St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-07
NO MORE TARIFF HEARINGS
Voorhees, STATEMENT REPRESENT
INC THE DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS
OF THE SENATE COMMITTEES.

Prompt Action on Pending Tariff
Legislation Is Required by
Every Business Consideration
The Bill to Be Reported to
the Senate Without Further
Delay.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-Followlng Is
the full text of Senator,VoOrhees state
ment oil behalf of the Democratic MEM
beers Of the senate committee OH finance.
as to why they decided to grant no hear
Jugs on the Wilson tariff bill:
Prompt and speedy action on pend
ing tariff legislation is required at this
time by every patriotic and business
consideration. The majority of the
responsibility of the pending measure,
intend that no delay shall occur which
it is possible to avoid. We are deter
mined that the business men of the
country OF all classes shall at a very
early day have a full and clear insight
into the laws of tariff taxation which
shall hereafter prevail.
IA claim, however, is now made that
whoever may wish to do so must he al
lowed 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 number, and if granted to one per-
sou, it must be
GRANTED TO ALL.
zone senator alone asks 500 to lie
heard from his state. 1t is also unlim-
tied as to time. aud becomes, therefore.
IN the hands of the opponents of the
tariff reform. an instrument of delay,
indie finite in duration aud far more
formidable and inefficient than the
worst form of filibustering on the floor
OF the senate. But if these hearings, as
they ate called, are matter Of right,
anc cannot be denied by the committee,
why should they be ex-parte in their
character?
IF we are to listen for the next four OF
five months, as boosted in certain quar-.
tiers we will be compelled to do, why
should the manufacturers, those who
plead for protection. for gains and
profits by legislation. alone be heard?
1t seems to US that the consumers of
tariff-taxed goods, the farmer, the
toiling millions throughout the
whole land have, the highest
right of all to be heard in their
necessary self defense against
injustice and oppression. If champions
OF privilege. protection and financial
greed are to invade our committee room
to be heard during the coming spring
and summer. then by every principle of
justice and right the cause of the vic
tim. the consumer. must also be amply
and fully heard. The truth is that
legislation was never accomplished by
SUCH METHODS,
and never will be under our form of
government. The people are heard
through their representatives in con-
gress, 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 i'll doubt for weeks and months
while the manufacturers of certain
state are talking 10 a committee; when,
in point of fact,a senator from the same
state, a manufacturer himself, could be
discussing the same questions far more
intelligently and ably on the floor of the
senate?
1t is all Idle pretense that any right is
denied to anybody by the course that
the committee has determined TO take.
We will report eur 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 bust
ness known to the census of 1890, have
been addressed to all our industries,
and abundant streams of information
are pouring in for use. Ill discussion in
the senate. In addition to this, nearly
all tine protected manufacturers were
heard before the committee on ways
and means of the house, and 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 calculation
than will be incident to a full. free
debate. The country needs action
action"
The Democratic members of the SEN
atorial committee on finance
LOST NO TIME IN PROCEEDING
to work upon the tariff bill after they
decided not to grant hearings to inter
ested parties. Senators Jones, Mills
and Vest, comprising all the members
of the subcommittee OH tariff except
Senator Voorhees,, met today and took
up the bill with the view of putting it
in shape at the earliest practical moment
for submission, first to the Democratic
members, and afterwards to the full
committee. The meeting was of an
exceedingly private character, 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 gentle.
men had all given much attention
to the bill and had conferred among
familiar with one another'S views upon
the questions at issue. They nave de-
ternined to make few concessions on
important articles, like coal and sugar
A duty will be placed upon these arti-
cles, but whether it will be specific or
ad valOrem in character has not been
determined. If specific duty is de-
cided upon, it will. in the case of sugar,
probably be a cent pound, and in that
of coal five cents or dollar per ton. No
decision has been reached on the income
tax. There are on the Democratic side
of the house some strong advocates of
the shrinking out of this part of the bill.
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, is urgent
in his 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.