New-York tribune., 1909-07-05
UKHAKING HISTORY.

Recent illusions in the Senate TO the part
played by Senator Arthur 2. German, Of Mary
land. in reshaping the Wilson tariff bill or
1894 suggest that history can easily be made
and unlnade by facile Interpretation. Senator
Gore. OF Oklahoma, had inserted in ''The Con-
gressiOnal Record a statement by Mr.. Carnegie
that he had prepared, or helped to prepare,
schedule of steel duties, which, with Mr.. Cor
mans aid, was substituted in the Senate draft
fer the objectionable steel schedule contained
in the Wilson bin as it passed the House OF Rep
resentatives. Mr.. Bailey, OF Texas, protested
against the reproduction IN THE Record OF
matter conveying the idea that Mr.. German
had accepted any such arrangement Of the steel
duties from experts outside the Senate or would
have been able 10 incorporate such contribu-
lion In the Senate's tariff BILL since the prepa-
ration Of the tariff bill was in the hands Of the
Democratic members OF the Finance Committee
and Mr. German was not member of that
committee Mr.. Bailey said:
1 waive the reflection upon the members Of
the committee. though Go not believe that the
Finance Committee would have permitted Mr.
Carnegie 10 write its schedule. The Democratic
portion OF the committee was composed OF
Daniel " Voorhees,. OF Indiana; John r Nc
Pherson. Of New Jersey. who was sick and alb
sent and whose place on the committee was
filed By the Hon Roger Q. Mills. who was as
recall IT designated by special resolution or the
Senate 10 act in the absence OF the New Jersey
Senator. Also that committee were the late
Isfam @. Harris OF Tennessee; the late Senator
Vance Of North Carolina; the late Senator Vest
Of Missouri. and the late Senator James K
Jones of Arkansas; and Senator German was
not even a member OF the Finance Committee at
that time. Therefore Mr.. CaTnegie's recollection
must be at fault unless, indeed. assume that
the members Of that committee would have per-
nItted Senator German to take from the hands
Of Mr. Carnegie tariff schedule which he had
.-ey,ar,ed and that they would write il in the
bin at Mr Germans request
The assumption thus made that the Demo
cratic members OF the Finance Committee had
final authority in framing the tariff bin of
1884 and would lot have permitted Interference
with their functions from an outsider like Mr..
German has some theoretical weight. 1t is
based on custom and precedent and would hold
good as TO the making of tariff bills in nine
cases out Of ten. But 1t does not hold good in
the case of the Wilson-GOrman tariff law, which
was begotten under extraordinary circum-
stances Before that bill was completed in the
Senate the majority members of the Finance
Committee had practically abdicated their
powers. and the measure was turned over for
rehabilitation 10 the Democratic caucus, %
which Mr. German was the chairman
The Finance Committee tried 10 do something
with the Wilson bill. but failed utterly. Its
reSlraft was rejected impraeticable, because
from eight 10 twelve Democratic Senators re-
fused 20 vote for IT, and the Democrats bad
only bare majority in the Senate. OF the
members Of the committee named by Mr..
Bailey Mr.. Voorhees, and Mr.. Mcpherson were
inactive because of IL health, Mr. Vance died
in the middle of The session, and Mr.. Vest Mr.
Harris and sIr. Mills had TO assume the burden
OF altering the House bin to meet the demands
Of tbs Democratic insurgents. They were all
roo ardent advocates OF low duties and raw
ips.er;als TO put any heart into the task and
after tteir lai3Ors bsd been rejected control OF
the measure, so far the Finance Committee
aas concerned was passed 30 Mr.. Jones. OF Ar
kansas. che Of the lowest ranking members.