Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-13
THE NEW MKuxLEY hill.

It has been agreed among tho Republican
leaders that 10 tariff legislation VIII be
ATTEMPTED at this session of Congress, but
that the House Committee on Ways and
Means will proceed to prepare general
bill. TO be acted upon at an extra session
OF the now Congress
The Washington Post OF yesterday says
while the proposition 10 prepare tarin
bin at this session is generally approved
by Republicans I'm the House. and an ex-
ira session IL no longer spoken OF as any
thing else than n certainty, there - no
end of discussion Of the probabilities OF
passing the. desired measure Some OF the
members have been looking up the re-
cords of pas. tariff bills. and ind mat
former Congresses have occupied nearly
or quite a year I'm the consideration OF
measures to revise the tariff law, and In
the case Of the Mills bill all the hard
work and discussion came TO naught.
so far as the House is concerned. there
seems TO be small doubt that the bill can
be put through there without consuming
such great amount Of time az has been
done I'm the past. The plan for this has
already been formulated. and appears to
be generally satisfactory. IL IL assumed
that MIR. Reed will continue 20 occupy the
Speakers chair I'm the next Congress, ana
that there will be no change In the Re
publican representation on the Ways and
Mears Committee. Therefore, it is ex-
pected that the bill will be reported within
q few days after the extra session be
gins and passed under a rule limiting time
for debate. This will throw the burden OF
all delay upon the Senate"
No doubt, this course has the approval
OF Major Mckinley. since It Is favored
by Mr.. Dingley who is his spokesman
on this subject. And Mr.. Hanna. too,
has been at Washington. and probably
has given his sanction and encourage
ment to the scheme
Upon the whole. we think the country
will be pleased with this arrangement.
II we are to have q new tarif-and II
seems that we are-the sooner It is framed
and put into force the better We
have had enough agitation. and OF watch
ing and waiting; we could better stand
a new Mckinley bill than another pro-
tracted period of heated discussion and
disheartening inactivity.
II the Republicans have the power to
legislate, they ought to legislate promst-
~. and the Democrats ought 10 ask Tor
no more delay than is necessary TO put
themselves Alright upon the record, and
inform the people what are the merits
or dement's OF the proposed law.
Yet, 1t is still a matter Of doubt whether
the Republicans will have such con-
troll of the Senate OF the Fifty-fifth Con-
gress as will enable them 20 carry
through their measures. Much depends
upon the course to be adopted by the
boiling Republican members and the
senatorial elections that will take place
this winter.
The House Committee on Ways and
Means. as now constituted, may be al
most the same in the next Congress as
an but one or two of its members having
been reelected.
The people are so very tired Of dis
cussion and disquiet. they are now quite
willing to let the Republicans go on and
do what they propose, feeling sure that
no more harm can come to the country
from action than from inaction.
1t seems understood in Washington
that the new bill will emboiy the fea
lures OF reciprocity that were contained
in the Mckinley bill, and will fix rates
higher than the present law does, but
lower than the old Mckinley bill did.
But this is all guess-work. The protect
! ed manufacturers. who raised so much
money Tor Hanna, will have to be con-
suited: Hanna's promises 10 them will
be kept. we suppose; and after this is
I
rally may be considered.
20. It seems that we are not only 10
have a new tariff but are to have it vers
| quickly-unless the boiling Republican
! senators prevent it,