The Winchester news. [volume] (Winchester, Ky.) 1908-19??, 1909-03-18

Washington, March Is. = The full
membership of the house committee
on ways and means. including Demo-
Gratis as well as Republicans, will to-
day take I'D the consideration of the
Payne tariff bill.
1t is Chairman Payne's desire to get
the bill reported to the house at the
earliest possible moment, but it is
not likely that the general debate will
begin before Monday.
Minority Leader Clark announced
that he would make every effort in
the committee, as he would on the
floor of the house, to have the bill
amended, and for that reason would
ask for longer time than proposed by
the Republican leaders. He added,
however, that he would not press for
more time for the preparation of a
minority report. as that could be
formulated as well after the bill had
been reported as before. Mr. Payne's
inclination is to get the bill into the
house at the earliest practicable mo-
ment, and his plans are so complete
that it is not believed he will yield
for mere plea to offer amendments,
which the minority as well as the
majority know will not be acce-ted.
1t is probable that a compromise
will be reached and that the Demo-
cratic members will accept a PROPOSE
ton which will permit them to pre-
sent their amendments on the floor.
Mr.. Clark indicated that his principal
plea would be for that privilege He
said he did not consider general de-
bate as of nearly as much Importance
as the discussion of the bill para
graph by paragraph, with the oppor-
tunity to suggest changes in the vari-
Gus schedules. 1t is therefore prob
able that if Mr.. Payne and his fellow
Republican members of the commit
tee concede this privilege, the Demo
Gratis Will accept it in lieu of a SINH
lar privilege in committee and make
no serious protest against the imme-
date reporting of the bill.
No announcement as to the length
of time that will be given for debate
has been made, and Mr.. Payne is
quite wary on this point. The Ding
ley bill was under discussion in the
house for only ten days, and of that
time four days were devoted to gen.
eral debate. 1t was considered under
limiting the time of debate and pre-
scribing the method of offering
amendments. The Democrats still re-
member that under the regulation
concerning amendments they found
no opportunity to force test votes on
particular schedules. Under the rule
the committee could present amend
meuts at any time, but individual
members could only suggest changes
in the schedules under consideration.
AS the entire six days were devoted
to the first schedule, dealing with
chemicals and drugs, they found very
little opportunity to make effective
suggestions. They probably will re-
sist such a rule for the consideration
of the present bill.
Whether there will be any rule reg
ulating the consideration of the
Payne bill remains to be seen. 1t is
Mr.. Payne's present purpose to begin
the general debate before asking to
have a rule brought in, and whether
any will be ordered probably will de-
pend on circumstances. He expects
also to give somewhat more time for
the consideration of the bill by the
house than was given to the Dingiey
measure. 1t is recalled that the de-
bate on Mr.. Dingley's proposition was
begun on March %, twelve years
ago, the same day of the same month
on which the general discussion of
the Payne bill begins. On the former
occasion all discussion ended and
vote was taken on March 81.
Senator Aldrich, chairman Of the
senate committee on finance, which
will deal with the bill in the senate,
called a meeting of the Republican
members of the committee for today,
with the idea of Immediately begin
ming VI Tic nOUoC ulCdc-
ure. The finance committee suffered
seriously from the defeats of the re-
cent elections, and as a consequence
the Republican membership numbers
only four senators. They are Messrs.
Aldrich of Rhode Island, Burrows of
Michigan, Penrose of Pennsylvania
and Hale of Maine. Mr.. Aldrich says,
however, that they can take N the
bill as a subcommittee, and he hopes
/ to have them do so.
Mr.. Aldrich declared that he had
not looked at the house bill, and he
declined to make any comment upon
it. 1t is known, however. that many
senators make serious objection to
the changes from the present law,
and the hope is now here expressed
that the bill will not be materially
amended before it leaves the senate.
Senator Hale. chairman of he Re