Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-04-27
TARIFF MATTERS.
Democrats Decline a Republican
Proposition.
BILL Is IN A VERY TIGHT PLACE.

zones ana
His Consent Depends on Concessions for
the West That He Will Demand-white's
Views as to Consideration by the Whole
Senate Finance Committee.
Washington. April 27.-The Demo-
cratic members Of the finance committee
will not accept the proposition made by
their Republican colleagues to allow the
tariff bill to be reported direct to the
senate without passing through the
hands Of the full committee, and have
50 notified the Republican members.
White, member of the finance commit
tee. was asked his views regarding the
matter, and is believed to have voiced
the views of all the Democratic men,
bers in his reply. He said: Il would be
glad to crafty the personal inclinations
Of any senator, but speaking for myself
only l am unable to perceive the pro-
priety of such a course, and cannot &C
Quiesce in it. When the bill is reported
to the senate the Democratic members
ought to be able to Immediately lay be-
fore their colleagues a comparatively
full statement of the infirmities Of the
unless the subject is properly discussed
in committee, and if examined there
with care much labor will be saved when
the proposition is submitted to the SEN
ate.
Would BE n Novel Scheme.
IF the Democratic members are of any
use on the committee it must be because
they will be able to give this informa-
IA ir 70 nff he
views Of the minority may lead to i'm
mediate changes in the improvement Of
the bill. If we consent to the adoption
Of the plan outlined by the Republican
members it will be said that we have
given away our case and are present.
ing but half-hearted opposition. Such
q scheme would be novel, would require
explanation, and cannot result favora-
bly, to the public interests. If our Re-
publican brethren have improved the
bill so as to make it passably digestible
they can afford to submit it to careful
End conservative criticism in the COM
mittee room.
quite Time" Well Yes.
THE country, of course, understands
that the Rebuplican members Of the
finance committee have had the bill
since it passed the house, and that the
minority have interposed no obstruction
and have not been in position to intel
liSently examine a single schedule, and
this situation will not be altered until
the details of the measure are disclosed
do not complain of the delay. The sub
ject is of grave import, and the gentle
men who have been preparing amend
ments have worked assiduously and are
no doubt troubled because of the extra
ordinary burden imposed upon them by
the house. Thus far there has been no
real debate on the bill. and while am
| most anxious to see the session closed
I know that quite a time will be neces-
sarily consumed in legitimate discus
sion.
Retroactive Clause a Scarcrow.
Il have been frequently asked
whether the retroactive clause will be
eliminated. I can only say that !
thoroughly agree with the criticisms
made upon this peculiar provision by
Senator Vest, and do not think that il
can be retained, nor do 1 believe that il
was ever intended to pass bill contain
| ing such restriction. Its insertion by
the house was designed to scare i'm
porters. have no reason to suppose
that any Democratic member of the
| finance committee favors the direct re-
port of the measure to the senate. We
have had no formal meeting yet"
REPUBLICANS EMPRESS SURPRISE.
Inn. f~v~N - t. .u.sA q