The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-01-08
DE,,oonaTI~C

TO the Wilson Bil-a1r.5Sperry Tells the
Position of the Democratic Opponents
OF the Measure.
WAsn1SGToS, D. G., Jan. 7:-Repse-
sentative Sperry, who represents the
Democratic directors to the Wilson Dill,
tried unsuccessfully in the house
throughout yesterday to secure recognl-
ton in order to move to recommlt the
tariff bill, with instructions 10 prepare
and submit the internal revenue feature
before asking for q special rule closing
!5debate. Mr.. Sperry tried to bring tue
resolution in rs q matter OF privilege,
but Speaker Crisp persistently refused
to recognize him.
MIR. Sperry states the position OF the
Democratic opposition is as follows:
Tho parliamentary situation IN the
house at the present time is this: u
ways and ear committee has report
ed tariff bill which shows S15,0OO,OOo
deficiency as compared with the re-
ceipts under the present law. Ihey
pre- also expected to report an internal
revenue bill, and as a part OF that Dlll
the Democratic end of the avs n
means committee has agreed by 4 ma
jority OF one on an income tax. The
tariff bill has been reported, estimates
made and everyone is informed on It's
details and is able TO act intelllgentlY.
But the internal revenue bill has not
been reported and no one knows,.not
even the members of the committee.
what provisions that bill will contain
when it is finally reported.
1t has been the settled policy OF the
ways and means committee that the
tariff and internal revenue bills should
be separately prepared, separately pre-
sented aud separately voted on. Within
the last week intimations have been
made by members of the ways and
means committee that the internal rcv-
| enue bill would be attached to the tariff
bill as an amendment. And yet no in
ternal revenue bill has been prepared
and nothing is known MS to the amount
of revenue it would yield to the govern
ment. With these conditions confront
ing the house the ways and means COM
mittee has sought the aid of the rules
committee, and has brought in a rule
by which they propose to limit debate
upon the subject matter OF legislation
which is not yet in form and on which
no member OF Congress has authentic
information.
In other words the committee on
rules prepared to adopt q cloture rule
limiting debate and affixing time for a
vote. and then to offer the bill for con-
sideration. It does not, perhaps, make
Sc much difference whether the tariff
bill and the revenue bill are considered
separately or together, but it SEEM TO
me that every congressman is entitled
to have majority and minority reports
OF the committee, with estimates OF the
results OF the legislation if enacted, and
is entitled to that before he is expected
to vote on n cloture on a bill that is not
in existence.
Idon't think there is any disposition
to prevent consideration of a tariff bill
or OF IN internal revenue bill, and the
objections are due to the fact that the
ways and means committee have not
yet fully formulated legislation, and
lave not put the bill in shape except in
part, and have not decided whether an
internal revenue bill shall or shall not
be introduced separately or as a part of
the tariff bill. Until the ways and
means committee decide what they in
tend to do they can hardly object if we
delay further proceedings i'll the house
until that committee decides on what
course the prOpose to pursue.