Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-28
THE ELECTIONS BILL.
The Measure May Be Considerably Modi-
fed in the Senate.

ueO In the Senate.
There seems to be reason to believe that both
parties in the Senate are juggling on the ques-
ton of the national elections bill. The demo-
Gratis are understood to have determined on q
course Of obstruction within the bounds of
present parliamentary freedom in case the bill
10 called up, and even to have decided it adj
visable to 60 q little leisurely with the tariff
debate until some manifestation of the real re-
publican purpose with regard to the elections
bill has been made. They had hoped, too, to
receive the announcement of that purpose be-
fore this time. As yet, however, they are
wholly in the dark, Or with only that light that
proceeds from current gossip, which changes
its character every twenty-four hours. Now
the gossip is that the republicans have aban-
doned the though of passing the bill at this
session. and now that they are bringing outside
pressure to bear on those Of their number
who are known not to lean any to- staunch
toward the measure.
TO TAKE THEI2 TIME.
The only wise thing left the democrats to do.
therefore, Is to move slowly and cautiously
along, and take their cue of procedure from
day to day as they can get They have some
consolation and some advantage I'm the fact that
1t Is now practically the LIST of August and the
much time to give to SO important a measure as
the tariff bill, and with the LIST of September at
hand and hot national congressional cam
palgn about to be inaugurated the democratic
idea is that the republicans will not at so late
day be likely to press a matter which would
promise either an indefinite length of the ses-
sion or the necessity for q complete revolution
IN the order Of the business procedure in the
Senate.
on THE REPUBLICAN SIDE
On the other hand the republicans
are not idle. They have made no an
nouncement as yet Of what their purpose
is with regard tothe bill, but the fact
that they have it under advisement in commit
tee, and have called in John l. Davenport to
clear up certain features of the general PROPOSE
ton not easily grasped by person not familiar
with complicated election machinery NAV be
accepted as indicating that the proposition is
at least still alive. That the republican Sena-
tors have twice been in caucus on the subject
without reaching an agreement, or at any rate
without announcing one, need not be mislead-
ing. 1t is not unlikely that several more con-
ferences will be held before a bill and pro-
gram with regard to 1t are formally adopted.
Is COMPROMISE pRoBABLE7
And this leads up to very interesting story.
which is that the drastic Lodge bill was drawn
for trading purposes and with no idea of its
becoming law rs passed by the House. The
particulars offered are that the republicans.
while feeling that something should be done on
the subject, were in grave doubt Us to how best
to proceed to cover the case. The Lodge bill,
1t will be remembered. was Objectionable to
many republicans in the House. who insisted
that a more conservative measure would be
better In tho end, however. they voted for it,
Out with the understanding. it il now claimed
that when the sense OF the country had been
taken on it the action Of the Senate should be
governed by that criticism. And SO the story
now goes that the Senate will present a bill
drawn in accordance with the criticism that
has been offered as to the extreme points of
the Lodge BILL and that the House will accept
the compromise.
The story Is all the more readily accepted for
the fact that this has been Congress of com
promises on important measures The silver
bill was compromise. the pension bill was a
compromise. The tariff bill necessarily will be
acompromise, and SO why not also the national
elections bilR
SIGNIFICANT UrTERANcE OF MIR. INGALLS,
As still further bearing on the republican in
tentions in the premises the statement made by
Mr.. Ingalls, IN the Senate today is most signifi-
cant. Speaking on the subject of the necessity
OF prompt action on such private bills as await
attention on the calendar and insisting on a
morning hour for such measures, he said that
! az soon as the tariff bill, the appropriation
bills and the elections bill should have
been passed the Senate would be ready to ad-
journ. The remark commanded the close at.
tention Of every Senator in the chamber, and
| especially those ON the democratic side. 1t was
accepted as authoritative. Not only is Mr. In
gals IN the full possession Of his party's pro-
gram. but it is not unlikely that he will be in
the chair to execute it when the matter comes
| up. He has now and then within the past few
weeks been quoted as opposed TO the elections
Law, but, as IL now appears, most erroneously
Further conferences by both parties will now
ensue. The republican Senators will caucus
| again tonight and the democrats as soon as
! the full republican intention has been dis
, closed.