The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-02-07

WASHINGTON, D. G., Feb. G.-The
Democratic members OF tho committee
on finance were in executive session
over an hour to-day. They agreed to
grant no hearinga at all on tho Wilson
tariff bill and authorized Senator Voor-
hees to prepare a-statement OF their
REASONS, which is aa follows:
Prompt and speedy action on pend.
ing tariff legislation is required at this
time by every patriotic and business
consideration. The majority Of tho
finance committee. charged with tho re.
aponsibility OF the pending measure, in
tend that no delay shall occur which it
is, possible to avoid. We are detormin.
ed that the business men OF the coun-
: try and all classes shalt ut q very carly
day have full and clear insight into
the laws Of tariff taxation which shall
Z hereafter prevail.
"a claim, however, is now made that
whoever may wish to do 30 must be
and make speeches in regard to each
and every particular interest affected by
the tariff. This claim is without limit
% to numbers, and il granted to one
: person it,must be granted to all. Ono
senator. alone, asks 500 TO be heard from.
Z his state. at is also unlimited as to
time and becomes, therefore, i'll the
hands OF tho opponents Of the tariff re-
form an instrument OF delay, indefinite
in duration and far more formidable aud
4 iuetiicient'than tho worst form OF iilibus-
tering on the floor OF the senate But
II these hearings, as they are called, arc
q mattcr OF right and cannot be denied
by'thc committee, why should they be
merely ex rarte in their character?
OF COURSE ALL SHOULD BEuEARD.
III we arc to listen to the next four or
1 fvo months, as bonsted in certain quar-
tors we will bo compelled to do, from
the manufactures, those who plead for
protection for. means and profits alone,
it seems to us that tho consumers OF
tariff taxed goods, the farmer, the toll
&ing millions throughout the whole land,
have tho highest right OF all to be heard
in their necessary self defense against
injustice and opposition.
i5 If the cause OF privilege, protection
and financial greed are to invade our
committee room, TO BIO heard during
n tho coming spring and summer, then by
every principle OF justice and right, tho
cause OF the victim, the toiling consum-
3 er, must also be eamply and fully heard.
The truth is that legislation was never
Z accomplished by such methods and
never will be under our form OF govern
mont The people arc heard through
their. representatives in Congress, and
a moments reflection will show how
ample and sufficient such hearings al
ways have, been and always will con.
tinue to be. For instance, why should
the business OF tho country be left in
doubt for weeks and months while tho
I manufacturers OF n certain ,statc arc
talking to q committee. when in point
OF fact senator from the same state, q
manufacturer himself, could be dis
!, cussing the same questions far moro
7ihtelligently and ably on tho floor OF
the senate?
ut is all idle pretenco that any right
I. 40 auhltu " LLy pouy Ny tbc SoutaV ttIc
i committee has determined to take. We
will report our bill to tho senate with
( out delay and then full hearings will
\ take place. Already moro than q mill
( ion circulars embracing intorrogatories
a touching every branch Of business
known to tho census Of 1890 have
been addressed to all our indus
J tries, and abundant steeams oiiusorma.
tion are pouring in for use in discussion
in tho senate. In addition to this near
sly all the protected manufacturers woro
( heard before the committee on the ways
and means OF tho house and the testi.
I mony there taken is in print and in tho
& possession OF the senate. The whole
I subj iect Is very familiar to the American
p mind and needs no further elucidation
than will be incident to u full, free do
d bate. The country needs action-ac-
u tion." 4 }'
The Republican senators accept the
n decision OF The committee with compos.
Y urc, but they will make a vigorous pro-
test and will probably move to recommis
3$ tho bill when reported to the senate to
give interested parties chance to atate
their objections to the measure.
~; A, STATEMENT FROM REPUBLICANS.
sg The Republican members Of the sem
ate finance committee through Senator
4 gAldrich gave out tho following ata,c-
ment in reply to that Of the Democratic
7, members: y. Z Il 4. ;5
&. The minority Of the finance commit.
tee are greatly surprised at the charac-
ter OF the statement which has been
handed to them, and which is said to
4 hnvo boon furnished to the prcss By the
majority Of the committee in regard to
their refusal to give hearings on the