New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-18
TITO BILLS EASIER TO PASS THAN ONE.


"The Election bill is dead" gladly cry the
Democrats and now perhaps we can beat the
Tariff bill also" There is an eff omitted
here. Either may be defeated if the K"puolI-
can party in the Senate. will not do It's duty.
But the members of that party have power 10
change the rules so that the majority can con-
troll the dispatch of business. 1t VIII take less
time. and less sacrifice OF personal comfort OF
Senatorial courtesy 10 change the rules than TO
mass either of these bills. When the rules have
been changed either bill can be passed without
unnecessary delay.
There is a possibility of doing something in
thatway But those Senators take upon them
selves q large and serious responsibility VINO
persist in acting on the belief that something
can be done without the change OF rules Ho
they really believe that the Democrats II SUI
fe,ed to retain full power TO defeat beth bliiS'
will kindly allow ono to pass just 10 please
their Republican friends? Already the cry Is
raised by free-tradc organs that it would be
gross betrayal of their party and It's principles
for Democrats to permit the Tariff BAL 10 be-
come a law. They have been egregiouSly
trckcd say these organs. if they consent 10 Tx
date for voting on the Tariff bill in exchange
which they have equal power TO beat. What
do they gain by giving away power 10 peat
both? in the face of these censuroS. Demo
cratic Senators are expected to help certain re
publcans out of a tight place. BIT some sen
ators imagine that a rule can be passed, by re
publican votes exclusively, to limit me DEBATE
on the Tariff bill. That would require the as
sent Of Senators who think the Election bill AT
least equally important. If they refuse 70 vote
for n rule which dee, not fix date for acton on
both bills, is it likely that Democrats VIII
kindly come forward 10 take from themselves
the power Of opposing one measure only
These two measures are equally part OF that
National policy TO which the Republican party
stands pledged. Every Senator who is a Re-
publican must reslize his obligation t. do all
that he can for both measures. II part insists
on precedence for one. and part on precedence
for another. the Democratic minority Will die
tate and do just what it pleascs. But II all who
desire the passag, Of either measure come to-
gether. and agree upon rule which shall So
cure a decisive vote on both. they can carry
their rule in less dime than they can pass either
bill as the rules now stand. If this cannot be
done the Republican voters have right 70 ask
that the record shall be plainly made. so that it
may be known beyond dispute which Senators
refuse to carry out the pledges OF the party.
Whether they be two, or four, or twenty, let
the names be recorded so that constituents can
hereafter be sure that they do no injustice III
holding each man TO his personal responsibility.
II is the extreme Of folly to say that quorum
cannot be held in the Senate at this late day for
a change of rules, but can be held to put Tariff
bill through under rules which allow amend
mcnts to be offered until January The plain
people will find no difficulty in judging Of that
excuse as it deserves. If quoram cannot be
obtained to carry out the pledges Of the Rcpub-
lican party, lot the country have the names OF
the Senators who cannot or will not do their
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