The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-05-05
The Tariff Bills Congress Tardyp

L
Those Mugwump and self-styled Demo-
cratic newspapers that are clamoring so
loudly for the passage of the tariff bill, are
needlessly excited. The country is not
going to suffer seriously because bill was
not formulated and enacted in the course
of few months. A change in the tax
laws now would work no beneficial change
to the people. All importations of goods
for spring and summer consumption were
made months ago, and if new tariff law
goes into effort by July LIST, it will be in
ample time to affect the fall and winter
stocks.
These newspapers, too, create the i'm
preston that the present Congress is delay
ing the work beyond all precedent, to the
detriment of the country and the Demo
cratic party. And they are savage in their
criticism of all who desire to proceed slowly
enough to harmonic conflicting views on
tax rates and to produce bill that will
reform the tariff, reduce taxation, curb the
trusts, raise enough revenue to support
the government, and command united
Democratic vote In theory the Demo-
cratic party is unit. In adjusting tax
rates there is naturally differences of opin-
ion. This is true of the Republican party
also. The Ways and Means Committee
that reported the Mills bills amended the
bill in many particulars during its discus
sion in the House, and four Representa-
tives, elected as Democrats, refused to vote
for the bill on its final passage, and at least
two others voted for it by express command
oftheir party constituents in convention as
sembled. The Mckinley bill was also
amended during its consideration in the
House This shows the difficulty in fixing
rates to suit theory aud harmonic a
party. In 1888 the Democrats, as above
noted, could not command the full vote of
the party, and the Mckinley bill in 1890,
while commanding the full Republican
vote, was distasteful 10 several Republican
Representatives.
In the matter of prompt action, let us
see whether the present Congress has been
dilIydallying and frittering time away, in
utter contempt of public sentiment. In
recent years three tariff bills have been con-
sidcred and one became law. In 1888
the Ways and Means Committee was APP
pointed on January 8, and Immediately
went to work to formulate tariff bill. 1t
was reported to the house April I'd, nearly
three months later, and was taken up for
consideration on the 18th. 1t was passed
on July q, after a discussion of over three
months. On July 23d it went to the Sen
ate, but was not reported in that body
until the 3rd of October, when only the
title remained, the Senate substituting an
entirely new bill. The bill was discussed
until October 18th, and Congress adjourn
ed on the goth. At the ensuing session
the bill was displaced by the Force Bill
and it in turn by the Silver bill, and no
action was taken on the tariff at all.
In December 1889 Congress met-the
Reed Congress-and the Committee on
and Ways Means, with Mckinley as
Chairman, was appointed the first or second
week of the session. A revision Of the
tariff was undertaken, and the Mckinley
billwas presented to the House onApril 10,
about four months after the Committee
was appointed. The bill passed the House
MAY 81. under what was called gag law.
The Senate took about five weeks to con-
slider the bill, amending it in many par
ticulars, and it was passed the first week in
October.
The preparation of the Wilson bill was
begun last fall, during the extra session of
Congress, aud was presented to the House on
january g. The Republicans prevented
its consideration until the Sth, and twas
passed on February l. 1t was sent to the
Senate Il few days later, and was reported
to the Senate April l. 1t is likely to pass
the Senate before June LIST.
The Democrats of the House, then, oc-
cupied six and half months in preparing
and passing the Mills bill. The Republic
can House occupied five and half months
in preparing and passing the Mckinley
bill, and the Senate did not pass 1t until
more than four months later. Nearly ten
months were occupied in putting the bill
through the House and Senate
1t is difficult to count the time occupied
in formulating the Wilson bill. But ii 1t
is passed by June 1st, less than five
months will have elapsed from the time it
was presented in the House until passed by
the Senate.
II will thus be seen, notwithstanding
Mugwump criticism, this Congress is pro-
ceeding faster than either the 50th Con-
gress, which had the Mills bill under con-
or the 51st Congress, which
passed the Mckinley act.
r.1. 20 csoo.oa w hall