The Washington times., 1911-05-05
DEMOCRATS USING
REPUBLICAN TARIFF
TACTICS IN HOUSE
Retaliate for Past Conduct,
and Exclude the Pres
emf Minority.

Criticism against the partisan manner
in which tariff bills are constructed in
the Ways and Means Committee of the
House is beginning to bear fruit.
When the Republican members of the
Ways and Means Committee concluded
the hearings preliminary to the con-
struction of the Payne bill there was
violent criticism in the House. and sub
sequently on the stump, because Chair
man Payne excluded the Democratic
members of the committee from consid-
Grafton of the general tariff revision.
The Payne bill was submitted to the
minority members only a few hours be-
fore it was introduced in the House. AS
a result It was a physical impossibility
for the Democrats to thoroughly inform
themselves as to the provisions of that
measure, much less prepare a substi-
tute.
Now that the Democrats are in cop-
troll of the House they are following the
tactics OF the Republicans in the previ-
Gus Congress. When Chairman Under
wood Of the Ways and Means Commit
tee has tariff proposition to consider
he summons the majority members,
locks the doors. puts guards outside and
takes every other necessary precaution
TO prevent the intrusion of Republicans
on the deliberations of his committee.
Tactics of Democrats.
Recalling the campaign issue made of
this identical form of tariff making the
Republicans are beginning to call at
tention to the tactics of the Democrats.
Even before this criticism began, how
ever, an effort was made by several
Democratic members of the Ways and
Means Committee to have the Repub-
Mcans invited to participate in the prep
aration of tariff measures.
It is probable this proposition might
have met with favor had it not been for
the fact that Chairman Underwood and
the other tariff-for-revenue Democrats
on the committee are afraid of a come
bination between members on their own
side with leanings toward protection
With the Republican members.
Members of the House. Republicans
and Democrats alike, who are express
of making tariff bills behind closed
doors, and without the assistance oS
minority members. points out that Re
publican and Democratic tariff measures
would have been greatly improved had
they been considered by full committees.
In the Present Case.
In the case of the present Ways and
Means Committee. for instance, only two
members now on the committee were
included, in the minority membership
during the hearings on the Payne bill.
These men are Chairman Underwood
and Representative Randell of Texas.
The other twelve members who have
gone on the committee since the Payne
bill was written are, of necessity, more
or less unfamiliar with tariff legisla-
ton.
On the Republican side Of the commit
tee now barred from deliberations uI1-
til each and every bill has been finished.
there are a number of veterans, includ-
ing former Chairman Payne, Of New
York; Mccall of Massachusetts, Dalzeil
of Pennsylvania, and Hill of Connect
cut. All OF these men have an init
mate knowledge Of the construction as
we'll as the operation of tariff legtsla-
ton. Several of the Democratic MEM
bers want to have full committee meet
inEs in order to get the benefit of this
knowledge. but, as has been pointed out,
they are afraid Of a combination be-
tween protection Democrats and Repub-
licans with the possibility that on some
issues the riff-for-revenue Democrats
might be defeated.