The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-30

Do Not Like Democratic Opposition to
Their Reporting Amended Tariff Bill
Without Committees ActiOn-The
Possibility Suggested of Reporting the
Dingley Bill, if Opposition Still Con-
tinue.
Washington, D. c., April 29.-The Sen
ate Finance committee was in session for
an hour to-day, four Republicans and
four Democrats being present. No con-
clusion of any kind regarding the tariff
bill was reached.
The discussion was confined entirely to
the proposition of the Republicans to per-
nit the bill to be reported, direct to the
Senate and the alternative proposition to
consider it very briefly in committee. The
Democrats declined the first suggestion,
but said with reference to the second that
they could make no reply until they
should have an opportunity to see the
bill. They stated, however, that under
any circumstances they would expect to
be given sufficient time to thoroughly
examine the bill before consenting to its
being reported. Beyond this they would
ask nothing, as they would not seek I'M
necessarily to delay the bill for day. The
Republicans stated their reason for max
ing the request to be that they were much
fatigued with their work In committee
and admitted also that they were desir-
Gus of avoiding the importantly to which
they knew they would be subjected when
the contents of the bill should become
known. They also stated that their work
was not sufficiently advanced to permit
the presentation of copies Of the bill to
the Democrats, but they vOuchsafed no
information in regard to changes beyond
stating that they were generally in the
line of reductions. The discussion was of
Il conversational character and was par
ticipated in by all the Senators present.
One fact developed during the confer
ence was that the Republicans did not
feel absolutely assured of the vote OF
Seantor Jones, of Nevada, in committee.
On the other hand the Democrats ex-
pressed confidence that he would stand
with them at least to the extent of seeing
that they had time for consideration of
the bill in committee.
TheRepublican members of the Finance
committee do not accept with good grace
the refusal of the Democrats to permit
speedy report of the tariff BILL They
, SHY that tilc DoSltloH VI TIC DCAloSidlo
is unprecedented, the rule being to allow
the majority to bring in and present its
amended bill without effort on the part
of the minority to change the result in
! committee. There is a possibility that
they may eyade the demands by reporting
, the Dingley bill back to the Senate with
out any amendment whatever. This could
be accomplished by the adoption of
resolution by the Senate dscharging the
committee from the further consideration
of the bill and ordering it to report it
back. The ACCESSIBILITY of adopting such
course as this was discussed somewhat
by Republican members of the Finance
committee after receiving the refusal Of
the Democrats. They say the amend
| ments agreed upon by the Republican
members could be presented from time
to time in the Senate and they feel there
would be one great advantage in this
course in avoiding the necessity of getting
the assent of Senator Jones, of Nevada,
to every change made before presenting
the bill The Democratic members do
not regard the outlook thus presented
very seriously. They do not believe that
| the Republican members of the commit
tee would take the responsibility Of re-
porting the bill without a change and
pronounce the talk of such course as
bluff"