Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-05-08
MINORITY MEMBERS OF HOUSE
IoNoREDIN TARIFF LAW
MAKING.
ADOPT SAME SYSTEM
ONCE HELD OBNOXIOUS
Payne and Other Republican Leaders
Get Dose Of Own Medieine-soms
Dem oerats Consistently Maintain
That system is Wrong and That sss-
sions Of Committee Should be Open.
Especial Correspondence.l


Washington. May 8. Criticism
against the partisan manner in which
the 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 con-
sideration of the general tariff revision.
The Payne bill was submitted to the
minority members only a few hours
before it was introduced in the house.
AS a result it was a physical impos-
sibility for the democrats to thorough
~ inform themselves as to the pro-
visions of that measure, much less pre-
pare a substitute.
Now that the democrats are in con-
troll Of the house they are following the
tactics OF the republicans in the prev
ions congress. When Chairman I'm
derwood of the ways and means COM
fnltCGS mas a t1I!Il proposition " Sohi7
slider he summons the majority mem
bers. locks the doors, puts guards out
side and takes every other necessary
precaution to prevent the intrusion Of
republicans on the deliberations OF his
committee.
Conditions Are Reversed.
Recalling the campaign issue made
OF this identical form Of tariff making
the republicans are beginning to call
attention to the tactics Of the demo-
Gratis. Even before this criticism be-
gan. however. an effort was made by
several democratic members OF the
ways and m6ans committee to have the
republicans invited TO participate in
the preparation Of tariff measures.
7. = probable that this proposition
might have met with favor had 1t not
been for the fact that Chairnan I'm
derwood and the other tariff -for-reve-
nue. democrats on the committee are
afraid of combination between mem
beers on their own side with Jennings
toward protection with the republican
members.
Members OF the house. republicans
ana democrats alike, who are express
ing disapproval Of the present system
OF making tariff bills behind closed
doors, and without the assistance Of
minority members, point out that re-
publican and democratic measures
would have been greatly improved had
they been considered by full commit
tees.
In the case OF the present ways and
means committee. for instance, only
two members now on the comm tttee
were Included in the minority mem
bership during the hearing on the
Payne bill. These mon are Chairman
Underwood and Representative Ran
dell. Of Texas The other twelve mem
bers who have gone onto the commit
tee since the Payne bill WIS written
are, OF necessity. more or less unfamil-
lar with tariff legislation.
Payne Takes Own Medicine.
On the republican side OF the COM
rnittee, now barred from deliberations
until each and every bill has been fin
ished, there are a number Of veterans.
including former Chairman Payne. OF
New York: Mccall, of Massachusetts,:
Dalzeu, OF Pennsylvania, and Hill. OF
Connecticut. All Of these men have an
intimate knowledge Of the construction
as we'll as the operation OF tariff leg
islation. Several OF the democratic
mem bers want to have full committee
meetings in order to get the benefit OF
this knowledge. but. as has been point
ed out they are afraid Of a combina-
ton between protection democrats and
republicans with the possibility that
on some issues the tarin-for-revenue
democrats might be defeated.