Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-05-17

| LIE IAhlEF ELEFHANT.
| Statesmen at Sea on the Ouestion-IyIsst
| Party Leaders Say.
tcopwight, 1855, tyhe California AsssriateR Press
WASHINGTON, May 16th.-The leaders OF
Doth sides OF the House are making a can
| vass OF their party friends upon q sproposi-
ton to dispense with the consideration
| of the Mills bill by sections, and 20 take a
vote on it as whole at the close of the
general debate. 1t was with this notion
| that the time for the general debate was
+ extended TO Saturday, and if any agree
n,ent to the proposition is reached thetime
may be still further extended. A prooosi-
| ton came from Mills some time since'in
this shape. He said to Reed and Mckinley
that this bill, as they knew, was a party
measure upon which the Democrats would
go Before the country.
The party accepted the bill as whofe
for sI1eir platform. The Republicans, he
said, had another proposition which wss
directly antagSnistic to the Democratic prop
osition, and upon that they would GO
before the couatry. Therefore he proposed
that they take vote directly upon the pro-
position, voting first upon such substitute
as the Republicans might offer, and then
provided this was defeatedl to vote on
The Mills bill &s it stands. He thought
this better Tor both parties than to have the
bhls of either of them mutilated by "iay-
hawkers " on both Sides SO that neither
party could go to the country on it.
The proposition was neither accepted nor
rejected. The Republican leaders said
they would consult with their party
friends before reaching a decision. Since
then they have been talking things over on
the Republican side of the House, and thev
have got all worked mp over it. They are
uncertain what would be the best party
policy. There are reasons strong on both
sides of tne question, and they have been
unable to reach a decision. They expect,
in day or SO, to do so. There is a wide
difference'of opinion on the subject
Many members who have individual in
terests thatare affected by the bill, and who
want an opportunity to offer amendments,
oppose the proposition, but there are several
party reasons-argue the supporters of the
movement-why it would be best to take
a vote, as proposed by Mr.. Mills Such
course would cover up any disaffection in
the party and force Democrats who NAV
not quite like the Mills bill to take it or TO
vote for some other without a chance to
amend it to their liking, and if the bill
passed they would leave it for the Republi-
can Senate to pass Republican substitute,
and thus join issues.
much, however, upon how able the Senate
is to handle the question to the party's sat
isfaction. Messrs. Reed and Mckinley
have been consulting with their Senatorial
friends, and the result of these consulta-
tions-as well as canvass among the
members of the Housewife decide their
course. 1t is said that the Senators Go
not look upon the proposition as favor
ably as do the Republicans in the House,
butjust how,that is is not known. The prop
osition will meet with opposition from
some Democrats, as well as Republicans,
and it cannot be said to be in the interest
of one party over the other, but rather to
place the management of affairs in the
hands of radicals on each side, and to re-
lieve the contest of the merely local inter-
eSts which antagoniZe party policies. A
day or two will settle the course to be pur-
sued.
Mills says that he feels confident sof the
passage of the bill without any radical
amendment, whether il is considered by
paragraph or voted on at once.
A large numberof Republicans believe
that direct vote will result in its passage,
and while they think, personally, that
1t would be better all thin IS considered, to
let it go to the Senate in this way, fear
that interests in their individual districts
might think that if this were done an
earnest enough fight had not been made
for them. This consolidation may result
in the rejection of the proposition. Some
members believe that the Mills bill can
easily be beaten in its present shape, while
others land notably part of the New York
contingent) hold that they are in duty
bound to use every effort to kill the bill,
and that this can be effectually done only
by riddlipg it with amendments. Some of
them profess to believe that Mills was
prompted to make his proposition through
fear that his party would disrupt and be
led off by tempting amendments offered
by the Republicans. Mills himself says
he has no fear on that score. He says he
made the offer to save the bill from being
drawn into the whirlpool of the five minute
debate, which might hold it in its grasp
indefinitely.
Your correspondent has talked with a
large number of Republicans tonight. all
of whom consider this an all-important
move of The Democrats. They are gener-
ally afraid that it is a trap set for them, and
say they will not be forced into hasty
action.
saw Tom Reed tonight, and he said
be was inclined TO favor the proposition, as
he thought it would be good party policy.
The Democrats. he said, wanted plank in
their platform very bad. They needed one,
and he for one was willing to aid in nail
ing it down, as long as it was a free trade
plank. Mr. Reed, however, did not think
The proposition would be accepted.