The weekly tribune., 1894-02-16
THE TARIFF.
} Hearings Before the Senate
;ommittee ClOsed-The Fight Will
Be in the Senate.
\ Changes Will Be Made in
the House Bill Speedy Ac-
tion Is Anticipated.
byists Discouraged Over the Out
look and Are Willing to Give
Up the Fight.

u AsHINGToN, d. c., Feb 14-[Special. l.
Wilson tariff bill, slightly changed
its form when it left the house, will
become the law of the land. This is
ted on all sides as the present situa-
When the bill first went through the
with such a whirl of excitement,
ocrats for the time being seemed to re-
the great tariff fight to have been
light to successful close.
4 hture reflection, however, showed them
fallacy of their presumptuOus position.
had reckoned without their host.
did not take into consideration the
Dsand and one industries affected by
tariff bill which had been refused a
ing by the ways and means committee.
EDITION to all these there were many who
been called, but few chosen, having first
" hearings before the committee granted
9x The Lobby Is Downhearted.
~ these and many more gave up the
In the house at an early day, relying
the more deliberative branch of the
fnment-the senate-tO secure what
wanted Armed with the experience
nany years in national legislation, they
nv expected to accomplish their ends
Ia the bill reached the senate. But
y Nm they have been disappointed. The
hte committee having charge of the tar
bill has decided to grant hearings on the
lf to no one.
ghis action of the committee has thrown
hsternation into the ranks of those inter
oted in influencing legislation. To put it
IIainly, but tersely, the lobby is in the
1I0mps.n They don't know which way to
-. Such move ON the part OF the COM
tee is altogether unprecedented. 1t was
lally unexpected. The lobby, therefore,
XAup tree" They had one and all ex-
D1cted to appear before the committee and
liver long winded speeches, which, if they
ia accomplished nothing else, would have
I1pressed those who employed them with
70 idea that they were earning their money.
j. II even this is to be denied them. This
ne these ubiquitous gentlemen will have
make some other showing in order to i'm
|ess the misguided people who put up
@1ge sums of money to influence legislation
= 3Washington.
This decision Of the senate committee is
5lthout precedent. 1t has consequently
|1casioned comment on every hand. 1t can
y taken to mean but one thing. The COM
nittee is of the opinion that they have all
he information at hand necessary to enable
en- to arrive at just and intelligent de-
ZION on the different schedules. 1t means
nore, in that it is a declaration on the part
& the Democratic majority that it is
heir purpose to push the tariff bill through
Without any more nonsense and without
he usual and consequent delay following
n the heels of hearings to the representa-
ives of industries affected.
n The United Democrats.
It is healthy sign of the times. The
Korst that can happen to the commercial
Vorld is to have congress dawdle along,
eaving the business interests of the coun-
Try in doubt as to what will be the outcome
If all this tariff twaddle. The country has
lad enough of that. What it wants is
Iction, be it good, bad or indifferent. Ac
ion in the wrong direction is bad enough,
yut stagnation is worse. This apparently
Z ne position of the Democrats in the sen.
IT, supporting the tariff bill as it came
rom the house.
The Wilson bill as passed by the house is
Iot perfect tariff measure. Its warmest
fiends admit that. But they do claim that
& is as good a measure as can be passed III
his time. Taking this view of the case,
hey are fully justified in their position.
They intend to pass it without amending it
q any important particular.
There is big fight on hand to have lead
>re placed back on the dutiable list, but the
lffort will fail. The coal magnates, too,
AVE been spending money quite freely in
he hope of getting what they wanted in
he way of a duty, but they, too, will fail
The only interest that appears to have a
Nance Of succeeding in obtaining conces.
Ion in the way of tariff revision is the sug-
y interest. There is some talk of placing
duty on this necessary of life of a cent "A
pound, but even that may not go through
Iuch a move would be exceedingly unpop-
llar with the masses, and the Democratic
eaders understand this thoroughly.
Tom Reeds Prediction.
For the first time this session the Demo
ratio forces seem to have got together.
{ is such an unusual thing for Demo
ratio majority to agree that every one here