Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-04-01
Sixty-first Congress.
Washington, April l.
SENATE.


REDUCTION OF petitions aud bills, TO Q
running debate upon the resolution Of
ftred By Senator Hale providing that
no business shall be transacted by the
Senate at this session except the census
and lar,fi. Senator Hepburn oil Idaho
made plea that no exception shonld be
made 10 favor OF allowing time for the
consideration Of the report of the joint
committee on revision Of the laws. 10
announcing that the COMMITTEES was now
almost ready to make q report on the
judiciary title, he declared that he con-
sidered this subject to be even more i'm.
portaut than the revision of the tariff.
Senator Hey burn's request was not CON-
piled with, however, and the Hale res
olution was finally adopted in lis origi-
nal form.
An interesting debate developed when
the Senate took up for consideration the
resolution offered by Senator Bacon
dem. Ga }, proposing that the sessions
of the finance committee during theprep-
sration of the tariff bill should be open
to the minority members as we'll as those
OF the msjority. Senator Aldrich, chair
man of the finance committee, in oppos-
ing the resolution, said that The republic
can majority in Congress would properly
be held responsible for the character Of
the tariff bill. 1t was also responsible
for prompt action upon 1t. The business
OF the country, he declared, Was even
now suffering from delay in the settling
of this after. The two political parties
we're divided as to the plan OF action,
but there WAS no desire on the part Of
auy republican 10 eVade responsibility.
For so years, he said, the preparation
of tariff bills bad always been left TO the
psrty in power. In his time, there bad
been four republican and FIVE demo.
cratic tar.f measures introduced. In
the preparation of each, the mfjority
had acted without the access or approval
or the consent OF the minority members.
When the bill came from the House
to the Senate, a similar course was fol-
lowed The republicans on the finance
committee considered the bill aud after
its completion, laid il before the demo-
Gratis. This vas the only course that
could be followed in a country Of repre-
sentative government. He told how the
Wilson bill was framed after consultation
with leading importers and all those
who believed 10 q Tariff for revenue only.
The repHblicaos we're not permitted to
be present and we're not consulted on
tina! occasion. No republican was ever
asked for his opinion even at auy stage
of the bill.
Senator Daniels asked whether the
finance committee was now taking tesli-
mony or was merely celebrating. To
this Mr.. Adrich replied that the com.
mittee Was not taking testimony but was
simply obtaining information.
After the formation of the present
finance committee Senator Aldrich said
be had discussed with the democratic
members the method Of procedure. He
bad told them that the republicans
proposed 10 secure all the information
possible. Invitations have been ex-
tended to everybody in the United
States to submit briefs and written srgu-
ments on any topics. These we're tabu-
lated aud arrsigned according to para
graph. He had told Of the arrange
ments and that the testimony Of every
witness would be taken down for their
use aud information. Every source OF
enlightenment was open TO the minority.
When this programme was announced
to the democrats they requested the SER
vices of experts and we're given them.
The statement that hearings had been
given by the committee rs suggested by
Senator Daniel was based on misinfor.
nation.
Senator Bacon asked why Senator
Hale had told the Senate that there
we're 80 OF 40 disafecied and dissatisfied
Peunsylvanisns before the committee on
Monday.
Senator Hale said that the room had
been full of people, experts and others,
aud he had thought there must have
been thirty or forty of them. 1. might
have been better il be had said that
there were hslfs dozen dissatisfied Penn
sylvsnisns there for he did not think
they we're disafected.
Senator Penrose said tba! everybody
present was there on the special invita-
ton offhe committee and that be WAS
convinced that the iron and STEEL people
had impressed the committee with the
facts that they we're disposed to be more
liberal In their willingness to see the
tariff revived downward tnan any other
people who had appeared before it
Senator Oulberson Inquired whether
the expenses Of these people, their hotel
bills per diem. witness fees, etc., we're
paid by the government.
Mr.. Aldrich said he could hardly be-
Iieve that the senator was asking tba,
question seriously. Mr.. Oulberson iD-
sisted that he was aud that be wanted
the information. Mr.. AIdiich retorted
that the expenses OF these men we're
certainly not being paid by the govern
meut. He said the committee wss not
acting officially aud that these people
had not been summoned by subpoena
nor we're their expenses paid. They
we're merely present at the invitation OF
members of the committee TO furnish
them with information.
HOUSE.
Protection for the tobacco growers OF
the black patch district, 10 Kentucky,
and the hemp producers Of that state,
was the plea made to the House today
by Mr.. OAulrill dem. Ky.), In his
maiden speech. Mr.. Oaptrill was fol-
lowed by Mr.. Gaines Jpn. W. Va), a