The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-04-30

Question - to the Attitude Toward the
Bhl OF senator Jone. of Nevada an I'm
portant one To the Democrats.
Washington. April ss.-The demo-
cratic members OF the finance commit
tee VIII not accept the proposition
made by their republican colleagues to
allow the tariff bill to be reported di-
rect to the senate. without passing
through the hands Of the full commit
tee and have 80 notified the republican
members Senator White. a member OF
the finance committee. was asked hts
views regarding the matter and Is be-
iieVed 10 have voiced the views OF all
the democratic members in his reply.
He said: ~
Il would be glad 10 CRAFTY IN. mar
N inclinations OF any senator hut
for myself only, l am unable
70 perceive the propriety OF such m
course and cannot acquiesce in IL
men the bill Is reported 10 he senate
the democratic our;ht To bss
able 10 immediately lay before their
colleagues a comparatively flu state
ment or the OF the pron,s.x,
measure. This cannot be done unless
the subject Is properly dis ;.ss.~d i'm
committee and IL examined there with
"Ns HaaNa ldpDI VIII De saved whom
the proposition is submitted IL the SEN
ate. II the democratic memhrrs ar.
OF any use on the committee i, must
ne because they Will be able Z, give
TINS information. Besides. a fair pre-
sentation OF the views OF the minority
may lead TO immediate changes in i'm
p~foNeinent OF the bill. II We consent
10 the adoption OF the plan outlined by
the republican members, 1t Nill la said
mat We have given away our case and
are representing but hair hearted on
position. such a scheme would ~.
novel would require explanation and
cannot result f~avorably TO public in
terests. If our repub.ican br,thr.,
nave improved the bin So as TO max. h,
passably digestlble. they can AFFORD fn
submit ii To careful and conservative
criticism In the committee room. The
couh'ry, OF course. understands that
the republican members Of the finance
committee have had the bin since ~
passed the house and that the mi
norlty nave ~interposed no obstruction
and have not been in a position 10 in
telllgently examine a single schedule
This situation will not be altered
until the details OF the measure are
disclosed. ! do not complain OF the he
lay. n subject Is of grave lmucrt
and the gentlemen who have been pre-
pairing amendments have worked as-
slduously 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 anxous
to see this session closed. | know that
quite a time will be necessarily con-
stunned in legitimate legislation.
Il have been frequently asked wheth-
er the retroactive clause will be elimi-
mated. L can only say that / thor
oughly agree with the criticisms made
upon this peculiar provision by Sem
ator Vest and do not think that il can
be retained, nor do / believe that IL
was ever intended to pass a bin con-
tanning such a restriction. Its Insertion
by the house was designed to scare i'm
porters. / have no reason To suppose
that any democratic member %. the
nnance committee favors the direct re-
port OF the measure to the senate. We
have had no formal meeting yet"
The democrats nave not vet decided
how much time they may want for
the consideration of the bin in com
mittee and Will not be able to decide.
untll they see the amended bill, and
also ascertain the position that senator
Jones, Of Nevada, will assume toward
the measure. He will hold the balanc,.
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. H. has
told the republican members Of The
committee that he still holds views ia
Vorable to protection and has givcz.
them TO understand hat h. VIII sun
port the bill II it conforms t. his IDEAS
he has asked in "A general way for pro-
lection on the PRODUCTS OF the far west.
The republican members Of the cort-
mlttee express surprise at the refusal
OF the democrats to allow the tariff tin
to go direct to the senate instead uf
passing through the committee. They
say the democratic members have indi-
Gated no desire to suggest amend
ments: that it would be unusual ir
they should attempt TO modify the bin
in committee and that the proceedings
OF putting II through the full COM
mittee VIII be purely ~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 confident
ly upon the assistance OF Senator Jones'
OF Nevada, in getting the measure our
OF committee. The republican members
now expect to be able to send the biIs
to the printer Wednesday night and to-
present IL to the full committed Thurs
day. They admit, however. that thcr,.
is still considerable detail work to tas
done and Senators Allison and AldricI-
both said tonight that there was no alb
solute certainty OF carrying the pro-
graEnme into execution.