Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-08-30
MAKES EN- TIRED.
The Edmunds Plan of a Re.
cess of Congress.
OPINIONS OF MEMBERS THEREON.

The Proposition Received with Very Bad
Grace. and Its Adoption Very Prob
lematical - Salt Provides a Subject
Upon Which Senators Scintfllate with
Wit = Progress on the Tariff Bill
County Debts in Illinois-Hennepin
Canal Seems All Right.
WASHINGTON CITY, Aug. 30.-The topic
OF conversation in the city now is the
Edmunds resolution providing for a re-
cess of congress. Senator Edmunds said
yesterday afternoon that he offered the
resolution on his own motion and re-
sponsibility. 1t seemed to him, he said,
due TO the public interest and in order
that the large docket OF important meas
ures reported from committees pending
before the senate, that all the available
time between now and the 9Th of March
next should be used in discussing and dis
posing of them. The suggestion that the
president should call an extra session of
congress. Edmunds said, he did not APP
prove of. 1t would imply a censure or
reproach upon congress for failure to
transact business before it. Congress has
the power to take such a recess and pro-
coed with its business without the inter
vention of the executive
Senators Who Object.
Senator Pierce said that he was salts
fled that the president would not call an
extra session of congress whatever might
be done. Sucn a resolution, the senator
thought, could have for its ultimate OBJ
ject only one thing-the passage of the
election bill; that the Democrats would
see that, and that they could and would
talk the resolution to death to prevent
action on the bill.
Another wellknown western senator
said: There is no reason for congress to
meet before December If the senate is to
pass the election bill, the rules must be
changed. LII the rules are TO be changed
it must be by revolutionary process-by
the presiding officer refusing to recognize
the Democratic senators and putting the
question TO a vote. We can do this as
well in week as in a month"
Prospects of Its Adoption.
1t is not unlikely that the Edmunds
resolution is proposed for the purpose of
relieving President Harrison OF the re-
spOnsibIlity of calling an extra session.
The president told one of the senators who
called upon him that he did not like to
summon congress in session after they
had adjourned. and thought il was their
duty TO arrange time for transacting
their own business. II seems impossible
that under the present circumstances the
Edmunds resolution could get anything
like a majority vote in the senate As the
Republicans could not keep a quorum of
their own members present for the pass
age of the elections bill il seems hardly
possible that they could do so now for the
purpose of passing the Edmunds resolu-
| tion.
Opinion IN the House.
Maj. Mckinley and some of the other
leaders in the house are of the opinion
| that the senate should be allowed to shift
for itself and that there is no excuse for
| asking the house to help the senators out
of the difficulties in which they lind them
selves as the result of not passing the cleo
ton bill and other measures which Were
sent to them by the house some time ago.
| Some of the leaders in the house do not
agree with Mckinley Cannon, for in
stance, thinks that a recess would be the
| best way out of the dilemma Speaker
| Reed does not commit himself, but thinks
something ought TO be done that will Sc
| cure the passage of TIE election bill
Will Probably Confer About Ii.
Ever since it became known that the
force bill could not be passed this session
there has been strong sentiment among
a few of the Republican senators in favor
of an extra session. and President Har-
rlson has been urged to call one Several
| of these senators saw the president yester-
day and spoke with him on the subject
and Others intended to do so last evening.
The resolution of Edmunds. however, has
| upset all present plans and il will prob
| ably be necessary for the Republicans to
have conference before anything can be
decided upon.