The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-04
ELECTIONS BILL.
Plans Of the Democrats to Op-
pose Its Passage.
Silver Men in the House Will Demand a
Free Coinage MEASURE.
Ex-Governor PachecO Likely 10 Succeed Miz-
ner as Minister TO Central America.
POStOfHee Site.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-The fight in the
Senate over the Federal Election Bill is the
principal topic of discussion in Washington
to-day. ct present the situation appears
thusly: A majority of the Re-
publican leaders are determined and
enthusiastic in their policy; the minority
are Indifferent about the matter. but listen
ing. and few are positively opposed to it.
The Democrats have not Republican ideas,
and they enter the fight counting more on
their efforts than upon any combina-
tion they may possibly make. Their plan
is very simple. They propose to open the
discussion of the matter as they would that
of any other bill of its Importance, and to
continue in that spirit as long as
possible. They will also refrain from
any action that could be pronounced
dilatory as long as possible. German will
be accorded the leadership in the fight,
and an effort will be made to keep
within the line of conservatism. But
when the majority bring in their
proposition TO cut off debate and
force the bin through by departure from
the established practice and rules of the
Senate tie minority will fight to uphold the
traditions OF. the Senate and will oppose the
application of the previous question.
THE DEMOCRATIC PLAN.
No matter how extreme the parliamentary
tactics are that have to be employed, not
until then will there be any filbustering,
but then every power that the minority
possess will be exercised. The paria-
mentary revolution in the House was
effected at the opening of the first
session by first applying the rule and then
adopting it. To adopt rule giving the
Speaker the right to count a quorum the
Speaker counted quorum, but the House
was acting without rules under the gen.
eral parliamentary law
WILL FIGHT TO THE LAST.
The Senate has rules which must be in
operation pending the proposed change.
which must be considered under these rules,
unless it is proposed to dash them
nds e there IS to De any sedi ap
parent in the ranks of the majority
at this juncture it will be man
ifested. Here is where the Democratic
Senators will dig their trenches and
lie in them day and night but never
yielding an inch of ground They will re-
serve their strength until the time when
the real fighting is forced upon
them, trusting to its being enough
to carry them through. Meanwhile there
are many things which may annoy the ad-
vocates OF the measure who insist upon its
being put forward to the exclusion of all
business.
TIE SILVER MEN IMpAT,4sNT.
The silver men are impatient to get the
Election Bill out Of the way and seem indif-
ferent about its passage. 1t may be they
will demand the signing of their measure as
the price of supporting the Election
Bill. Then there are the Labor, Apportion-
ment and Appropriation bills to be con-
sidered, and these may fail on account of
the Election Bill taking up all the time.
Every effort will be made TO get
and keep quorum in the House,
so that if the bill comes back there with
Senate amendments they will be able to
complete action on 1t. The Democrats in
the House ale prepared also. If the bill
comes there again there will hardly be any
means of obstructing its passage that will be
too radical for them to attempt.
WILL NOT BE IGNORED.
The silver men in the House do not pro-
pose to be ignored at this session of Con-
gress if they can help it. 1t is awel-known
TACT that Speaker Reed and Messrs. McKin-
ley and Cannon are opposed to a free
coinage bill, and as these gentlemen
constitute majority of the Committee on
Rules they can prevent any suh measure
coming before the House. Some of the ad-
vocates of the white metal, however, affect
10 believe that the big trio will be compelled
py til6 SlEOIS SiiNcE S6nllultul III LuelI party
TO yield and allow one of the free coinage
bills to be taken up and acted upon.
Representative Townsend of Colorado
says: My bill will pass the House by
good round majority If it is ever brought up.
The silver men are already engaged in.
to get favorable committee report at
an early date and then have a day set apart
for its consideration. As l said before, it is
absolutely certain to pass if it ever comes to
a vote"
LIGHTHOUSE BOARD.
In the report of the Lighthouse Board,
which was issued to-day, much space is de-
voted to the Twelfth District, extending
f1om the Mexican boundary line on
the south to the Oregon liue,
about 500 miles of the California coast
line. There are in the district thirty-five
lighthouses and light-beaeons, forty-eight
day or unighted beacons, fourteen fog-sig-
mails, operated by clock-work. thirteen
whistling buoys in position. three bell
buoys in position, seventy-nine other buoys
in position, one steamer buoy tender. Vari-
Gus recommendations are made. The buoy
The bel-buoy moOred off Mile Rock,
at the entrance to San Francisco Harbor
is reported as an excellent signal, and was
quite efficient until the heavy rains in
creased the strength of the ebb tides to such
degree that it was held under water
for weeks at time. The buoy
was filled with. a light wire pennant
which gives excellent results in the water
but in so strong current as flows through
Golden Gate under the above conditions it
does not prevent submersion. As this
fault seems irremediable the buoy was
removed May 1. 1880. The Mile Rocks lying
as they do at the entrance of the import
ant harhor of San Francisco must
always be menace to navigation as
long as they exist. They are particularly
Of ho o1h hxirrfv a.,
and fogs that prevail in that vicinity. The
Smalness of their area will not permit
well-app0inted fog signal to be established
upon them.
MINERS SUCCESSOR.
NJ NJ. Estee and Representative Morrow
have both been mentioned for the Central
American mission, vice Miner, recalled
night that there was no truth in
the report that he was candidate. He was
here on law business. and not on a
political mission. Morrow also said to
the correspondent that he did not want
the position and would not accept it. 1t
of California will be appointed to the posi-
ton. Senator Stanford called on the
President this morning, and urged
Pacheco for the. position. McKenna
d09s escans nGs ush ans de dens action
part in choosing his successor. Neither
does Morrow seem disposed to take
a hand in the selection. 1t may
be that Pacheco will lose the posi-
tion because the California delegation
Is divided on the matter, but 1t is thought
his chances are very good. Some of his op-
ponents claim that he is not bona-fde
resident of California at the present
time, and has not been living in the State
for five or six years. and that his appoint
ment, If made, should not be accredited to
California.
SAN FRANCISCO PosToFFIcE SIZE.
The California Associated Press cor
respondent learns tonight that because Of
cisco Postoffice site, it will be acquired
by condemnation, and that suit for that
purpose will soon be brought. No intma-
tion is given as to the probable site to be so