Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-13
HEARINGS REFUSED.
The Senate Has All the Tariff lnfor-
nation 1t Needs.
DEPOSITION 10 Rush Tariff Bill through The
Lobby Is Dismayed


WASHINGTON, Dec Feb l2.-(Specisl ~
The Wilson tariff bill, somewhat CHANGED
from ITS form in the House, VIII
soon become the law Of the land. ibis i
accepted on all sides Is the present situa
ton When the bill first went through thu
house with such Il whirf OF excitement
Democrats for the time being seemed to re
gard the great tariff fight TO have beei
brought to successful close.
Mature reflection, however, showed then
the fallacy of their presumptuous position
They had reckoned without their host
They did not take into consideration thu
thousand and one Industries affected by
the tariff bill which had been refused
hearing by the ways and means committee
In addition TO all these there were many who
had been called, but few chosen, having FIRST
had hearings before the committee granted
them.
The Lobby II Downliearted.
All these and many more gave I'M the
fight in the house at an early day, relying
upon the more deliberatiye branch OF the
gcvernmcnt-the senate-to secure what
they wanted. Armed with the experience
Of many years in national legislation, they
fully expected to accomplish their ends
when the bill reached the senate. But
again they have been disappointed. The
senate committee having charge OF the tar
III bill has decided to grant hearings on the
tariff to no one.
This action of the committee has thrown
CONSERVATION into the ranks OF those inter
ested in influencing legislation. To put II
plainly, but tcrsely, the lobby is in the
dumps" They don't know which way &c
turn. Such move on the part OF the com
mittee is altogether unprecedented. 1t was
equally unexpected. The lobby, therefore
Is up tree" They had one and all ex
pected to appear before the committee and
deliver long winded speeches, which, if they
had accomplished nothing else, would have
impressed those who employed them with
the idea that they were earning their money,
But even this Is to be denied them. This
time these ubiquitous gentlemen will have
to make some other showing in order toim
press the misguided people who put uf
large sums of money to influence legislation
in Washington.
This decision OF the senate committee il
without precedent. 1t has consequently
occasioned comment on every hand 1t car
be taken to mean but one thing. The com
mittee is of the opinion that they haze al
them to arrive at Il just ant intelligent &c
cision on the different schedules 1t mean
more, in that it is declaration on the part
Of the Democratic majority that it Is
their purpose TO push the tariff bill through
without any more nonsense and without
the usual and consequent delay following
OH the heels of hearings to the representa-
tives of industries affected
The United Democrats.
It is healthy sign Of the times. TIL,
worst that can happen to the Commercial
world is to have congress dawdle along
leaving the business interests of the coun
try in doubt SIS towhat will be the outcome
of all this tariff twaddle. The country has
had enough Of that. What it wants i.
action, be it good. bad or indifferent. Ac
ton in the wrong direction is bad enough
but stagnaton is worse. This apparently
il the position of the Democrats in the sen
ate supporting the tariff bill as it camt
from the house,
The Wilson bill rs passed by the house is
not a perfect tariff measure. Its warmest
friends admit that But they do claim that
it is as good a measure as can be passed al
this nine.
There is big fight on hand to have lead
ore placed back on the dutiable list, but the
effort will fail. The coal magnates, too
have been spending money quite freely in
the hope of getting what they wanted III
the way of duty but they, too, will fail
The only interest that appears to have
chance of succeeding in obtaining conces
sion in the way of tariff revision is the sug
ar interest. There is some talk of placing
a duty on this necessary Of life of Il cent
pound, but even that may not go through.
Such move would be exceedingly unpop
ular with the masses, and the Democratic
leaders understand this thoroughly.
Tom Reeds Prediction.
For the first time this session the Demo.
cratic forces seem TO have got together.
1t is such an unusual thing for Demo
cratic majority to agree that every one here
is surprised in consequence. Commenting
on this Tom Reed, the ex-speaker said to-
day: Don't let this smooth water disturb
you. There will be a cyclone sooner or
later" And there probably will. The Dem
ocrats have rs much difficulty keeping out
of parliamentary squabble as an Irish
man has keeping out of a free fight But all
the same the tariff bill will go through and
will come to be regarded as u great Demo
cratic victory.
The president is very well satisfied with
the Wilson bill MS passed by the house. He
so expressed himself to several senators
who called on him at the White House to as
certain his views He said that. while there
were some minor changes in the bill which
he did not like, it was u measure, taken
all together, which he could cordially in
,lorse. He therefore suggested that it would
be best for all concerned to pass the bill
through the senate substantially as it came
from the house.