Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-05-09
Senators and Public Given No Infor-
nation by Senate Committee.
ALLEGES STAR CHAMBER METHOD
Nebraskan Also Charges that Bill is
Loosely Thrown Together.
COMPLIMENTS FOR MR.. ALDRICH
MIR. B9rkett Says Rhode Island SEM
atOr Understands situation So
Thoroughly that Tie Thinks
Everyone Does.
(From a starr Correspondent

NFTom a starr correspondent
WASHINGTON May s-(Special Tele-
gram.)-During discussion OF the
schedule relating to the duty on pig
lead in the senate today lively tilt
occurred between Senator Burkett and
Senator Aldrich. chairman of the finance
committee. in which the Nebraskan came
off with honor causing very considerable
chagrin to the Rhode Island tariff sharp.
The burden of Senator Burketts remarks
was to the effect that the tariff bill now
under consideration by the senate had
been loosely thrown together; that no
opportunity had been given those inter-
ested in various schedules TO be heard.
Hand it not been for the exhaustive
hearings held by the ways and means
committee the country at large and in
dividuals in particular would not have
had even an inkling of what was being
attempted to be done in revising the
tariff"
Mr. Burkett complained OF lack OF in
formation given to the public, and even
to the senators themselves, by members
of the finance committee TO the i'm
port of various schedules and the effect
their passage would have upon trade.
Those interested have been otliged to
waylay members of the finance commit
tee in the corridors or upon the public
streets to gain even glimmer of light
upon such schedules as they might be
interested in.
"I am protectlonist," said Senator Bur-
kett "in my opinion the people of this
country are protectionsts. l am certain
that the epople of Nebraska are protection
ists but in my opinion, people of Nebraska
do not expect us to inform ourselves upon
these schedules before we vote upon them.
The senator from Rhode Island complains
because I have suggested that they did nOt
have information such as they might have
had had the committee been more frank
and open in its consideration of the schsd-
ules"
Barb wire Schedule q Specimen.
Senator Burkett cited the barb wire
schedule as an example of sharp practice
and proceeded to tear to flinders the COM
mittee proposition that rate OF 270 per
100 should be charged. He said that
as to this particular manufacture of wire
the senators from states where 1t is chiefly
produced. Pennsylvania and Alabama, had
not been consulted bat now tacit agree
ment has been reached which he believed
will eventually place a rate of 81 per
100 upon this product.
In conclusion Senator Burkett thus paid
the members OF his committee on finance:
II have agreed that the members of this
committee are the best posted men in this
body. The senator, Aldrich. by reason of
his long service and acquaintance with this
particular subject, is absolutely the best
posted man. l have said, more through
charity for him than by way OF complaint,
that ii is because he does not understand
these propositions so well that he fails to
realize the Importance of getting the evi-
dence before us that the rest of us might
have information he knows lntutlvely"
Senator Lafollette, according to report
is loading up for a further scorching of
the finance committee, and his speech may
take high rank in the list of latter-day
efforts in invective. II will be made in
cident to a talk in favor of a tariff COM
mission.
Mr.. Dolli5ers great speech, one of the
very ablest delivered i'm twenty years,
served TO break down a goo ddeal of the
traditional reverence for the infallibility
of Aldrich in tariff making. MIR. Burkett
today added smart to wounds left by Dol
liver's surgery and now Lafolette is go
ing to take hand at knitting the pres
ent tariff bill.
Aldrich Answers Burkett.
Replying to Mr. Burkett. Mr.. Aldrch
said with great earnestness that II the
senate stayed in session until all the SEN
ators understood every schedule in the
bill, they would not only be there all sum-
mer, but for ten years.
The republican members OF the commit
tee on finance, Mr.. Aldr1ch saiG, had
worked sixteen to eighteen hours daily in
framing their amendments TO the tariff
hill af NJ haa
on members of the committee and 800 out
OF every Loo OF them had come 10 obtain
increases in the duties in which they were
interested
THE senator from Nebraska" he con-
tinued, talks about the consumers not be-
ing represented before the committee on
finance. Who are the consumers? Is there
any class except limited number who are
consumers and not producers? Aare they
entitled to more consideration than any
body else? The consumers OF Nebraska are
more interested in the preservation OF the
protective system than they are in any
other public policy which is involved in the
work Of congress"
The property Of the people OF Nebraska,
OF the country generally depended, he
said, upon the maintenance of the pro-
tective tariff Il have seen productions OF
Nebraska and other agricultural states
mount year by year until the increasing
cost Of living in this country is owing al
most entirely TO the increase in the price
of agricultural products. he added
Mr., Aldrich said he had not intended 20
show any impatience toward senators who
had sought information concerning the
schedules of the tariff. but he was anxious
to dispose OF the tariff hin as quickly as
possible.
ReaRers name Rate.
Mr.. Clay took exception to a statement
10y Mr. Aldrich that he had given predomln-
ance 10 statements by the lead producers as
to their needs for duty on lead and de-
clared that II that course wsrs pursued.
| the refiners Of sugar wouli name the rate
| 10 be fixed on that produGt ana OthAg