Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-27
THE DrxoLEY TARIFF BILL.
Democrats Will Not Consent To LII
BEING damned" Through.


Being "Jammed" Through.
WASHINGTON. April %.-The Demo-
cratic members Of the Finance Commit
tee will not accept the proposition maze
by their Republican colleagues to allow
the tariff bin to be reported direct 10
the Senate without passing through the
hands of the full committee, ana nave
so notified the Republican members.
Senator White. member OF the Finance
Committee. was asked his views regard
ing the matter. and Is believed 10 nave
voiced the Views of all the Democratic
members In his reply. He said:
81 would be glad to crafty the per-
sonal inclinations Of any senator Du1
Speaking for myself only, / am unable
10 perceive the proprety OF such
course. and cannot acquiesce In IT. Nneh
the bill is reported to the Senate, the
Democratic members ought TO De apie 10
Immediately lay before their coileagues
comparatively full statement or the IN
irmities OF the proposed measure. rms
cannot he done unless the subject Is
nronerlv discussed in committee. and II
examined there with care, much labor
will be saved when the proposition Is
submitted to the Senate. IL the Demo
cratic members are of any use on Inc
committee. 1t must be because they VIII
he able to give this information.
"Besides. n fair presentation or the
views of the minority may lead TO I'M
mediate changes I'm Improvement or the
bill. II we consent TO the adoption Oh
the plan outlined by the Republican
members, it will be said that we nave
given away our case and are making
but half-hearted opposition. Such
scheme would be novel. would require
explanation. and cannot result IaVofaoiy
TO the public interests. III our Hepuph-
can brethren have prepared the Dill SO
as 10 make It passably dlgestioie they
can afford to submit 1t 10 careiui anu
conservative criticism i'm the committee
ROOM
.The country. OF course. understands
that the Republican members OF The
Finance Committee have had the Dill
since II passed the House. and that the
minority have interposed no OBSTRUCTION
and have not been In a position TO IN
telIigently examine single schedule:
This situation will not be aitereu
until the details of the measure
are disclosed. do not complain OIL ,he
dolav The subject Is Of grave I'M
mort. and the gentlemen VINO nave
been preparing amendments have worheu
assiduously. and are no doubt trouDieu
hocausa of the extraordinary burden I'M
nosed upon them by the House. inuS
far there has been no real DEBATE vi W.
bill. and while / am most ANXIOUS ~ 90
this session closed. / know that qui'e q
time will be necessarily consumer III
legitimate discussion
"I have been frequently asked whethei
Tho retroactive clause will be eliminated
can only say that 1 thoroughly agree
Win tho criticisms made upon this pecu-
liar nrovision by Senator Vest, and do not
think that it can be retained, nor 90
believe that Il was ever intended 10 pass
the hill containing such a RESTRICTION. Inc
insertion of the clause by the House Was
designed to scare importers.
81 have no reason to suppose that any
Democratic member of the Finance com
mIttee favors the direct report OIL 'he
measure to the Senate. We have had no
formal meeting yet :. ,
The Democrats have not yet decideu
how much time they may want Tor con-
sideration OF the bill In committee anu
will not be able TO decide until tney see
the amended bill, and also ascertain the
nosition that Senator Jones. of Nevada.
will assume towards the measure. lie
will hold the balance of power in the
with the Democrats, they can hold the
bill in committee for an indefinite length
of time. He has told the Republican
members of the committee that he still
holds views favorable to protection, ana
has given them to understand that ne Will
support the bill If II conforms TO his
ideas. He has asked in general way
for increased protection on the products
of the far West.
If these concessions are made, it Is not
believed that he would assist i'm holding
the bin in committee for any length OF
time even IL the Democrats should so
desire.
The Republican members of the COM
mittee express surprise at the refusal OF
the Democrats to allow the tariff bill to
20 directly to the Senate, instead OF
nassIng through the committee. They
saw the Democratic members have indi-
Gated no desire TO suggest amendments;
that IL would be unusual If they should
ATTEMPT TO modify the bill in committee.
and that the proceedings of putting 1t
through the full committee will be pure
IN perfunctory They show confidence in
being able to secure an early report, even
though there is opposition TO immediate
presentation to the Senate. and they
count upon the assistance of Senator
Jones. OF Nevada, in getting the measure
out of committee.
The Republican members now expect ia
be able TO send the bill to the printer
Wednesday night. and to present 1t TO the
full committee Thursday. They admit,
however, that there is still considerable
detail work to be done. and Senators
Allison and Aldrich both said tonight
that there was no absolute certainty OF
carrying the programme into execution.