The times., 1897-04-30
THE COMING TARIFF REPORT.
Democrats Insist Upon sufficient
Time for Investigating.


Time for Investigating.
Tho Republicans are not altogether GER
tain of the fate of their tariff bill. After
the rather lively discussion between them
and their Democratic colleagues yesterday
morning the Republicans retired to rco;n
and spent fifteen minutes by themselves
discussing the situation. 1t was then de-
cided that not until the Democrats agreed
upon time for the reporting OF the bill
would the measure be submitted to them
by the majority OF the committee Should
the Democrats not have thus agreed by
Monday the bill will not be submitted
then, and is may be some days before the
measure is laid before the full committee.
1t was pointed out to the Democrats in
the committee-room yesterday that they
were seeking 10 establish new precedent.
and that their demand for time in WHICH
to consider the measure in committee was
utterly without parallel in the history OF
the Senate. Mr. Aldrich stated that this
had never been done When the Mckinley
bill was in the Senate it was reconstructed
by subcommittee OF Republicans and was
submi tied to the full committee and re-
ported the same day. Senators Vest aud
Harris, who were members Of the SUBJ
mittee with Senator Jones' Of A rkansas.
as chairman in charge OF the Wilson bill
during Its devious passage through the
Finance Committee, which was then under
the chairmansbip of the late Senator yoor-
hees, were asked why they insisted upon
reversing the policy then pursued
The Republicans called attention to the
fact that that bill was constructed by
subcommittee which sat somewhere in the
basement of the building, and that when it
was ready to submit the perfected bill =
as 1t was then thought to the full cora-
mittee, a meeting was called. the hill was
laid before the Republicans, the vote taken
and the bill reported to the Senate inside
of two hours. This, said Mr.. Aldrich, has
been the universal procedure.
Mr.. Vest contended that the conditions
were now quite different, and that the
Democrats were entitled TO some time in
committee for the consideration OF the
changes that badbeen made. and of which
the committee, as a committee, today knew
absolutely nothing.
Mr.. Harris supported Mr.. Vestin this con-
tentiou.
Later in the da y the Democrats got to-
gether and talked over the subject among
themselves. tits thought that as a result
of this consultation an agreement viii be
reached whereby the bill will be reported
at a time very soon after is submission to
the full committee, which time Will be
definitely fixed before the end OF the
week
1t is the general belief that Senator
Jones of Nevada, who has been acting with
the Republicans, has been holding aIoof
from the conferences OF the Republicans
lately, owing TO the fact that he cannot
have his own way with respect to some
OF the schedules. 1t was reported last
night that the Republicans were uneasy
over this conduct Of the Nevada Senator,
and it was this lack of positive assurance
from him that caused the delay in report
ing the measure.
In reply to these assertions, which were
boldly ma,ie yesterday, prominent mem
ber OF the subcommittee authorized The
Times to make the statement that there
was no word OF truth In the reports This
Senator said that Senator Jones had been
with the committee several times, and that
he was in thorough accord with everything
that had been done UP to this time
Members OF the subcommittee diplomat
ica!Iy deny the assertion that they are
nue. rates on certain things for the pur-
pose OF raising more money, by saying
nothing has been done. This is quite
true, hut 1t is equally true that the neces-
sity of raising more revenue has been
brought TO their attention so pointcdly by
Department, ,thatsuchincrease
affords the only sure solution Of the diff
ficuIty. Nothing has been definitely set
tied on this question, but the matter is
being considered Nothing may come of
it, either. for internal taxation is antag-
onistic to the policy of the Republican
party, and while number OF that party
believe there should be an additional.tax
on beer and tobacco,' it is questionable
whether there are sufficient to carry the
proposition through the committee. II it
fails there, it is almost certain that an
amendment will be Offered to that end
in the Senate, and with Democratic and
Populist votes 60 support it, the provision
may prevail