Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-21
WHO ARE THE MEN?
Apparent Uncertainty as to Who Are
the Finance Committee.
QUITE A LIVELY SENATE DEBATE
As to How the Tariff Bill is
Being Prepared.
REPUBLICANS ASK QUESTIONS

In the Senate today Senator Allen (Neb)
presented a resolution directing the At
torney General to inform the Senate wheth-
er he had, in an opinion to the Secretary Of
the Treasury. held that silver certificates
are not legal money. and If SO to transmit
the opinion with all correspondence to the
Senate The resolution after slight amend
ment was adopted.
Senator VOOrhees' Denial.
There was a sharp discussion following a
question of privilege raised by Senator
Voorhees, in regard to a publication in the
Philadelphia Press to the effect that demo-
cratic members of the finance committee
had been receiving suggestions and direc-
lions from the President as to the course
to be pursued in dealing with the new tariff
bill. The paper reported with some detail
an interview which took place on yesterday
between these gentlemen and the President.
Senator Voorhees, denied the accuracy of the
statements made in any particular.
He said: Nothing of the kind took place
and nothing out of which it could be manu-
featured. The Enthusiastically OF that
statement involving the President OF the
United States was such and the circulation
it would receive so extensive that i thought
it my duty to lay 1t before the public and
start the truth in its tardy way afterward.
OF course truth will never overtake 1t.
When / see these things / sometimes think
that seventeenth of human history is I'M
true"
Who Constitutes the Committee.
Senator Chandler took this occasion to in
Quire to the exact membership of the
finance committee.
"A short time ago. said he, IAN order
was passed by the Senate constituting Sem
ator Mills a member of the committee in
the place of Senator Mcpherson Does the
assignment continue? Which is acting as
a member. or are both acting as men,
bers?'
THE record shows who constitutes the
committee" replied Mr.. Voorhees,. THE
Record Is open to the Senator from New
Hampshire. If he would get the Record
and examine it, it would be better than
spearing in this way. We are pretty much
all at work. The Senator from Texas
CMills) is doing and has done some mag
nifcent work"
Whether 1t is spearing the committee Or
not" interrupted Senator Chandler, Il
think 1t is perfectly proper to inquire as to
who constitutes the membership of the
hnance committee and who are dong this
work"
Let the Senator introduce a resolution"
Il Will not said Senator Chandler Il
am asking the Senator from Indiana wheth-
er the acting member of that committee
today and now is the Senator from Texas
or the Senator from New Jersey, or whcth-
er 1t is BOTH
nave no ulSpOSltlOn, said Senator
voorhees,. ITO give the Senator from New
Hampshire short answer, but we are do
ing our work in our own way, and IL is
none of his business. Uaughter) We are
transacting our work to the best of our
ability, and If he is not satisfied, he may
introduce resolution of inquiry and then
we will investigate" Q-aughter)
1T is my business to know what the
finance committee is doing" persisted Sena-
tor Chandler. 1T has a bill before IL that
is utterly destructive to the state of New
Hampshire. 1t is obstructing its Industries
from one end of the state to the other"
Il am not to be betrayed into a loss of
temper" said Mr.. Voorhees,. II told the
gentleman in tones of courtesy that the
record shows who constitutes this commit
tee. I think that, as the Senator from New
Jersey is back here. he should infer that he
Is at work. This is inquiry which a
Senator of delicate feeling would not make"
The Senator from Indiana" said Mr..
Chandler, lis very sensitive about pubica-
ton in a newspaper. and equally sensitive
about courteous inquiry in the Senate"
Il am not" said Mr.. Voorhees, But this
was published in very powerful and in
huential journal and with circumstan-
tiality that demanded my attention, invad-
Ing as it did the President of the United
States"
Senator Henderson Takes n Hand.
Senator Henderson Neb) called attention
to the fact that many newspapers had
stated that Senator Mcpherson, learning
SuDcOm-
mittee having charge of this bill, had de-
termined that he would absent himself from
his place, or from the Capitol, and that ii
was decided Senator Mills was to act in his
place. He failed to see any improperly In
the inquiry as to who was acting on the
committee at this time.
An EndeaV to Restore Good FEELING
Senator Sherman endeavored to restore
good feeling by suggesting that the commit
QenartinR
The committee on finance" said he, has
not formally considered the tariff bill as
yet. In pursuance of a custom that has
sprung up within the past few years. the
bill has been referred to a subcommittee
which is in favor of the bill. i do not know
but that, upon the whole. that is probably
the best way to present the question. AS /
understand it now, committee of three
gentlemen members of the finance commit
tee, are considering the bill. 1t will be re-
ported in due time to majority of the
finance committee, composed of democrats
and eventually, 1 suppose, the whole COM
mittee. when republicans will probably have
something to say about it. AS to the ques-
ton of the displacement of the Senator from
New Jersey by the Senator from Texas 1
consider 1t rather a family matter about
which we had no right to growl or object
I take it as a matter of course that what
ever has been done. the Senator from New
Jersey assents to the arrangement
Senator Platt thought the Senate had a
right to know who the members of the
finance committee are.
Senator Vests Statement.
1t was maintained by Senator Vest that
no subcommittee had been appointed to
consider the tariff bill. Nothing was be-
ing done in a formal way.
Senator Plat said that if this were true
there has certainly been a great mistake.
There has in any event been a de facto
subcommittee finance considering this
question.
Senator Henderson expressed the hope
that there would then ultimately be hear
ings in the committee when the bill was
formally considered.
Mr.. Voorhees, Explanation.
Senator Voorhees, said that public hear
ings were denied because it would involve
so much time to practically prevent the
determination Of this question. Senators
had, however, been accorded hearings, in
behalf of their constituents. whenever
they might desire to be heard. Il am for
action" said he, land / am for that ac-
ton speedily as possible"
Hearings TO everybody that wanted to be
heard would have involved a loss of legisla-
ton entirely. They meant a consumption of
time without any limit, and in order to