Evening journal., 1890-07-11
a GREAT FIGHT IMMINENT.
An Attempt VIII BE Made to KIN tho
Election Bill, 1t Is said.

An Attempt VIII BE Made to KIN the
Election Bill. 1t Is said.
WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE Republican
members Of the senate held a caucus last
night 70 consider the order of business for
the rest Of the present session Of congress.
particularly with reference to the federal
election law and the tariff bill. 1t has been
understood generally that the Democratic
members Of the senate intend To prevent
the passage Of the federal election law If
possible and that to achieve this purpose
they are prepared to filibuster against the
tariif bill and other measures which may be
brought up for consideration with a view
to prolonging the session and firing the
Republican senators into agreement or n
compromise by which the federal election
law will be allowed TO go over until the
next session.
Members Of the finance committee who
are interested in the enactment of a tariff
law have urged upon their brethren the
adyisability Of coming to an understanding
with the Democrats under which the tariff
bill will be passed within a reasonable
time and the federal election bill allowed
TO 90 over, But the friends Of the election
bill have brought great deal Of pressure
to bear in favor OF forcing that measure
to passage before the adjournment. and
with a view 70 testing the possibilities OF
action they have examined the rules OF the
senate and the record Of past contests I'M
der similar rules.
The result justified them In the belief
that in spite Of the filibustering Of the
Democrats the bill could be passed In
support Of this claim it was recalled
IN the caucus that when the bill
TO provide for supervisors OF cleo
tions was under consideration in 1871
Mr.. Thurman offered thirty amendments
one after another intended to DELAY the
consideration OF the bill, and by concerted
and agreed action by the Republicans, I'M
der which one Republican senator was rec
ognized, regularly to move 10 lay each
amendment on the table, all Of these dila-
tory amendments were disposed of within
twenty-four hours It was proposed that
the senate should sit ont the consideration
Of the election bill II II took three months.
This proposition was debated Rt great
length. The caucus adjourned without
action on the federal election law.
The bill was debated under the five min
ute rule for nearly three hours, Senators
Spooner, Hoar, Eyre and Evnrts, all mem
hers OF the elections committee, expressing
themselves in favor Of passing the bill
Mr Aldrich, chairman Of the committee
on rules, said 1t would be possible TO pass
1t in one Of only two ways-either by Sit
ting i out as had been proposed, or by
changing the rules Of the senate so as to
permit limit to be placed on debate. This
suggestion gave rise 10 a long discussion
about the possibility Of making change
in the rules which developed the fact that
majority Of the senators favored the
passage Of the federal election bill at this
session Of congress, and that majority
favored a change in the rules which would
make this possible Another caucus will
be held Saturday night TO come TO final
determination on the subject In the
meantime nothing will be done with the
tariff bill. A leading member Of the caucus
said after the adjournment that the tariff
bill would probably occupy three weeks in
discussion, but that the federal election
bill would be put through in a weeks time
If il was determined to consider il.