The morning call., 1894-02-07
NOW ABOUT THE TARIFF.
And What They Don't Know
They Will Not Be Told.
VOORHEES, WRITES THE VERDICT
Verbal Hearings Will Only Stop
Progress and Do No Good in
Any Event.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 6.-Voorhees' state
ment On behalf IF the Democratic men,
pers of the Senate Finance Committee, as
to the reasons for refusing hearing on the
Wilson bill, prepared at the request of the
Democrats, sets forth that prompt and
speedy action on the pending tariff legs-
lation is required at this time by every pa
triotlc and business consideration. The
majority of the committee Intends that no
delay shall occur which it is possible to
avoid. We are determined that the bust
ness men Of the country, of all classes
shall at a very early day have a full and
clear insight intosthe laws of tariff taxation
which shall hereafter prevail. The priyi-
lege IF hearings would be unlimited as to
time, and would become an instrument of
delay more formidable than fiiibuS tering
If one side is TO he heard. so must the
other side. Already more than 1.000,-
600 circulars embracing interrogatories
touching every branch of business known
in the census OF 1890, have been addressed
to all iDdust tries, aud abundant streams Of
information are pouring in for use in the
discussion in the Senate. In addition TO
this nearly al projected manufacturers
were heard before the Committee on Ways
and Means of the House, and the testi-
mony there taken is in print and in pos
session OF the Senate. The whole subject
is very familiar to the American mind,
and no further calculation is required than
will be incident to full and free debate.
The country needs aetion--action."
The Democratic members of the CON-
mittee lost no time in proceeding to work
upon the tariff bill, after it had been de-
cided not to grant hearings 10 interested
parties. Jones Of Arkansas, Miller and
Vest, comprising all the members of the
subcommittee on the tariff except NOOT-
hees, met to-day and took up the bill with
a view OF putting it III shape at the earliest
practicable moment for submission, first
to the Democratic members and afterward
to the full committee.
The meeting was of an exceedingly pri-
vate character, and the proceedings were
not given out. Considerable progress was
made with the work. owing largely TO the
fact that these gentlemen had all given
much attention to the bill and had con-
ferred among themselves to a sufficient ex-
tent to be familiar with one another's
views upon the questions at Issue.
They have determined to make few
concessions Oh lnlpOTlduL articles, Ike coal
and sugar. a duty will be placed on these
articles, but whether it win be specific or
ad valorem in character has not been de-
termined If a specific duty is decided
upon it will. in the case of sugar. probably
be 1 cent pound, and on coal 80 cents or
81 ton.
No decision has been reached on the in
come tax. There are on the Democratic
side some strong advocates of striking out
this part of the bill, but so many Demo
cratic members are favorable to this tax
that it has become evident this change
will be difficult if not impossible of
complishment. Jones of Arkansas is
urgent in advocacy of an increased tax
upon beer. but has not so far met with
great encouragement at the hands of the
other members Of the committee.
Senator Pettigrew introduced an amend
ment to-day intended TO be offered by him
to the Wilson tariff bill. providing for the
appointment of a commission of five per-
sons, 10 be known as the Customs CON-
mission. The duty of this proposed CON-
mission is to gather data concerning tariff
rates and their effect on industries in this
and other countries and report the findings
to Congress,