Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-23
MR.BABCOCK, HISBILL
Measure Reasonably Certain of a
Rest.
WILL REPoSE IN A PIGEON HOLE.
10 to Regulate the Tariff and Has Been
Referred to the Ways and Means
{, committee-views of Iowa Con-
(, gresham.
,SEylM-L
Washington Bureau the Courier.

Hissffs fcfiS&
Washington Bureau the Courier.
Washington, D. c., Jan. 16.
Congressman Babcock has redeem
ed his pledge; his bill is before the
ways and means committee Of the
house.
The fact that Mr. Babcock's bill to
regulate the tariff is reasonably GER
tain of long and undisturbed period
of repose in one of the pigeon holes,
made and provided for just such pur-
pose, in the magnificently furnished
ways and means committee room, and
the further fact that Mr.. Babcock had
full knowledge of the probable fate of
his measure. did not deter him from
delivering his broadside.
Mr.. Babcock is man of convictions,
few words and slayer. These are
admittedly qualities worthy of admir-
alton, whether we agree with his the
DRY or not. He is not grand stand
player" nor policy man.
In an incidental manner a year ago,
some facts came to the attention of
Congressman Babcockl They bore up
on the tariff schedules. His surprise
was great when upon investigation he
found the facts mentioned and still
greater when he found other facts not
mentioned. He said these things
ought not to longer exist, l will I'M
dertake to remedy the evil; 81 will pre-
pare bill. There is no good reason
why steel and iron made by one con-
Germ, should be cheaper in foreign
country than at the place of manufac-
ture"
close of the last session of congress
that at the commencement of the fifty
seventh congress he would introduce
a bill cutting down the tariff on steel
and iron products. During the sum
mer and fall Mr.. Babcock has been at
work on his bill and Tuesday after
noon he offered it to the house. OF
course it was Immediately referred to
the ways and means committee, as is
every bill introduced, lover 5000
since December q and if this bill does
not remain permanently in the COM
mittee archives will not be the fault
of Messrs. Payne, DalZell Russell, Hop
4ins and others on the committee.
Mr. Babcock Is said to believe he
can muster sufficient support to force
some sort of report, but well-inform-
who will support his bill if it ever
emerges from the committee. are dis
posed to regard the chances of the
measure as extremely poor.
Mr.. Babcock's bill attacks schedule
&C. which practically covers metals
AS the tariffs in this schedule are ex,
tremely intricate and difficult of I'M
derstanding, SO naturally Mr.. Bah
cocks bill is complex and to the lay,
man, difficult of comprehension
Briefly summed up the bill provides
for reducing the tariff upon manufac
tured iron, steel and kindred produc
tions, where such reduction may be &C
complished without Jeopardizing the
reasonable financial profits and invest
ments of capitalists, or the wages OF
working men, and the placing of man
ufactured iron goods upon the free
list where this may be done without
prejudice to the same interests.
Mr.. Babcock is most emphatic in hi
claims that his bill will not reduce thu
wages of single workman or deprive
any manufacturer of a reasonable prof
it. He says his bill is aimed to cut off
SO far as may be, eXtortion.
If the bill could be brought before
the house it is believed it would pass
but as remarked, sucn probability il
thought to be very remote. The heav,
men on the ways and means commit
tee are from the east, largely, and tn
pressure to prevent action on the bill
will be something tremendous. II thu
bill were reported, and the democrat
would make good their pledges, Their
does not seem much question but tina
the bill would have a majority in tn
house, although it's fate in the senat
would be sealed in advance.
There Mr.. Babcock stands. His bill
is in the committee and the committe
is against him. The committee is 81
preme. There is no parliamentar
procedure by which it may be force
to report If it is contrary to the will c
majority of its members. The mea:
ure is clearly referable to the ways an
means committee and its author mus
abide by the rules governing legisla
i've propositions, generally, and permi
his creation to follow the prescribe
routine.
Whether or not the bill shall eve
again find its way into the house, low
people will be interested in the view
of the men representing them in COZ
gress. The topic is a live one,
which Iowa is interested, indirectl
and the prominence of the state in III
tional affairs at once causes more tina
ordinary interest to attach to the SCI
timents of the Iowa delegation.
Congressman Hedge, of the first di
trict entertains most emphatic an
clean-cut views touching the Babcoc
bill or any other measure calculated
open up the question of tariff revision
He is opposed to any action whateve
at this time. He wants no tinkerir
with the Dingley bill schedules unde
present favorable commercial and i
dustrial conditions. He asserts tn;
there is no general need or demand fl
such action. The condition of It'll
business man, the manufacturers I'll
farmer and the working man were ne
err more prosperous in the history
the country; it is even difficult to S,
how they could be better. Why al
turb, deliberately, such conditions? M
Hedge thought it very poor policy
scare tha neOnla every session Of. 20