Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1897-06-30
WHY III DRAGS.
Explanation of the Delay of the
Tariff Bill.
Republicans DO Not Control the south
Yet the Bi1l II Making Great
Speed Its Probable
Passage.

some OF the reasons winch prevent more
rapid action. and especially to show
that it is the democratic. and not the
republican party, that is responsible
for il.
Il hope the people of the country un-
derstand." said Senator Cullom, as he
closed weary day OF the tariff discus
sion in the senate, that the silence OF
our side OF the senate is simply for the
purpose of economizing time. and get
ting this bill through as soon as posi-
bic"
Then it is not because of lacl, of
matter with which TO reply TO the ar.,u-
ments and charges being made 10y the
democrats against the bill?" said your
correspondent, in reply.
Not 1T all. On the contrary, there is
ample material with which TO answer
their arguments and every charge made
by them. Eut the pressure on the part
of the people for action upon this bill
is SO great that we have determined to
let nothing so far as we are con-
cerned stand in the way of the earliest
POSSIBLE action upon it. To those who
are thus compelled to sit silently and
hear these false charges and attacks
made upon the principles of the bill and
its prospective effects the situation is
AN extremely painful one. Every man
on our side who understands this ques-
ton must find the greatest difficulty
in restraining his desire to answer the
false charges and statements which
are being made. But the pressure on
the part Of the people for carly action
is very great, and because of that we
are willing to forego for the present
any attempt to answer these false
and unjust charges which are being put
upon record and spread before the pub
lie by those who are attacking the bill
and for political purposes"
The pressure from the people for
action ON the bill is unusually great, is
il not. SENATOR"
Yes. More so than ! have ever seen
on any occasion of this kind. 1t is not
surprising, of course, that people who
have suffered as ours have, under the
depressing ana olighting influences of
the present tariff law, should be anx-
ious, very anxious, for its instant re-
peal and the substitution OF the protcc-
tive system, under which the country
was so prosperous for so many years.
But il seems they do not realize the en-
barrassment under which the repub-
leans in the senate are laboring. 1t
seems to me that if they were to stop n
moment and consider the fact that We
are in an absolute minority in the SEN
ate, that our hands are tied, and that it
is with the greatest difficulty and di-
plomacy that we are able TO command
or obtain a sufficient number of votes
Tor the protective theory, they would
not be impatient, even under the dis
t-essIng circumstances with which they
are surrounded 1t has seldom, if ever,
happened within the history of the
country that a tariff was enacted when
the two branches of congress were not
controlled by one party. Here we are,
with the republican party in the senate
in the minority, trying to pass a Protec-
tive tariff bill. No administration.
since Washington, ever saw a tariff bill
making such progress or as near com
pletion at this date IN its history as is
the case at the present moment, even
under the most favorable circumstances,
and nov that this has been accom-
FliShed with the republican party in a
minority in the senate, unable to con
troll that body with it's own votes, absu-
lutcly unable TO hasten action by any
OF the rules by which debate is CON
trolled IN other parliamentary bodies,
and simply dependent upon the whims
and political wishes OF those who are
opposed to us for permission to proceed
at all, it seems to me that the people
ought to realize that we are doing all
that is possible to hasten action, and
ought not to complain of the repub-
Leans, but should place the blame for
the delay where it bclougs-upon the
Then it is the democratic party and
lis leaders who are responsible for de-
lay ia action upon the tariff bill i'm the
senator"
Absolutely. Had not the hands of
ihe republicans i'm the senate been tied
absolutely the bill would have been
upon the statute books long before now.
Inc republicans have worked in season
aud out of season TO hasten action ON
this bin. They have laid aside every
otLcr consideration. They are cOusid-
eriug various items iu the bin, schedule
b, schedule and paragraph by para
graph. iu conference and caucus and
before the finance committee day by
day outside OF the regular hours Of the
session and during hours of the scs-
zion age dcpriviug themselves Of the OPP
pJrtuuty TO answer The criticisms
made upon the bill. and upon the party
simply for the purpose off Gaining time
aua Fastening final action. They are
sitting iu their seats quietly iu response
go The demand of The people that moth