The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-22
Elections Bill Might Have Been
Passed Saturday.
DEMOCRATIC WIND GAVE OUT.
ingalls,, If in the Chair, Would Have
Put the Question.
House OF Representatives wfi Have No
Quorum During Christmas Week,
and the Senate VIII Accomplish Lit
tie or Nothing.

WASHINGTON CITY, Dec. 2l.-rSpecial. with
ingalls, IN the chair the Lodge election hin
might, and probably would have come TO a vote
yesterday, or at least debate would have been
cut off,
senator Gray has had charge of the Democratic
nght' ana made our a list of speakers on his
side, allotting the time each should oceunv ~
thc expiration of the morning hour Saturday
the election bill came up in the regular order
put no Democrat arose to speak Gray, much
hurrled, said that he understood that spooner
was TO occupy the time in advocacy of the bill.
Mr. spooner replied that it was his intention
10 speak on the bill before the debate closed but
he had never intmated that he would sneak M
lnat time, and, indeed, was in no way prepared.
ihen IL developed that not a Democrat was ready
10 talk Oh the issue, and there was hurried
skirmish1ng through the committee rooms res.
taurants and cloak rooms Tor some one who
Wou,d occupy the time and at the same time
speak lntelligently, but without success
In the meantime senator Blair suggested that
as debate was apparently ended the bin b.
placed on its final passage OF course there was
Objection, but active-brained men could have
settled the fate of the bill
Mr. Morton is sackier for senatorial cour-
tesy, so-calied, and failed to take advantage of
the situation.
While this was going on srooner was pre-
Valled npon to speak, and though his health for
paoe, he talked for five hours, cxtemporan-
eousiy, delivering by all odds the most vigorous
speech OF the session. His arguments were in
sequences, aud his words full of fire, but the
Republicans lost great opportunity, as there
IS no longer doubt that the Democrats, from
their own admission, mean to keep up the dis
cussion until noon, March t.
IL is unlikely that any important legislation
Will be achieved by congress this week, and the
failure to take the usual holiday recess is not
expected to result in any measurable advance
ment OF public business.
IN the Senate the elections bill will probably
consume the first three days of the week. The
possibilities OF interruption hang altogether on
the results OF the negotiations now in progress
among the Republican senators upon the sub
Jcct OF the caucus financial bill. II harmoni-
Gus understanding to support this measure is
reached, the elections bill may be laid aside in
lts lavor and the discussion in the Senate turn
ON financial matters until the day before Christ
mas, when II Is expected recess will be taken
until Monday
1t is probable that successive adjournments
for two or three days at time will mark the
course OF the House during the Christmas hol-
DAY season. No business OF importance is ex-
peeted to be done, as SO many members have left
Washington City for home that a quorum can
hardly be secured
Monday Is District of Columbia day, aud the
House probably will pass upon local legislation
until some measure is proposed upon which
vote Is demanded and the absence OF a quorum
thereby disclosed Such other days In the week
as the House is in session win probably be de-
voted to comparatively unimportant measures