Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1890-12-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular Correspondent. ]

WASHINGTON, ID. c.. December %.
Senator Spooner made "a calm, de-
Lucrative argument in favor of the
Federal Election Bill that was in
striking constrast with the impas-
stoned utterances of the Democratic
Senators against that measure. He
utterly demolished every argument
vet advanced against the bill and
stated his belief that such law was
absolutely necessary. if the ballot
box. the foundation of our liberty is
to be kept pure and honest. There
was not n word of personal OF par
ty abuse in Mr.. SpoOners speech; he
started out by saying that the bill
covered question upon which there
was room for an honest difference
of opinion, and he showed all the
way through that he recognized the
right of Others to differ with him,
and that great deal more than
any Democratic Senator who has
spoken on the bill has done.
1t has not yet been full determined
whether lthe consideration OF the
election bill will go right on through
this week, or whether it will be laid
aside or..the purpose of acting upon
the proposed change of rules which
was endorsed hya caucus last week.
There seems to be a slight misunder-
standing among Republican Sena'
? tors about this change in the rules;
some of them believing the intention
of the caucus to have been the adop
ton of the change at once, to apply
to all legislation for the rest of tn,
session, while others say they under
stand that it was only to apply tt
!. the election bill and the appOrtiOn
ment bill, and that the financial bill
approved by the same caucus, wa
q to be taken up and passed before tn
:, rules were changed. If these differ
is ences cannot be recOnciled anOthe
r caucus may be held before anythin
% definite is done.
1t The Democratic Senators are dc
a ing everything they can to proven
10 ! any action being taken on the finai
,e cial bill One of them, Mr.. Reagan
has already offered an amendmeI
h. | providing for free coinage. The
10 are number of Republican Senator
- that will vote for free coinage if
= gets BEFORE the Senate, but mo-
than two thirds of them believe thi
- it would be injurious TO the best i
terests of the country to pass a fr
ng coinage bill at this time, and rath
We than see a free coinage amendme
ID tackled to the bill they will sacriti
by the entire bill In fact some OF t
or ablest financiers in the Senate, i
or Guiding such men as Messrs. AllisO
to Morrill,, Aldrich and Sherman, ha
les expressed the opinion that the tina
IDS ces OF the country are in fair W
.us of righting themselves withO
ON legislation. and while they W OF
ire support the bill providing for
LA purchase of the additional 1906
90. 600 ounces of silver bullion and
A. the coinage of the $4,000, 900
- fractional currency and trade doll'
W. they do not favor taking any chi
oiu ces on free coinage, That is just
mes situation as it exists today.
way Senator Ingalls, asked for and
OF tanned two weeks leave OF abse
ord Saturday, and yesterday he left
to Kansas. where he expects to remi
ID. until the Kansas legislature deci
Is a who shall succeed him in the Seni
BOSE He takes with him the good wis
of of every good republican in Wa
ties. ington from the President dowI
erve the humblest member of the pal
and on every hand one hears
& or wish, sometimes even from de
roD Gratis. that Kansas may see the
!. - dom of giving her brainy son an,
er term in the Senate; a wisl
which / most heartily join a
.' was would be possible for Kansas toe
Iney a Senator who would reflect Ii
amt :