Birmingham state herald., 1897-04-27
MUST GO ID THE COMMITTEE Senator White Speaks of the
 Tariff Bill. VOICE E HIS SENTIMENTS And 2 S2,es He Is In Accord With Other z Democrats As To the Mode
 z Of Procedure.

-'r~>SIHnS lUll, Ap.1l -o.-IHe QenOcTallC 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 So no flied the republican members. Senator White, a member of the committee, was asked his views regarding the matter and, is believed to have voiced the views of all the democratic membe,s in. his reply. He snid:
 T would be glad to gratify the per sonal inclinatins of any senator, but, speaking for myself only, I am unable to perceive the proprieiy of such course, and cannot acquiesce in tt. When the bill is reported to he senate the demo- cratic senators ought to be able imme- dtately to lay before their colleagues full statement of the inirmities of the proposed measure. This canno. be done unless the subject is properly discussed in committee and if examined there vita care much labor will be savsd when the proposition is submitted to the senate If the democratic members are cf any use on .he committsie it must be because they will be abla to give this information. Besides, aair presentation of the views of the minority may lead to lmmedlate changes and improVeme mt or tha blli We cannot consent To the adoption or the plan outlined by the republican mem- bens It will be said that we have given away our case and are representing but hearted opposition. Such scheme would be novel, would require expla na- tion and cannot result favorably to pup lie interests. If our republican brethren have improved the bill so as to make It
 possably digesti5le they can afford to submit it to careful and conservative
 criticism fin the committee room- The country of course, understands that the republican members of ths finance com mittee have had the bill since it passed the house and that the minority have in- terposed mo obstruction and have not been in a posi- ion to intelligently examine a single schedule. This situation will not be altered until the measures are dis closed. The subject is of grave import ance and the committee has worked asid- uouSly and is not troubled with the ex- truordinary trouble imposed upon them
 by the house. I have been frequently asked whether the retroactive clause will be elimina tod. I cam only say that I thoroughly agree with The criticism made upon this peculiar proposition by Sena- tor Vest and do not think that it can be rslsained nor do believe it was ever in- tended to pass a bill con' aiming such a restriction. Its insertion by the house was designed to ycare importers I have MO reason to suppose that any demo- cratic member of the finance committee utVOrS Iile uiISct TtpOIl Ol lHS uledSuTe to the senate We have had no formal meeting yet.
 The democrats have not yet decided how much time they may want for the consideration of the bill, and will not be able to decide until they see the amended bill an also ascertain the position that Senator Jones, of Nevada, will assume towards the measure. He will hold the balance of power in the committee, and if he throws his influence with the dem- l. 1, I. tee for an indefinite length of time. He has told the republican members of the committee that he still holds views sfa-
 vorable to protection and has given them to understand that he will support the bill if it conforms to his ideas. He has asked in a general way for protection on the products of the far west
 If these concessions are made 1t is not believed that he would assist in holding the bill in committee for any length of time, even if the democrats should so desire
 The republican members of the com mittee express surprise at the refusal of
 the democrats to allow the tariff bin to
 go direct to the senate instead of passing through the committee. They say the
 democratic members have indicated no desire to suggest amendments; that it would be unusual if they should attempt to modify the bill in committee and that
 the proceedings of putting it through the
 full committee would be purely perfume
 tory. They show confidence in being
 abie to secure an early report, even
 though there is opposition to immediate
 presentation to the senate and they count confidently upon the assistance of Sena- tor Jones, of Nevada, in gettir g the meas
 ure out of committee. The republican
 members now expect to be able to send
 the bin to the printer Wednesday night
 and to present it to the full committee | Thursday. 1Eey admit, however, that l thn~a ;s ctiD oopci1ara h1n detail work tO 1 be dore. Sena.o .ors Allison and Adrich 1 both said tonight that there was TO abso-
 lute certainty of carrying the programme | into execution