The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-03-11
rae TARIFF BILL.

All Interest NOW CeIitefS Ia TIC Lain
Bill, which it is expected will be the
final act in closing the long period Of
depression and in opeiliAg the era Of
prosperity.
An effort was madeI t6 interfere with
Speakers Reeds program for the speedy
passage of the bill by n1af}uvering so as
to secure the failure offs four appropria-
ton bills. This, it was expected, would
compel the Speaker to organize other
committees and permit the introduction
of general business. But Speaker Reed
has announced that the present appro-
priations will be extended as often as
necessary, and that no appropriation
bills will be reported to the House until
after the Senate has passed the Tariff
Bill, though that may not be until next
September. Thus he does not propose
for an instant to relax his grip upon
the throat of the Senate, and if it does
not do business the country will know
the reason.
The House Ways and Means Com
mittee have been at work for three
months upon the bill, and have carefully
perfected it to the last detail. The
members of the committee are all men
of the largest experience with Tariff
measures and have been earnest, prac-
teal students of economic questions for
the last quarter Of century. They
have studied, discussed, and particl-
pated in the passage of all the later
Tariff Bills, and attentively considered
their practical operation. Besides this,
they have freely availcd themselves of
all the information they could gather
from practical business men. They
have formulated bill which they
rightfulIy consider to be the very best
possible under the circumstances.
The bill will be presented to the
House at once upon its. organization,
and will be put through with compara-
lively little debate. Men will not be
allowed to talk upon it osimply for the
purpose Of Grating, and to make
campaign ammunition. let them attack
it on the stump as miclfhas they please,
where they will only waste their own
time and that Of their hearers. This
will be at no expense To the industries
of the country. CBgaiiri1hIan Dingley is
in favor of limiting ,theddebate to two
weeks, while other members of the COM
mittee favor no more than 10. days, or
even a shorter time. Some members
want the previous question moved not
later than April l, and the tendency of
opinion is in that direction.
The bill ought therefore to be in the
Senate not later than April 10, and then
the House will take recess and wait
for the Senate to act. The pressure upon
that body will then become crucial, and
augment with every days delay.
The Democrats, through Senator Cor
man, have announced that they will
offer no factious opposition, but "insist
upon ample debate" There is the
dreaded rock. There are As opposition
Senators, and each one is capable of
talking at least day, while some of them
are good for week Of steady outpour.
This would mean at least two months
of "debate." Whether damning by
the public will have any effect in
damning Senatorial eloquence remains
to be seen. The more sanguine of the
Republican leaders think that it will,
and that we can hope for the passage of
the bill at least by July l.
1t ought to be passed not later than
June /, which would give every man
who has really anything to say time to
say all that he has Of value on the sub.
ject.
SHERMAN'S MEMOIRS