Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-03-12
DEMOCRATS WILL OPPOSE SPEEDY
TARIFF LEGISLATION.
THINK IT GOOD PARTY POLICY.
HOPE 1T WILL TEND TO DIsCREDIT
THE NEW TARIFF LAW.
DeIay VIII Give Importers opportu-
nity 10 Rush in Goods Mt Old
Rates. Making Imports
Light for 81 Time Tn
der New Rates.


alton is giving the Republicans some con-
cern. They feel sure thai their bill can
pass but it Is HOW believed that the de-
bate is going to he extended in the senate
1t f. known that the intention of the DEM
ocratS is to talk on ever: subject IN the
bill The delay is regarded by some Dem
ocrats as good party policy Alter the
schedules of tie bill become known IL Is
believed there will be a great increase OF
imports in order to take advantage OF
duties under the lower rates. After the
new hill goes into effect. there will be a
SUSPENSION of imports for several months,
and a consequent falling off in receipts
and the bill which was designed TO IN
crease the revenues. they say. as a matter
of fact, will show a decrease fhls view,
is taken by quite a number of Democrats.
who say that il is their policy to nave
tn, bill passed. but not until after IT has
beer thoroughly discussed. without an
active majority In the senate. the Reppn-
licans will not he able to' hurry the! meas
ure along. The Republican silverites have
indicated that they will not prevent tar
iff bill from passing. but are not opposed
to the policy of delay.
Republican senators now feel tftt the
new bill will have 10 he amended materi-
ally by the committee on finance and the
senate II is known that two schedules
have been submitted TO the members oil
the finance committee. one being the chem
ical schedule. Without making close eN-
animation it is understood that senators
think that the rates are in some cases
higher than the law of 1880 As soon as the
new bill is presented. the Republican mem
bers of the fiaance committee wili begin
consideration of ii, even before II passes
the house. in order to have 1t brouShI "e-
.EarlN la
There was some talk at enc time that the
Republican members of the finance. COM
rnittec would he consulted by the ways and
means committee while the latter was at
work on the tariff, in order that measure
might be framed which would require as
little amendment by the senate as possible.
This has not been done. nor was 1t eN-
pected by the senators.
At present. the only definite part of the
programme of the Republican senators is
10 bring the tariff bilT before the senate as
soon as possible, and press 1t with all pos
sible speed.
The Republican committee on the sitlIa-
ton in the senate held a meeting this aft
ernOon. The full membership of the COM
mittee, there were present the new Re-
publican senators, Foraker, Penrose, We'll
lington, Platt. Mason. Spooner, Fairbanks
and Hanna. The conference with the new
senators was fer the purpose of advising
them of the difficulties in the way of reor-
ganizing the senate. and especially in the
way of filling committee assignments. AT
present none of the new senators will have
committee places. and if there is no reor-
ganization they will be without places. The
situation WAS expected by. mem nbers- of the
committee as being one of considerable i'm
portance. The Democrats insisted that in
making up the committees all the silver
Republicans and PoDulists should be in
cluded in the majority assignments. and
all the minority places conceded to tho
Democrats. The Republicans. said one OF
the committee. to the senators, must give
places to silver Republicans and Populsts
who would not act with them, but on the
other hand would be likely to vote with
the Democrats in committee and in the
senate ON many of the questions to come
before the body. Nor was there the slight
est understanding that silver Republicans
and PopulstS would support the party os-
tensibly I'm control on a single proposition.
There was entire agreement and har-
mony on the part of ali who participa ted
I'm The conference to-day, the new senators
recognizing the difficulty that exists in the
situation. While no definite conclusion
was reached. it is probable mat for the
present nothing will be done and the COM
mittees will remain untitled. Meanwhile
the Republican committee will have a
further conference with the Democratic
committee and make an effort TO reach an
amicable understanding to filling COM
mittee vacancies.
As result of the several conferences
which have been held. not only by Repub-
licans. but by the Democrats, IL may be
definitely said that the men who have been
appointed by the governors in states where
legislatures have had opportunity to
elect, will not be admitted. The Repub-
lican managers say that il would be a
fruitless waste of time to bring the cases
before the senate. as, even after q debate
of which no one could predict the ending
1t is not at all likely that favorable vote
could be expected The men who come
10 Washington with appointments from the
governors will be advised that time cannot
he given to a discussion of their cases. and
that the legislatures which have failed to
elect must I've responsible for the vacancies
in the states representation