Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-04-02
Procedure of Republicans Along Lines
of Precedents of Fifty Years.
WILSON BILL BUILT SAME WAY
German Substitute Was Drawn by
Democratic Members.
RESOLUTION FINALLY REFERRED
Mr.. HaIe's Resolution Limiting Busi-
ness of Special Session TO Tariff
and Census Bills is
Adopted.

WASHINGTON, April What turned
out to be a general debate on tariff was
feature Of the senate proceedings today on
Senator Bacons resolution favoring the
consideration OF tariff legislation. by the
full committee on finance instead OF by the
republican members of that committee
only. Senator Aldrich insisted that the pro-
cedure adopted in this case was similar
to that which had been the practice Of
the senate for fifty 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 a
substitute was framed by a subcommittee
composed of democrats.
The democrats made strenuous contention
for representation at hearings by the COM
mittee and argued that the republican
members sitting as such had no right to
authorize the expenditure Of the public
funds in furtherance of an ex-parte con-
sideration Of the bill in committee. The
resolution was finally referred to the com
mittee on finance.
Senator Hale's resolution declaring IN
favor of a restriction of the business of
the present extra session to the passage
of the tariff bill and bill for the taking
of the census was adopted.
A1dricb Opens Debate.
The senate today began consideration
OF Senator Bacon's resolution declaring
that the democratic side OF the chamber
should be represented in all the hearings
held by the committee on finance. Senator
Aldrich, chairman of the committee, con-
tended that as the republican party would
be held responsible for tariff legislation ii
was the province of the republican mem
bers Of the committee to shape the bill for
the senate.
In addition to innumerable communica-
tons, he said. he received fully 100 people
daily TO discuss the tariff. IL an effort was
made by the minority to cross-examine all
these people ON their statements II would
require three years TO pass a tariff bill. He
could not possibly read all the communi-
cations on the subject, il he gave his time
to that effort. All their records, he said
would be made accessible to all the minor
ity members of the committee II they de-
sired to scrutinize them.
When Senator Bacon called attention Ia
a statement made by Senator Hale last
Monday that he had Just come from the
! committee room where there were thirty
| or forty disaffected or dissatisfied Penn.
! sylvanians' it was explained by both Mr.
Hale and Mr.. Aldrich that the number haC
been overstated, that all there were moi
! Pennsylvanians, and that those who wer,
| there had been invited to give their view!
| as experts on the iron and steel schedule
1t seemed, Mr. Aldrich said that all thu
people coming before the republican mem
bers OF the committee, have been experts
whose assistance has been necessary for {
proper understanding of the qeustion beinI
considered
| Mr.. Aldrich said the experts are not sub
poenaed nor paid any witness fees and h,
declared that their statements were no
| public hearings at all
Rayner Attacks Committee.
An impassioned address by Senate
Rsyner was directed against the methot
of the majority in the framing OF tariff
bill
This is the worst practice" he said
that has ever arisen before a Legislative
body.
when you are dividing this punder a
least be fair 10 each other. on behal
OF the senator from West Virginia, l a
least beg of you to give him back hi
raw material. He has stood with YOU o
the field of battle and when the hour O
submission comes, the senator from Wes
Virginia will be here and his protestin
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