The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-12-30

even indirect aid from the Democrats.
THE LAST TRUMP.
The Republican advocates Of the Force
bill are PLAYING their last trump card in ,he
Offering of cloture They realize that they
do not resort to arbitrary or extreme
measures in order to get the Force bill
through. In the first place they know that
A number of Republican Senators would re-
| fuse 10 cOuntenance or support any
arbitrary course having for its immediate
object the passage of the Force bill. In the
second place the Republican leaders are
convinced that public sentiment would not
approve such "A course. As sort OF Hank
movement. the cloture resolution is brought
forward TO temporarily supplant the Force
bill. the plea being that In order To dispose
I of public business some measure Of
that nature is necessary. 10 is back
ed by several arguments. All OF a
speciOus nature. one is that the IN
creased membership of the senate demands
a change Of rules: an abandonment Of The
old practice permitting Unlimited debate;
that years ago when the Senate numbered
only forty, or fifty, or sixty members, there
was no use TO restrict debate; but that now
with a membership Of eighty-siX, e.
permit the liberty Of absolutely
! free discussion would consume too
much time. Another argument advanced
Is that as the country grows and enlarges
/ business before Congress increases, and
| that unless some limitation is adopted, even
"A small minority could block legislation IN
A short session. Another Is that as one
third Of the present session has expired.
leaving most Of the important measures be-
fore the Senate still pending, the only way
to get them considered Is to curtail debate.
EDMUNDs THE CLOTURE CHAMPION.
Senator Fdmunds has been PIT forward
as the special champion of the clOture reso-
luton He dwells upon The increased men,
| bership Of the Senate and the possibility Oi
a revolutionary minority, obstuct'ng pub
| lie business and defeating legislation OF i'm
pOrtance 10 the people. In his interview
senator Edmunds is insincere. tie dilates
with emphasis upon the necessity Of clo-
ture tor the future, apparently losing sight
Of the important fact that the Aldrlch reso-
luton proposes 10 apply it for this session
only. This very fact destroys the main
argument Of the Republicans regarding the
increased membership, and shows plainly
that the clOture is designed simply TO enable
them 70 get the Force bill through.
DEMOCRATS PREPARED.
The Democratic Senators are prepared for
"A prolonged and courageous fight. They
will expose the real object Of the Republl-
cans. and their insincerity in pretending to
abandon the Force bill. Senators Aldrich
.snd SpoOner said that they did not expect
20 be able to make any aggressive move
ment before next Monday or Tuesday, as u
was not likely that "A Republican quorum
would be here earlier.
THE FINANCIAL BILL TO BE CALLED.
Senator stewart surprised and somewhat
confused the Republican Senators today
by giving notice that Immediately upon the
expiration 0f the morning hour tomorrow
he would call mp the Financial bill
reported from the Finance Commit
tee for the purpose Of submitting
some remarks upon it. senator Hoar.
with establishment depicted upon his
face. asked the Nevada Senator to repeat
his remarks. lie could not believe that
stewart really intended to thus indicate his
| opposition to the Republican programme.
| Teller, who sat just 10 the lett Of
stewart seemed apprehensiye that
the latter might yield TO party pressure.
particularly as H0ar hastened over
to the Nevada Senator and began
to demonstrate with him. $50 ahead and
i've notice" advised Teller in a voice loud
enough to be heard all over the ch amber,
and Stewart stood 10 his guns.
| For the remainder Of this week the indi-
cations are that the Force bill will be de-
bated largely, and, perhaps, chiefly by the
| Republicans, and next week the fight over
The gag-rule will begin.
HOAR TAUGHT A LESSON.
Senator German, who is always yigilant
as a leader took advantage Of an oppor-
tunity to-day TO teach Senator Ioar a lesson
i'm Senatorial courtesy. 10 was understood
that senator HOar would immediat .ly, upon
the expiration OF the morning noon, take the
floor tor speech IN favor OF
the Force bill. When that measure
was formally laid before the Senate ds
the unfinished business. Mr.. Hoar arose.
but instead Of beginning his set speech
made a motion in regard 10 bill To reim-
burse the collector Of Boston Tor "A lost
draft. When this was disposed Of Mr.
Hoar. without resuming his seat. turned
and engaged in conversation with some
other senator, apparently abandoning the
floor. Then Senator Ste art gave notice Of
mis- purpose TO speak tomorrow, and imme
diatelv thereafter Senator German moved
| TO take up bill.
But Sir. President" stammered Hoar
..l'ye got the floor"
Mr. German made the point that Hoai
had yielded the floor.
But, but, ! didn't mean to-" he again
| stammered.
"Oh." said Mr.. German politely, "if the
Senator from Massachusetts desires tC
speak. | Withdraw my notion"
Hoar accepted the courtesy and yielded tC
| HiscOck for a speech on the Force bill.
REPORT OF THE MARINE BOARD COMMITTEE
The report Of the committee accompany
ing the bill 10 establish marine board tOi
the advancement of The interests OF the mer
chant marine says that for many years th'
merchant supping and other commercial
interests Of this country nave been subject
ed 10 a great Inconvenience bY the discrep
ancies in the rules. conflicting in many In
stances, by which their relations in the dit
ferent bureaus Of the Treasury Depart
ment have been neglected. AT tn'
time these bureaus were created th
commerce Of this country was IN IT. infanc.
compared with the present condition, as tn
first step toward the more perfect govern
mental system Of supervision aud supper
Of our merchant marine, the consolidation
Of the various bureaus OF the Treasury DE
nartment. and the establishment Of boar
10 have charge and general superintendent
Of matters relating 10 merchant vessels an
seamen as demanded and endorsed by con
mercial interests and bodies throughout u
country. IL was also urged by tle JOIN
Congressional committee appolnteG - cor
|
shipping. The committee submits as
part Of their report the report OF the Amer
can delegates to the International Marin
, Conference on the subject, and says IN col
: clusion that it is believed that the creauo
of this board will subserye the best Interest
Of the United States and its people, ana al
o materially IN the restoration OF our shippin
10 the seas.
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION REPLIES.
' The Civil Service Commission has az
!. dressed a letter to the President in reply
g the annual report Of the Postmaster-Ge
: eral, In which Mr.. Wanamaker said thi
the civil service examination ought TO
improved by being rendered more dincul
!. | In its letter the Commission points out u
/. fact that they haye many tim
o asked high officials Of the Postoni
!; Department for suggestions as to the II
q proyement of these examinations, and Ia
y also Osked the Postmaster-General nimSe