The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-27

PROPOSITION OF THE SENATE
SUBCOMMITTEE.
DINGLEY BILL IN QUESTION
FULL COMMITTEE WILL PASS UPON
1T BEFORE A REPORT IS
MADE, at
MUCH DISAPPOINTED
They Had Counted Upon Being Able
to Hurry the New Tariff Act to
u Vote.


cratic members Of the finance commit
tee will not accept the proposition made
by their Republican colleagues to al
low the tariff bill to be reported direct
to the senate without passing through
the hands of the full committee and
have so notified the Republican mem
bers. Senator White, a member of the
finance committee was asked his views
regarding the matter, and is believed to
have voiced the views of all the Demo
cratic members in his reply. He said:
II would be glad to crafty the per-
sonal inclinations of any senator, but,
speaking for myself only, 1 am unable
to perceive the propriety of such a
course and cannot acquiesce in it.
When the bill is reported to the senate
the Democratic members ought to be
able to Immediately lay before their
colleagues a comparatively few state
ments of the infirmities of the proposed
measure. This cannot be done unless
the subject is properly discussed in
committee. If examined there, much
labor will be saved when the PROPOSE
ton is submitted to the senate. If the
Democratic members are of any use on
the committee, it must be because they
are able to give this information. Be
sides, a fair presentation of the views
of the minority may lead to immediate
changes in improvement of the bill.
If we consent to the adoption of the
plan outlined by the Republican men,
bers, it will be said that we have given
away our case and are presenting but
half-hearted opposition. Such a scheme
would be novel, would require expla-
nation and cannot result favorably to
public interest If our Republic breth-
rem have improved the bill SO as to
make it passably digestible, they can
afford to submit it to careful and con-
sentative criticism in the committee
room. The country, of course under
stands that the Republican members of
the finance committee have had the bill
since it passed the house, and that the
minority have interposed no objection,
and have not been in position to in
diligently examine a single schedule,
and this situation will not be altered
until the details of the measure are dis
closed. l do not complain of the de-
lay. The subject is of & ave Importance
and the gentlemen who have been pre-
pairing amendments have worked as
siduOuSly, and are, no doubt, troubled
because of the extraordinary 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 this session closed, I know that
quite a time will be necessarily con-
stunned in legitimate discussion. l have
been frequently asked whether the re-
troactive clause will be eliminated. |
can only say that l thoroughly agree
with the criticisms made upon this pc
culiar provision by Senator Vest, and
do not think that it can be retained nor
do l believe that it was ever intended
to pass a bill containing such a restric-
ton. Its insertion by the house was
designed to scare importers. l have no
reason to suppose that any Democratic
member Of the finance committee favOrs
the direct report of the measure to the
senate. We have had no formal meet
ing yet The Democrats have not yet
decided how much time they may want
for the consideration of the bill in COM
mittee, and will not be able to decide
until they see the amended bill, and
also ascertain the position that Sena-
tor Jones, of Nevada, will assume to-
ward the measure. He will hold the
balance Of power in the committee, and
if he throws his influence 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, and
has given them TO understand that he
will support the bill if it conforms to
his ideas. He has asked in q g ECrc3
way for increased prOtectfC1 On tie
products of the far West If these CIR
ccssions are made it is rot believed
that he would assist in holding The hill
in committee for any length o. time,
even if the Democrats Should So de-
sire"
The Republican members of the corn
nittee express surprise at tie re "a
of the Democrats to allow tie tariff
bill to go direct to the senate, IL tea5
of passing through the committee
They say the Democratic members have
indicated no desire to suggest amend
ments: that it would be unusual il
they should attempt to modify tie BIZ
in committee, and that the proceeding
of putting it through TIE full commit
tee will be purely perfunct0ry. TceE
show confidence in being able to secure
an early report, even though there IS
opposition to immediate presenta tion
to the senate. and they count confident
ly upon the assistance of Senator Jones
Of Nevada. in getting the measure oIt
of committee. The Republican mem
bers now expect to be able to send tie
bill to the printer Wednesday night,
and to present it 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