The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-11

Congress. Each house has three conferreeS
and the six constitute 1.-The conference COM
mittee." The majority in each house has
two and the minority one of the conferrees.
tb preSdng 0eG IN & encn rScon nSGHe ro
the body over which he presides. This
action is as much part OF his
lection OF committees which have
standing jurisdiction over subjects assigned
to them In fact, the selection of confer,
upon the presiding officer OF the Senate
than the selection of standing committees.
as the majority and minority OF that body
usually agree upon their representation
upon standing committees by caucus and
shroqsh ~ Tseering ste a eommittees 80 Ths
In the selection of standing or irregular
committees and acts solely upon his own
discretion.
The selection of a conference committee
on the tariff bin is extremely important.
IT even ranks the Importance of the Sc
lection of the regular ways and means and
finance committees. y conference commit
tee is selected to adjust differences be-
tween the two houses. After bill is
adopted by one house il goes to the other.
The second body makes amendments and
passes the bill. and 1t goes back TO the
body originating it for the adoption or re-
lection of the amendments. If that body
refuses to concur in the amendments IL so
states, and then asks for a conference COM
mittee The differences demanding a con-
ference committee are such as cannot be
adjusted by ordinary discussion and ne
gotiation.
house OF its conferreeS are adopted. 1t ire
quently occurs that in the conference the
conferrees of a house recede from the action
ia ken by their house and agree to the action
OF the other body, when the body they rep
resent has in most emphatic and sometimes
unanimous action declined TO accept the
amendment Then there is usually a big
fight over the action Of the cOnferreeS when
they report to their body; and occasionally
the house declines to accept the recommen-
dation of its conferrees. 1t Is rare how
ever, that either body overthrows the judg-
ment of its ConferreeS. 1t is very frequent,
almost the custom, for body TO receive a
disa greement from its conferrees after there
have been two or three meetings OF the
conference committee, and then simply or
an amicable agreement. Sometimes there
are weeks of time consumed In trying 10
instruct the conferreeS TO recede from or
stand firm to their position, and OCCASION
ally il becomes necessary to appoint new
conferrees, as those already selected are una
bic TO reach any agreement. But i is the
custom, nine times out of ten, for the house
to accept and adopt the action OF its con-
ferrees without question:
In the adjustment of differences in a
tariff bill between the two houses the work
of the conference committee is important,
in that 1t has not only q great many
points of dispute. but they involve great
questions. The two houses are usually able
to adjust minor differences without con-
ference. For instance the House has said
by almost unanimous vote that 1t VIII
not put any duty on raw sugar, While the
Senate, ii is stated will put duty upon
that article. Such a question VIII nave TO
be adjusted by a conference committee.
The House has refused 10 extend the bonded
period for whisky, while the Senate may
agree to an extension. This would be an
apparently irreconcilable difference, and
would have to be adjusted in conference.
a new proposition cannot be raised IN con-
ference; only existing differences can be
considered. That is to say, a conferree cam
not propose to change an item agreed upon
by the two houses; he cannot change fig
uTes which are not in dispute already. IL
will be useless to appeal TO the conference
committee for changes in the tariff bill un-
less there exist differences of opinion upon
the subjects between the two houses.
In selecting z conference committee like
the one which will have the important work
Of adjusting differences on the tariff bill
the presiding officers will take a Democrat
for each house from the South and one
from the North, and the minority will sug
gest a representative Republican probably
one representing a manufacturing section.
1t IS believed that ex-Speaker Reed will
be the Republican member on the part of
the House and either Senator Aldrich or
Senator Allison will represent the Repub-
licans in the upper branch of Congress,
while Chairman Wilson will doubtless be
the Southern Representative in the House,
and Mr. Bynum, of Indiana, representing
a manufacturing section in the North. will
be the Northern Democrat; and Chairman
Voorhees,. from the North, and probably
Vest Or Mills will represent the South In
the Senate.