The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-07
FEDERAL ELECTION LAW.
WHY THE REPUBLICAN, CAUCUS
POSTPONED ITS DISCUSSION.

WASHINGTON. ID. c., June G. Special.
The Republicans explain that they post
poned further consideration of the Fedora
! Election law in the House caucus last
night for the purpose Of conierring with The
Republican Senators in the hope Of reach
/ ing some basis OF agreement. Ii is no Sc
cret that certain Western Republican sena
tors have entered into an agreement with
the Democrats Of that body TO the effect
that if the latter will vote for the free coin.
age Of silver. the former will re.
| fuse support to sny Federal Election
| bill The fact Of this agreement has
| been conveyed 20 Speaker Reed and his
| licutenants, and they realize that unless the
! Republicans Oftbc senate can be persuaded
| 10 support an election law with practical
| unanimity, the case Is hopeless. Strenuous
efforts were made 70 keep secret the true
purpose Of last nights postponment Of the
subject, and 10 this end erroneous reports
of the caucus proceedings were given ,,I;.
The substance Of the matter was that The
Republican leaders decided 10 .diOurn the
caucus until next Tuesday night. and
meantime 10 have the House Caucus Com
mittee confer with the Republican leaders
Of the Senate with The view Of eXerting all
possible pressure 10 bring the party into
line. Speaker Reed has been labOring with
Republican senators today urging, per-
suading and bullying them. lie regards
the enactment Of AN election law Is abso-
lutely essential 10 Republican success next
November. lie was met by the free silver
Republicans of the senate with the sugges-
ton that if the House would pass a free
coinage bill. the senate would pass q
federal election law. Reed did not
feel authorized to make any such
bargain, and the subject stands Just
whore II did. Under existing circum-
stances the Republican leaders Of the House
say their caucus next Tuesday night Will
adopt a Federal election law, and that il
Will be put through the House, throwing
upon the senate the responsibility Of de
feaing II. Meantime the Democrats are
vigilant TO prevent any trickery or deccp-
ton. They do not intend TO be caught by
being led into voting for free coinage BILL
and then left in the lurch 10y standing help
less while an election law is crowded
through.
Representative Wakerof Massachusetts.
an exponent of the culture of that old COm-
mOnwcalth, surprised and even shocked
the House to-day by an exhibition that
would have been REGARDED a. exceedingly
improper even in n dcliberatiye body in the
wild West. lie was delivering an hours
speech on the subject Of silver. and vas
barasscd 10y numerous questions Of per-
picking nature. As he proceeded the high
temperature and bad ventilation told upon
him perceptbly. Some half dozen ques-
tions were fired at him from Democrats
and Republicans all at once. Mr.. Walker
was rcd in the face and perspiring freely.
After an instant's hesitation, he exclaimed:
"l'll answer all OF YOU, but It's too hot
here and, amidst shouts of laughter, he
pulled Oh bis coat and laid il upon an ad-
Joining desk. Then he deliberately removed
his cuffs and laid them upon his coat. He
next drew forth a silk handkerchief of large
proportions, and, mopping his face. pro-
credcd 10 reply 10 the questions prOpOunded.
He concluded his speech in his shirt sleeves.
This Is the fret time that a member OF the
House ever took such a liberty with
the decOrum Of tho House aud
this disregard Of the manifest prOprieties Of
the occasion. Visibly shocked Henry Cabot
Lodge, vino holds himself 10 be the quin-
tescence Of all that il proper, pure and
gOOd. and feels that Massachusetts is in the
van of etiquette rs well as progress. Mr..
Lodge walked the ilO0r very uncasiy. and
looked ~ if he would like TO suggest to Mr.
Walker that Ia should either stop speaking
or replace his coat.
OUTBURsT AGAINST THE MKINLEY BILL.
In the Senate, Plumb, Of Kansas, in the
course of "A silver speech. sayageiy assailed
the Mckinley tariff bill. He denounced II
as q bill that practically says that tine
United States shall have no commerce. and
added that the senate should plunge a knife
through the bill and rip il open, because il
increases Outrdge0usiy the price OF
every article used by the poor people
~ al ffsrf
livery Chairman Mckinley sat ims
mediatcly in front Of Senator Plumb, at-
feuiiycly absorbing every word he uttered.
tie did not apparently anticipate any such
assault upon his bantlng from a promi-
uoni Republican. However, Plumb viii.
no doubt. vote for the bill. as did Butter
worth. lie will endeaYor 10 placate his
Kansas constituents by simply dcnOGncing
the bin, and to retain his standing with the
party machine by voting for the Odi0us
measure.
CAPITAL NOTES.
The new electric device for signaling
railroad trains to prevent collisions and
other accidents is 10 be publicly exhibited
and its operation explained in this city to-
morrow. under the direction Of Mr. James
Il. Brauch, - Richmond. Experts whOhaye
examined it pronounce this Invention an
entire silcoees, and predict that Il will be-
the means Of saving many lives and much
property. Fifty or sixty Washington cor
respondents VIII he present.
The Senate bill to authorize the erection
OF public building al Fayetteville. y. c.,
10 cost not exceeding $4,000, has been
fayOrably reported to the House and will
probably be passed on the next day that Is
set apart Cor he consideration OF these bills.
The Secretary Of War has appointed a
~. 10 flrF
Monroe, Va. june 18th, 10 witness the final
examination and closing exercises of the
class officers, Nho haze completed thcirtwo
years course Of instruction, at the United
States Artillery school.
rEEAth,
The silver bill was taken up and Mr.
Plumb addressed the senate. lie thought
the chances for the passage OF the bill at
The present session had not improved by the
performances of the last few weeks. He
asserted that the circulation to-day was
$40. .e0A 0O0 less than in 1870, although the
commercial business Oi the country had
doubled i'm that time. The people If marded
thata very considerable increase Of volume
of currency was necessary. Mr. Plumb spoke
of the silver bill in connection with the
question Of protection. The senate had
been appealed - Yesterday by ihe Senator
frOil NOW . oik MI itt>N''h '-dih-b tHN
bill in the sacred name Of protection.
lie would not call it fetch. Although
he did not know what he would
call il before he got through. Silver was an
American produci-a much larger product
than many Others which were 10 be pro
tected by duties of 200 or 800 per cent. under
the co.hing tariff bill.
The bill was laid aside, and the Senate
took up hha passed sessrai bills OF minor
importance, and at 5 O'Clock adjourned.
HOUSE.
The House met mt IL O'Clock this morning,
and debate began az once on the silver bill.
Mr. Lind, OF Minnesota. sli, tins Increase
of circulation advanced prices, the shrink
ace of circulation diminished them. The
great mass Of the people demanded that
silver should be restored TO it's former 20
sition. The people understood the question.
and cOuh think and reason rs well as
members OF Congress.
MIR. Flower. Of New York, spoke entirely
i'm behalf OF constitutional amendment for
the election by the people of officials who
are n0V appointed.
Mr.. Walker, Of hassaehqsetEs, denied
that there was business depression, because