Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-01
Democrats Want Hand in
Framing Tariff Bill.
CLAIM 1T Is THEIR RIGHT
Lively Discussion Ensues Over Sena-
tor Bacon's Resolution.
ALDRICH DEFENDS HIS PARTY
Republican Majority, He Declares,
Is Properly Responsible for the
Legislation to Be Enacted.

After deciding to confine itself to the
consideration Of the census bill to the
exclusion of all other legislative busi-
ness. the Senate today got into a pretty
squabble over the way the republican
members of the finance committee are
holding hearings on the tariff bill all to
themselves.
The question came up with a resolu-
ti.n last Monday by Senator Bacon of
Georgia. This resolution provided that
in the opinion of the Senate all hearings
by the finance committee or by the ma
jority of that committee for the purpose
of examining witnesses to aid in franz
ing the tariff bill should be open to
all the members Of the committee in order
that any member might have the op-
to crOss-examine the witnesses.
Senator Bacon. Senator Rayner OF
Maryland and other democrats stood up
for the resolution. Senator Aldrich, chair
man of the finance committee, and leader
of the majority, took the opposite view
upon the grounds that tariff bills had al
ways been considered and prepared by
the party in power in the manner now
being employed.
The whole subject of the preparation of
the tariff bill in the Senate came up i'm
after the routine business had
been disposed Of Senator Hale's resolu-
tion to limit the legislative business of
the Senate was called up. 1t is as fol-
lows:
Resolved That until otherwise ordered
no legislation except the consideration OF
the census bill and the routine morning
business shall be transacted at the ses-
sion of the Senate"
Senator Hepburn Objects.
Immediately Senator Hepburn of Idaho
got on his feet and objected to the pass
age of the resolution. He wanted an eX-
ception made of the report Of the joint
of both Houses on the revision
of the laws of the United States with
reference to the judiciary titles, which
he said were OF more Importance than
revision of the tariff at this time. AS
for Mr.. Hepburn. he was not very strong
for revision of the tariff. The Dingley
bill was good enough for him. He said
the two national conventions were over
jealous in recommending sweeping re-
vision.
I'VE started out to revise three or four
schedules said he, but like the small
boy in the orchard. have bitten nearly all
the apples both on and off of the tree"
He said he had perfect confidence in the
finance committee. and believed it would
bring in bill representing the senti-
ment of the country prior to the conven-
tion stampede for wholesale revision.
Mr.. Hale, however, declined to yield to
Mr.. Hepburn, saying that il any excep
tion was made other committees would
also seek recognition, with the result that
it would be Impossible to give the con-
centrated attention to the tariff. which
the President had suggested as necessary
in order to procure expeditions action on
that most important subject of legisla-
ton.
After a somewhat general debate the
resolution was adopted by a viva voce
vote. The discussion was participated
in by Senators Culberson, Bacon. Talia-
ferro. Bailey and William Alden Smith.
Mr.. Smith objected to the resolution be-
Senate in recess until the tariff bill is
brought in.
Bacon Resolution Up.
Vice President Sherman then laid
before the Senate the Bacon resolu-
ton. Mr.. Bacon took the floor to say
that he did not wish to discuss it, but
that other democratic members did.
Before any democratic senators, how
ever, could get the floor, Senator Aid
rich was recognized and spoke against
the resolution.
The republican majority of the SEN
ate" began Mr.. Aldrich. will be prop
erly held responsible by the country
for the character of the tariff legisia-
tion to be enacted a this session. and
also for prompt action. The business
of the whole country is suffering from
the uncertainty about what will be
done. Two great bodies are divided
by a definite line Of thought on this
subject. with a few exceptions on both
81 Of hn ho
party cannot evade the responsibility
and there is no disposition on the part
OF that body to avoid tt
Mr. Aldrich then went on to say that
for fifty years tariff bills had been left
to the party in power. He said he had at
hand the facts regarding nine tariff bills
five republican and four democratic-all
prepared in the same way. This course.
he said was absolutely necessary in a
with a government like ours He
said it was followed in every country with
a party government.
Taking up specifically the case of the
Wilson German bill, he told how demo-
cratic members of the Senate finance
committee had prepared their substitute
for the House bill without the presence
of the republican members.
Then coming TO the present bill Mr. AL
irch said he told the democratic members
of the committee that all OF the informa.
ton i'm the hands of the republican men,
bers would be open to inspection by the
democratic members. even including his
personal correspondence. The republican
members. he said. were of necessity call
ing Treasury experts and representatives
of the big industries of the country to
enable them to act intelligently. He re-
ferred to the metal hearing last Monday
at which there were number of Penn
sylvania steel men present.
Produces Mondays Record.
Here Senator Bacon pulled the record
of last Mondays proceedings in the Sen
ate chamber on Mr. Aldrich. quoting
from a remark made by Senator Hale
that he had Just come from the finance
committee. and there We're thirty or
forty disaffected and dissatisfied Penn
sylvanians" there.
MIR. Hale explained with much amuse-
ment that he had just come from tire
some session and his words were exag-
Senator Penrose of Pennsyl-
vania had to get into ii at this point to
say that every Pennsylvania before the
committee at that time had been specially
invited and that the people from his state
were more liberal than anybody else the
committee had heard i'm the matter of
the tariff downward
Mr.. Culbers1n cf Texas wanted to |