends to represent that
he has determined upon an extra session OF
Congress because he is convinced OF this TACT.
On the contrary some OF his closest ana most
confidential friends made it known, shortly
after his Inauguration, that his reason Tor re-
fusing to call an early session OF Congress was
that the preliminary work Of preparing tarlt
bill could be done more thoroughly and care
fully, by selected experts during some months
of DELAY. than it could be done by a committee
during the excitement of a session, and that the
great reform" would thus save much time
by having all ready for Congress the bill which,
il was presumed, could then be passed without
delay as party measure.
With the vanishing Of this expectation the
county and its industries and trade are com
pelled to face at least six months OF constant
| uncertainty and doubt, after the date which
may be fixed for the extra session to begin.
During all this time the effects upon the bust
ness and industries of the country must be
disastrous, and the loss is clearly one which
might have been avoided had the Democratic
party not been afraid to face the response
| bilities Of government.