Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-02-07

agreed to grant no hearings at all on
the Wilson tariff bill and authorized
Senator Voorhees, to prepare state
ment on their reasons.
Following is the full text OF Senator
Voorhees, statement:
prompt and speedy action on pend
ing tariff legislation is required at this
time by every patriotic and business
consideration. The majority OF the
Finance Committee charged with the
responsibility OF the pending measure,
intend that no delay shall occur which
il is possible to avoid. We are deter
mined that the business men OF the
country Of all classes shall at very
early day have full and clear insight
into the laws Of tariff taxation which
shall hereafter prevail.
"a claim, however, is now made tnat
whoever may wish to do so must be
allowed before the Finance Committee
and make speeches in regard to each
and every particular interest affected
by the tariff. This claim is without
limit as to numbers and II granted to
one person must be granted to all.
One Senator alone asks five hundred to
be heard from his State. 1t is also un-
limited as TO time and becomes, there
! fore. in the hands Of the opponents OF
the tariff reform, an instrument OF
delay, indefinite in duration and
| far more formidable and efficient than
the worst form of filibustering on the
floor of the Senate. But il these hear
ings, as they are called, are matter OF
right and cannot be denied by the COM
mittee, why should they be merely ex
parte in their character.
"If we are to listen for the next four
or five months, as boasted in certain
quarters, we will be compelled to do,
during which time the manufacturers,
those who plead for protection, for
means aud profits by legislation alone,
would be heard, it seems to us that the
consumers OF tariff taxing goods, the
! farmer and the toiling millions through
out the land have the highest rlght OF
| all to be heard In their necessary self
defence against injustice and opposl-
! tion.
'If the cause Of the privilege, pro-
lection aud financial greed are to in
wade our committee room TO be heard
! during the coming spring and summer,
then by every principle OF justice and
! right, the cause of the victim, the toll
! ing consumer must also be amply and
! fully heard. The truth is that legisla-
tion was never accomplished by such
| methods and naver will be under form
of government. The people are heard
| through their representatives In
! Congress, and moments reflection will
| show how ample and sufficient such
| hearings always have been and always
| will continue TO be. For instance, why
! should the business of the country be
left In doubt for weeks and months
| while the manufacturers OF a certain
! State are talking TO committee, when,
| in point of fact, as far from the same
| State, manufacturer could be discuss
! ing the same questions far more intelli-
gently and ably on the floor of the Sen
sJe?
"It is all idle pretence that any right
is denied to anybody by the course
the committee has determined to take.
We will report our bill to the Senate
! without delay and then full hearings
will take place. Already more than a
million circulars, embracing interroga-
tories touching every branch OF business
| known to the census OF 1890, have been
addressed to all our industries and
abundant streams Of information are
| pouring in for use in discussion In the
! Senate. In addition to this, nearly all
the protected manufacturers were heard
! before the Committee on Ways and
Means OF the House, and the testimony
| there taken is in print and In the pos
| session of the Senate. The whole SUBJ
! ject is very familiar to the American
| mind and needs no further elucidation
than will be incident to full, free de-
bate. The country needs action-ac-
action"
The Democratic members Of the Sem
ate Committe on Finance lost no time
in proceeding to work upon the tariff
| bill after they decided not to grant
hearings to interested parties. Sena-
/ tors Jones, of Arkansas, Mills and
Vest. comprising all the members OF
the subcommittee on tariff except Sen
! ator VorneeS, met to-day aod
took up the bill with the view
of putting it in shape at the earliest
practicable moment for submission,
| first to the Democratic members and
! then to the full committee. The meet
ing was OF an exceedingly private char
acter and the proceedings were not
given out. 1t is known. however, that
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
| conferred among themselves TO
sufficient extent to be familiar with one
snother's views upon the question al
! issue. They have determined TO make
a few concessions on important arti-
cles, like coal and sugar. A duty will
be placed on these articles, but
whether it will be specific or ad velorem
in character has not been determined.
II specific duty is decided upon it will,
] in the case Of sugar, probably be cent
a pound, and in that OF coal, so cents or
a dollar per ton.
no decision has been reached on the
income tax. There are on the Demo
cratic side Of the Senate many strong
advocates of the striking out or this
part of the bill, but 80 many Demo-
cratic members OF the committee are
favorable TO this tai that il has be-
come evident that this change will be
l difficult, II not impossible Of accom-
piishment.
Senator Jones. OF Arkansas Is urgent