New-York tribune., 1906-04-04
4 VOTE on THE PAYNE BILL.

The announcement that Senator Lodge will
move at an early date TO discharge the Phil
ippines Committee from further consideration
OF the Payne Philippine Tariff bill is thoroughly
welcome. The action of that committee I'm re-
fusing 10 report the bill either favoraby or
unfavorably savOred too much of evasion and
hugger-mugger 10 be accepted as final. The
committee convicted itself of lack OF openness
or lack OF courage in condemning the House
measure and Al the same time declining TO make
that condemnation official and public. If the
committee believed the Payne bill TO be vicious
and dangerous. why should II have hesitated
10 say so? If it felt that il really express
ing the opinion OF the Senate why should il
not have submitted an adverse report with
perfect self-conidence? Mystery and evasion
scarcely comport with innate consciousness OF
rectitude and wisdom.
II may be said by apOlogsts for the commit
tee that many legislative projects are thus un-
tremendously stranged smOthered in com
mittee. But the Payne bill presented an excep-
uOnal case. Here was measure urgently rec
ommended by the administration and heart
lily approved by the American public. In the
House of Representatives il attracted the sup
port Of the two great party organizations and
passed with only feeble and scattering show
Of opposition. Yet a Senate committee on its
narrow responsibility attempts TO reverse
lilt Judgment Oh tllc 1tpusc OI htpItSSuthllNtS-
the administration ana the country. and, on top
of this, not even allow an appeal from its own
sentence TO the body Of which # is mere ad-
visOry agent. Having assassinated a measure
dictated 10y reason. equity and enlightenment.
the Philippines Committee has gone far as to
Try 10 close the door against n decent cOroner's
inquest.
As we have already said in these columns.
we are reluctant 10 believe that the committee
truly represents the Senate. Three of its mem
bers come from New England. There is one
New England state-Connecticut-in which a
few tobacco growers are unnecessarily alarmed
az tie prospect of free entry into this country
OF Philippine tobacco. One OF the Connecticut
Senators happens 10 serve Oh the Philippines
Committee and he voted TO strangle the Payne
relic: bill No other New England state has the
slightest reason to oppose the House measure
Yet IN the committee MIR Hale of Maine ioined
Mr. Brandegee, of Connecticut, and New Eng
land went on record as casting two votes
against one for the administrators humane
ana rational programme. The Southern States
have four representatives. the committee.
Outside Louisiana no opposition TO the Payne
bill has manifested itself in that section The
Southern vote In the House was cast almost
sOlidly for tariff reduction. But in the commit
tee two Southern vOtes-thOse OF Mr. Stone, OF
Missouri, and Mr.. CulbersOn, of TexRs-were
given against lower rates and two votes-those
Of Mr.. Carmack, of Tennessee, and Mr. Nc
Creary. of Kentucky-for them. The states he
tween New England and the Missouri River
have three members on the committee Curious
ly enough two of these spOkesmen happened 10
come from Ohio and Michigan. and they voted
against relief for the FilipinOs in response 10
the clamOr Of small local tobacco and beet sugar
interests Similarly. from the region west OF
the Missouri two votes given against the
House bll-hy Mr.. Nixon. OF Nevada. and Mr..
Dubois. Of ldahO-to One-by Mr.. Long OF Kan
sas-fOr H.
On this showing IL is little difficult TO admit
that the committee fairly reflects the sentiment
of the Senate. There should be rehearing he
fore a full bench in the upper branch of Con
aress. and Mr.. Lodge is TO be commended for
insisting on a vote which will show just what
forces are arrayed behind this effort 10 deny
the Fllipinos an urgent measure Of relief and
justice.