The Washington herald., 1909-03-28
MANY FLAWS IN BILL
Amendments to Tariff Meas
ure to Be Considered.
COMMITTEE TO MEET TODAY
Changes VIII Not Affect Measure
Materially, Representative DnIEeli
supplementary Action subject OF
Considerable Speculation - Demo
cratic Senator'S Visit Mr.. AIdrich.

The amendments 10 be offered 70 the
Payne tariff bin viii be considered al
a meeting Of the Ways and Means Com
mittee to-day More than 200 amend
ments have been reported to the commit
tee by the various members Of the House,
and It is thought others viii swell the
list TO 800.
These amendments come from both the
Republicans and Democrats. and are sup
posed 20 be the chief corrections the in
dlvidual members OF the House want
made TO the bill. The committee viii.
wherever Il Is found possible. combine
the amendments and try not to offer
more than one to any section. Il VIII
require several hours to go over the en-
tire list OF amendments and It is not
thought the committee can complete this
work to-day.
Question of Amendments.
The plan OF having the committee make
all the amendments 10 the bin was de-
cided upon by the members OF the COM
mittee as the quickest and most salts
factory way TO handle the question. The
amendments win all be considered sepa-
rately, and It is said each VIII be given
due consideration. The committee will
report every amendment presented,
Representative Dalzell said yesterday
/ that the amendments the members OF the
committee would make 10 the bill would
not seriously affect the measure: IN a
few cases the language OF sections or
sentences have been changed. but nc
radical erasures or additions have been
made
! There is good deal Of speculation as
/ 70 jus; what course the bill will take
from now until its passage. There is still
some question as to when the measure
viii come 70 a vote. but a member OF the
/ committee said yesterday that II would
not be later than April 10. He expects II
Will be voted upon April or 3.
In Quandary.
The Republicans are in a quandsry as
to Just what 10 do about the bin. T. has
been suggested that a party caucus be
held 70 outline a plan. but some OF the
! leaders in the House do not believe this
will be a wise course. They say IL Will
be impossible 70 bind a strong majority
Of the Republicans on any one question.
/ Just what the Democrats are going TO
/ do about Offering amendments is the
cause for further speculation. They are
standing their ground firmly. and say
/ they do not want 70 introduce a bin, but
viii do so unless they are allowed TO offer
all the amendments they desire 70 the
Republican bill.
| The Republicans are insistent that the
/ Democrats allow the committee 10 handle
all the amendments. but they are suspi-
cious. and declare they want 70 offer their
own amendments. AS soon as the Repub-
lcans announce their plans. the Demo
Gratis viii then say what their future
course viii be. and il has been suggested
that a bili may be introduced closely fol-
/ lowing the announcement: that the Dem
/ ocrats are all ready 20 act quickly when
/ the time comes.
Prepared by Minority.
A large number OF the amendments now
in the hands Of the committee are said 20
have been prepared by Democrats. but
whether or not the entire minority Will be
satisfied with such action Is debatabIe
question, even - their own minds
Many rumors A.ained circulation yester-
/ day following the visit OF many Demo
cratic Senators 10 the Office OF Senator
Aldrich. the chairman OF the Finance
I Committee. which Is now going over the
I Payne bin as intrOdU ced IN the House
/ preparatory 70 making amendments TO Il
when II IS passed by the House X was
said that an attempt was being made 10
/ prevent the Democratic Senator's, espe-
cially the Southerners, from precipitst-
| ing the real fight that Is expected TO come
/ from them
Some even went so far as 10 say there
were compromises under way. ana that
| before the bill was formally taken up by
the Senate its path viii be carefully
! cleaned out so that It can be passed
/ without a hitch. The Democrats are de-
/ nying this, however, and insist they are
/ going 10 make fights on the iron. coal
/ lumber. and hide schedules.
The House will convene at 10 o'clock in
/ the morning hereafter. and viii hold
/ evening sessions 10 last until 1870 or IL
/ o'clock This VII be done TO get IN as
many speeches as possible under general