The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1909-04-02

on the tariff was feature of the SEN
ate proceedings today on Senator Ba-
cons resolution favoring the consid-
GRAFTON of the tariff legislation by the
full committee on finance instead of
by the Republican members of that
committee only.
Senator Aldrich insisted that the
procedure adopted in this case was
similar to that which had been the
practice of the senate for so years
in dealing with tariff measures and
he added that the same method was
adopted in handling the Wilson tariff
bill for which he said, substitute
was framed by subcommittee of
Democrats.
The Democrats contended for rep
resentation at the hearings by the
committee and argued that the Re-
publican members sitting as such had
no right to authorize the expenditure
of public funds in furtherance of an
eXparte consideration of the bill in
committee, the resolution was finally
referred to the committee on finance.
When Senator Bacon called atten-
tion to statement made by Senator
Hale last Monday that he had Just
come from the committee room where
there were "Thirty or forty disaf-
fected or dissatisfied Democrats" it
was explained both by Mr.. Hale and
Mr.. Aldrich that the number had been
overstated. 1t seemed, Mr. Aldrich
said, that all the people coming be-
fore the members of the committee
have been experts, whose appearance
had been necessary. He said the
house had been having hearings and
had published nine volumes of them
and he doubted whether any Demo-
cratic senator had read any part of
them.
"You will have to make an excep-
tion in my case," said Mr.. Bailey, in
terrupting, although I have not read
all of them and don't intend to-"
Mr.. Aldrich said the experts are
not subpoenaed nor paid any witness
fees and he declared that their state
ments were not public hearings at
all.
Senator Daniel insisted on knowing
what objection is urged by the SEN
ator from Rhode Island against the
Democratic members of the commit
tee hearing the statements. ct is,"
said Mr.. Daniel, "a private snap for
the people framing tariff bill with
out giving a right to representatives
of the people to hear the testimony"
Mr.. Rainey declared that the Repub-
lican procedure was merely a star
chamber process. II have right"
said Mr.. Aldrich, replying to the lat
ter charge, "to have a conversation
without having a Democratic senator
cross-examine the person with whom
l conversed."
Mr.. Rainey said the members of
the committee lost their individual
character when they became members
Of the senate charged with public
duty.
Mr.. Aldrich replied that If the SEN
ator from Maryland should frame
tariff bill according to his policy he
would not get ten Democratic votes
for it.
He said distinguished senator
from Maryland (the late Mr.. Gorman)
had recast the Wilson bill on lines
that did not agree with the ideas put
forth by the present senator from
that state and he did not believe he
represented the views of all the peo-
pie of Maryland, even of the Demo-
Gratis of that state. Tennessee, North
Carolina, Georgia, Louisina and other
states of the south, he said, are no
longer in sympathy with free trade
principles.
"You might as we'll be frank" said
Mr.. Aldrich, addressing the Demo-
cratic senators, "and admit that. I
don't intend to let such speech as
that of the senator from Maryland de-
ter us from being just to every south
ern state. This tariff policy will be
just to every section and the interest
of the country. am quite certain that
the senator from Maryland will have
no followers upon his side of the
chamber"
Senator Bailey Indignantly resented
the right of Senator Aldrich to speak
for the Democratic party on the tar
iff, and added when the time came
to vote that party would be found
sustaining the principles of taxation
that had so long been maintained.
Speaking of the inheritance tax pro-