Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-04-11

U
the lc<,slaters sitter an amendment
suggested by the Republican moor
leader placing petroleum and its pro-
ducts upon ehe free list had been
adopted. Mr.. Clark, the leader OF the
minority, was still In doubt as to
whether the Standard Oh Company
really had been deprived CT its I'M
necessary projections. NotwEhstand-
Ing that Mr. Clark Is a legislator Of
king experience. an astute lawyer and
a man CT acute rrecepive powers.
he could rot tell whether or not the
| payne amendment really served its
ostens!ble purpose. Therefore the
Democratic leader insisted upon de-
cisJve action, an expression which
would eliminate all doubt. and finally
obtained it.
The press dispatches say that the
speaker was about 10 put the question
ON the engrossment and final reat-
ing of the bill when Mr.. Clark. OF
Missouri, insisted Oh the yeas ant
nays on the oil schedule. In order,
as ne explained. to get a record vote.
After considerable discussion over the
question of whether or no. free Gil
actually was In the bal the speaker
declared that further vote Of the
House WAS necessary. and the roll
was again called IN the provision for
the countervailing duty, which. he
said, II stricken out. would have the
effect Of placing crude petroleum and
It's products on the free Est.
While the chair was considering
the master the House was in great
cCafusion, a dozen or mere members
trying to get the ear Of the speaker
at the same time to explain the s:tua-
ticn.
The provision was stricken out by
a practically unanimous vote
II Is evident That the Democratic
leader thought he disccrncd a hunco
ECKER" in the Standard OH section
OF. the bill and 50 far as The House
bill Is concerned he succeeded in ell
mina.ing it.
However, the ready acquisccncc III
this provision en- the part OF those
in the House who have steadfastiy
stood out heretofore fer coun;ervaii-
ing duty Oh petroleum and IT'S pro-
ducts Is strongly significant Of what
will happen to that section OF The bill
when It reaches the Senate. 1t would
be- perfectly safe to wager at odds OF
100 4, / that The tariff bill, when final |
" adopted, will not leave either pc
I troleum or its products on the free
list.
II there was a Joker attempted
to be concealed in the oil schedule. 1t
Is more than probable that these lit
tie fiends will be discovered later on
in practically every schedule Of any
particular importance.
II the bill be framed in form which
defies analysis by men learned in the
lsw and Of lcng legislative experience, II
must be assumed that its authors de-
sired above ell other consideration
to deceive the people n large.
/ It Is not peculiar that the Repub-
lican members Of the House should
resort to such measures to perpetua;e
vhe protection principle. But It bodest
Ill fer the Democratic party that SO
many Ct It's members have joined
with the Republicans in defense ef
present schedules upor certain COM
lmcdiies-notably lnmber-whtch were
denounced In the national DemccrsticI
platform formulated at Denver last
fyear. |
In the tariff bill Of 1894. construct
cd by q Democratic Congress follow
ing the party's victory in lsS2-a vic
tory won upon promises TO frame Il
law upon revenue iiucs-so many pre-
visions were contained which were re-
pugnant to Democratic professions.
Mr. Cleveland. the then President, felr
constrained t. withhold his approval
from the measure and allow il 10 BE-
come law by default. as il were. that
is by letting Il lie over ftr t., days
| with ut veto.