Evening star., 1897-05-29

ley bill was the product of the COMMITTEES
Of ways and means of the last House of
Representatives. A hearing was given 10
all interests and the bill was carefully. IL
not conscientiously. prepared by the repub-
lican majority of the committee. The Nar1-
Gus schedules were referred to subcom-
mittees. under the general supervision OF
the chairman OF the ways and means. ana
their product was mortised in the Dill. IN
the Senate IL was different Messrs. Aid
rich Allison and Platt of Connecticut had
charge of the measure. They gave no
hearings. but appeared to have devoted
their time and attention to the reconcina-
ton Of conflicting interests. How wen ven
they have succeeded will be shown by the
action of the Senate. Each committee
spun its share of the web. and the spin
ming was done. not at the Capitol, but IN
the private parlors Of well-known noteis-
One thing Is certain-the House will not
knuckle under as IL did In the Fifty-thirn
Congress. 1t is in arms and viii assert its
constitutional rights. 1t cannot be threat.
ened nor cajoled into concurrence WIN
the amendments proposed by the Senate
finance committee. Its feeling Is SHOWN IN
the remark of a weli-known republican
statesman, who openly declares that the
hill as amended by the SENATE cotlhliteo
DESTROYS more industries than IL Protects,
ON the other hand. the Senate very likeiy
regards the prompt action OF the House
On the bill as an effort to iofce prompt az
tion upon the more august Dooy-
The feeling may be intensifed by the oe-
casional appearance OF Speaker heeu IN
the Senate chamber. The settees are more
Comfortable there than those in the House.
although the debates are hardly as enter
tanning Stolid and International, Mr. Reed
occasionally occupies settee, listening
mechanically to the interminaDie nov OF
words man with a metallic tympanum
would dispIay far more interest. His warm
est friend is Henry Cabot Lodge OF Massa-
chusetts, who always gives him hearty
greeting.
The Retroactive Clause.
The real secret of the action Of the House
was the desire to put the bill through Con-
gress with such rapidity as to save the rev.
enue that might be lost oy excessive i'm
portation. The retroactive clause was
second thought. The inaction OF the Sent
ate was apparently foreseen. and an at
tempt to discount 1t made. Everybody to-
day agrees that the retroactive clause will
fail. The Senate will never concur In such
action. Indeed the general opinion Is that
the Supreme Court would declare IL uncon-
stitutional Meantime. the action OF the
Senate committee has spurred the import
ers to activity anew. They are adding to
the revenue under the Wilson bill by rob-
bing the Dingley bill OF its proposed rev.
gether. the situation looks ominous Men
who ought to know do not hesitate to de-
clare that the bill will not reach the
President until September.
Afar on Is heard the holrse murmur of
popular discomfort. Every business man
feels as though his hands were tied. The
read to prosperity Is not open. and the era
OF stagnation continues. 1t pervades the
commercial ard manufacturing interests of
the country, and depresses those who are
In want Of employment. All agree that the
passage OF q tariff bill would at least re-
move the uncertainty that now mildews the
industries OF the country. While there are
outcries against the Dingiey bill. as well
as the amendment proposed by the finance
committee of the Senate, employers and
employees seemingly desire that action
should be taken as speedily as possible and
the matter settled for four years TO come.
one way or the other This will at least
change uncertainty to certainty and open
the way to better times IL II does rot re-
store the full tide of prosperity.
AMOS J. CUMMINGS