The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-15
NO GAG FOR THE SENATE.
THE CAUCUS REFLECTS THE RULE
REPORTED BY THE COMMITTEE.
IL Wac Sent Back with Instructions to
Mako IL Less Stringent and Report to =
Future CnueuS-An Unmistnk able Set
bnck 20 the Frlends OF tho Force BII.

II Wac Sent Back with Instructions TO
Mako Ne Less Stringent and Report to =
Future CAucu--An UnmIatnk able Set
back 90 the Friends OF the Force Bin.
WASHINGTON, July 14.-Thlrty-ono Republic
can Senators attended the second caucus held
at the Senate Chamber tonight to consider
tho adoption OF n gag rule to be applied to de-
bate In the Senate. The weather was very hot.
but the doors were locked tight to prevent TO-
suits leaking out. The committee appointed
at tho caucus on Thursday night made Its re-
port, and II was rejected after two hours de-
bato. The rule submitted provided that when
at least three days had been spent In consider
alton OF subject, motion should be enter
tanned to close debate, after allowing three
hours for general debate and thirty minutes
additional on each side. There was consiIera-
Die opposition to this rule. which did not have
the support OF all the members ef the commit
tee that proposed It, 1t was regarded rs too
stringent and not broad enough in Its recognl-
ton OF the rights OF the minority. After a long
debate, in which Senator Spooner took tho
lead In favor Of the rule. 1t was recommended
to the committee for modification. Instead Of
the words. :" after three legislative days" it Is
proposed to insert after a reasonable time"
Another caucus will be held. when this amend
ment will be submitted and an attempt made
to adopt II.
The sentiment In to-nights caucus Was al
most unanimous In favor OF the necessity Of a
rule, without any regard whatever to whether
1t is to be applied to Tariff bill, Election bill.
or some totally different measure. Senator Ed
munds has not yet yielded his views in opposi-
tion to any sort OF gag rule, and while no vote
was taken In the caucus the half dozen Sena-
tors who before voted with Edmunds against u
rule indicated that they were Of the same
Int ,ktI ~ o. al.
that the action OF the Senate In taking UP the
Tariff bill has had a very depressing effect
upon the plans OF the gag-rule Senators. That
bill now stands directly in the way OF the
adoption OF proposition to limit debate. Sem
ators generally regard 1t as such an important
measure that they would hardly be justified In
proposing to end debate while It is pending.
The result OF to-nlghts caucus is q distinct
and unmistakeabe setback for the friends OF
the Force bill. 1t Is doubtful whether the pro-
posed new rule will ever be adopted, or. II 1t is.
whether 1t will be effective enough TO take
Democratic Senators from the floor. A rea-
sonable time" may mean a week or a month.
and II is quite probable that even that lirnita-
ton cannot be applied to any measure less
radical than the Force bill. A Republican
Senator. who has not heretofore been reported
as opposed to such bill, said after the caucus
adjourned:
am perfectly confident now that no Fed
eral Election bill can be passed unless forty
three Republican Senators bind themselves to
vote for 1t. The rule as proposed will not do
the work, and altogether the promise OF a
force bill is much less bright than 1t Was"
The caucus agreed that when the new rule Is
adopted. If ever 1t shall not DO applied until
debate is gone to such q length that 1t is per-
fectly plain that it is belrg INDUCED in only
for the purpose Of obstruction. 1t will be DIFF
hcult to show this TO be the fact as regards
speeches on the Tariff bill and It is quite like
ly. therefore. that the rule will not be heard Of
at least until the Tariff bill hns passed the
Senate.