Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-03-25
CLARK THINKS
TARIFF BILL
AN ABORTION
COMPLAINS OF FAILURE
TO CONSULT DEMOCRATS
Minority Leader Declares
Every Prohibitive Duty
Should Be Stricken Out;
FaVors Only Revenue Pro-
ducing Schedules.



Washington. March 4.-Dcclaring
that the present was no time for an
academic discussion of the tariff NJ.
Clark (MlsSourD said that he had
gone to Mr.. Payne and suggested
that insofar as he was concerned he
would have gladly waived general de-
bate on the bill if assurance could be
given that there would be ample OPP
portunty for amendments and de-
bates under the fve-minute rule, of
the entire measure. section by section,
1t was his Judgment that the bill
could be amended in many respects
Touching the failure of the con-
sumner to appear before the commit
tee Mr. Clark said that there were
two reasons for this, one that in the
beginning the public looked upon the
hearings as stupendous confidence
game. and. second. that the consumer
felt that the possibility of having his
tariff burden substantially reduced
was SO remote that he did not think
It was worth travelling expenses. hotel
bills. neglect of business and loss of
time. While that applied to the fairly
wen to do ultimate consumer he
said there were millions of ultimate
consumers who had rot the where
withal to foot the bills for trip to
Washington and other millions who
could scrape together expense money,
but could not afford to use il that
way
so that" he said Tho ultimate
lie
ings only through questions propoun-
ded by members of the committee in
an honest cndoavor 20 ascertain the
truth
Most OF the cross firing among
witnesses" he said. lis whore one set
of manufacturers fell afoul of another
because the tariff pic was not evenly
distributed, and each one wanted the
biggest piece"
TO Mr.. Fordney. of Michigan, Mr.
Clark extended his assurance of his
"profoundest consideration as a.
fighter. He would put a game cock
To blush in that regard "
If, he said, Mr.. Fordnoy were given
carte blanche to write a tariff bill, 1T
would be short. If not sweet, and
would be in these words: If an article
can be produced in this country by
any process or at any cost whatsoever,
nothing like 1t shall be imported. "
All through the hearings he said,
Mr.. Fordney was ON hand with first
aids for the wounded. He said that
the rest of the republicans, first or
last came over to our side" on diff |
ferent subjects. and in various degrees
but that Mr. Fordney never lowered |
his colors. Neither Leonidas at the
pass. nor Horatius at the bridge was
marker to him." he said.
Discussing the situation In which |
he ways and means committee found |
tself. he said. II was unprecedented |
because both parties had favored re-
iuction of the tariff rates of the
Dlngley bill. "Of course" he said,
the republican platform was equivo-
AL but" he added in that connec-
ion most OF the republican mem
)crs of the committee came at last
o construe it to mean revision
downward
The democrats so construed H. and
ie said the better part of wisdom and
would have been for all the
members to have coilaboratcd In the
york of preparing the bill. after the
closed. we are all Ameri-
an citizens equally Interested In the
glory and happiness of
mighty people" ne exclaimed. mot
me of us had the slightest desire 10
njure in any way or to any extent
whatsoever any legitimate American
Industry"
In addition TO the peculiar coinci-
lence of both parties being under or
lers to revise the tariff downward.
le said, all were stared in the face
" "A large and decreasing deficiency
u the revenues. There we're. he said,
,ut three ways known among men by
which deficiency may be cured. cut
IoWn expenses. increase taxes or is
ne bonds. To issue bonds. be de-
Jared. was no remedy at all. II was
imply postpouing the day when they
must bo paid, principal and interest
axes. he contendod. never should he
increased where it Is possible 20 avert
Cutting down appropriations. he
aid. where II could be done without
Uniting the government In any Of It's
roper functions WAS the moot eff
lent remedy for a deficiency but.
~ added. "our republican brethrci
eem utterly Incapable Of cutting ,
own appropriations. We favor that
emedy on the old Jeffersonian prin-
iple Of economy In the public sN- ,
.ense. that tabor might be lightly hu'
ened.
lie argued that as the republicans
an not economic. and as they We're /
n tho majority In the commit'cr on
.ays and means. the committee wa7 ,
nder compulsion to somehow in p
rease the revenues by about Sl5o.. {
00 900 per annum."
Taking the whole situation into ao-